The King James Version of the Bible

Read The King James Version of the Bible online, or download the free EPUB (works on Kindle too) or PDF.

Edition from Project Gutenberg. Public-domain rules differ by country, so check yours before downloading.

A little about the book

The King James Version is the English translation of the Bible first published in 1611. It contains the Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation.

For centuries it was the Bible of the English-speaking world, read aloud in churches and homes. Its language shaped English literature and everyday speech. Whether you read it for faith, history or literature, it’s one of the most influential books ever printed.

Is it for you?

You’ll enjoy it if you like

the Bible as literature
the history of the English language
faith and scripture

Maybe not if you want a modern-language translation.

Where to start

For stories, start with Genesis or the Gospel of Mark. For poetry, try the Psalms.

Things You May Not Know About The King James Bible

Made by committee. About 47 scholars, working in six groups, produced the translation.
Commissioned by a king. King James I approved the project in 1604.
Everyday phrases. Phrases like ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘a law unto themselves’ come from it.
Built on Tyndale. Much of the New Testament wording comes from William Tyndale’s earlier translation.