The Knox Bible — A Translation from the Latin Vulgate
The Knox Bible is Monsignor Ronald Knox's celebrated personal translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate, informed by the Hebrew and Greek originals. Widely regarded as one of the most elegant literary Bible translations in the English language, Knox aimed to produce Scripture 'as if an Englishman had written it' — natural, idiomatic, dignified prose.
History & Background
Commissioned in 1936 by the Catholic hierarchies of England and Wales, Knox (1888–1957) — also a famous crime writer and apologist — spent 13 years on the project. The NT appeared in 1945 and the OT in 1949; the one-volume complete Bible in 1955. Authorized for liturgical use in Great Britain, Ireland, and Australia throughout the 1950s. Republished in the 21st century by Baronius Press and Cluny Media for a new generation of readers.
Canon Proximity Rating
Full Catholic canon (73 books) from the Latin Vulgate. Considered the finest literary Catholic English Bible. Authorized for liturgical use in Britain before Vatican II.