More Precious than Gold or Silver

Miles Smith played several key roles in the translation of the King James Bible. Born in 1554, he was part of the group that translated the prophets and was one of the 12 people selected to provide final editing of the entire Bible. He also was chosen to write the preface, “The Translators to the Readers.”

Smith was given this responsibility because of his character, his commitment, and the depth of his knowledge. Others respected his leadership and spiritual sensitivity. They knew of his lifelong love of the Bible and how extensively he had studied the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

After pouring over the Scriptures in the original languages, he was convinced the Bible provided the foundation for all truth. He wrote, “What truth, what saving truth, without the word of God? What word of God, whereof we may be sure, without the Scripture?”

We can feel his passion in the translation he helped make of Isaiah. He knew that the Word would stand forever. We also see this in his preface. He wrote that God “removeth the scales from our eyes, the veil from our hearts, opening our wits that we may understand His Word, enlarging our hearts…that we may love it above gold and silver, yea that we may love it to the end.”

The psalmist wrote that God’s Word is “better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Psalm 119:72). Smith called it “a treasury of most costly jewels, against beggarly rudiments” and “a fountain of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life.”

Do you want God to reveal a deeper understanding of His truths to you? Start by filling your mind and heart with the words of the Bible. May it become more precious to you than silver and gold.