Introduction
The Douay-Rheims version of the Bible holds an enduring appeal for many Christians, Catholic and Protestant alike. This is due no doubt not only to the elegance of its diction, but also to that certain ancient solemnity which many find appropriate to the Word of God.
Nevertheless I have come across quite a number of people who might otherwise enjoy this version, but are put off especially by rather awkward verb forms resulting from the thou usage, such as: restest, visitest, entangleth, presseth, excelleth, camest, comest, standest, etc.
My experience with the Ronald Knox version left me with a good conversion program in hand. And so I thought I would apply it to the Douay-Rheims version too, in the hope that this rendering of an age-old and dignified text would help to keep the biblical words resounding in our ears.
I have kept to the policy of not trying to change anything except the 'thous', etc.. and the related verb forms. Some readers may feel that certain phrases should have been "modernized", such as "go ye not out"; "why do ye these things?"; "Speak you not to me?"; "Woman, why weep you? whom seek you?"; "Simon, son of, John, love you me?"... However, I believe that their retention helps to keep a good measure of the antique flavor such a venerable version should have.