"And by knowledge shall the chambers
be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
-- Prov. 24:4, King James version"Check paintings well-placed by the blessed ruler in halls and bedrooms.
Ah, what a life!"
-- Prov. 24:4, The Anagrammed Bible
The Anagrammed Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
by Richard Brodie and Mike Keith"A tour de force, with many apt and clever transpositions."
- Ross Eckler, editor of Word Ways"One of the great wordplay books, ranking up there with
'La disparition' and other novel-length works."
- Dave Morice, author of Alphabet Avenue"A beautiful book, both physically and in content.
The idea of anagrammatically melding the 'Song' with
a variety of English poetry [is] beautifully carried out."
- Howard Bergerson, author of Palindromes and AnagramsAn anagram is a rearrangement of the letters in a word or phrase (such as DORMITORY) into another text (such as DIRTY ROOM) with the same meaning as, or perhaps making a commentary on, the original.
The Anagrammed Bible is an "anagrammatic paraphrase" of three complete books of the Old Testament. The letters in each verse (or, in some cases, block of verses) from the King James Version Bible are transformed into a new text with a similar meaning - sometimes straightforwardly, sometimes more fancifully, but always with respect for the meaning of the Biblical text and, of course, strict adherence to the anagram rule.
Here are a few more samples::
The King James Version The Anagrammed Bible
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:Prov 1:8
When thy mom talketh of honesty, of trust, and of honor, carry it safe in the heart.
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;Prov 8:30
Rubbing shoulders amiably with God, I grew as with a nice family. In posh ease, I had joy with him then.
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.Prov 19:6
If that guy hath gold, every transient rat ("victim" in need of help) wants a five from him. Earn it!
Labour not to be rich:
cease from thine own wisdom.
Prov 23:4
Sir, I don't want a crown.
For me, I choose to be humble.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Prov 26:21
Alas, son: words too unkind, or mean acts, can soon ignite atrocious battlefields of ire.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
Prov 30:14
The age overrateth just money in hand. The era's motto:
Advertise and market goods!
Harness need!
Promote with offers of
"New!" (ha!)
"Free!" (ha!)
"Here, own it!".
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Ecc. 5:19
Four things - make that five - are a high point in life: to have many nice things; to sow cheer while hoarding them; to dig radishes; to adapt to the hard road; to love one's own job.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
Ecc. 7:10
Wish not, in unrest, for the quaint cheer of ancestry: no beauty was there. Chew on this tasty truth: these are the good old times.
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.Ecc. 8:1
Ah, the evil Tenth District judge's rotten, and forgives not harm.
Ah, another higher one's joined in graft, and prevents the hope of the brave.
Ah, neither are the high, mighty Supreme Court potentates fit to help.
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Ecc. 9:9
Here, at least, is one way to cause thy meaningless life to have truth within: be faithful, forthwith, to thy youthful love - she which vividly typified that wish in thy youthful hunt. Love and thank her for the jointly-hand-held honesty.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Ecc. 10:19
Flesh is their want, and lager renews gaiety: but mammon makes the earth fly around.The Anagrammed Bible has 115 pages of anagrams, with the KJV and anagrammed text printed in parallel columns for easy comparison. Also included is a five-page introduction and ten pages of end-notes which explain some of the many literary and cultural allusions present in the anagram verses.
The Anagrammed Bible is currently available in a deluxe hardcover edition, bound in black leatherette with a marker ribbon, priced at $20. Copies can be ordered in one of two ways:
(1) Directly from the publisher, by sending check or money order for $20 per book to
Antan Press
P.O. Box 15142
Richmond, VA 23227The advantage of this method is that shipping is free to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.
(2) From Amazon.com, by clicking here. Although there is a shipping charge, the advantage of this way of ordering is that you can use a credit card.