"A strictly literal rendering may not be so pleasant to the ear ... yet it is not euphony but truth that ought to be sought" -- Author's Preface Perhaps the most literally precise translation available. Young's Literal Translation of the Bible is a strictly literal translation of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. It was written in 1898 by Robert Young. It is a great resource for anyone serious about finding out what the original authors of the Bible actually wrote., especially when used as a supplement to a standard translation. It includes the preface to the 1st, Revised and 3rd Editions.