POPE SIXTUS V.

FOR THE PERPETUAL MEMORY OF THE MATTER. Desiring, as much as lies within our power, to provide for the salvation of the flock committed to us by any means and way, we strongly believe it pertains to our pastoral care that the books of the Holy Scripture, in which saving doctrine is contained, should be published purged of all blemishes, whole and pure. In a lower station, we performed this as much as we could through our study and diligence, and now that we are placed by God in this highest watchtower, we do not cease to look upon it with the eyes of our mind. Since, therefore, in previous years, Pope Gregory XIII, our predecessor of pious memory, at our suggestion, ordered the Greek Old Testament to be polished according to the edition of the Seventy interpreters—which the Apostles themselves sometimes used—to the standard of the most corrected codices; and the care of this matter was entrusted to our beloved son, Antonio, priest of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Carafa, and to certain learned men chosen by him for this purpose; and since this polishing is now complete, having been diligently collated and maturely examined from very many exemplars from various libraries of Italy, and especially from our Vatican library; we will and decree, for the glory of God and the utility of the Church, that the Old Greek Testament according to the Seventy, thus recognized and polished, be received and retained by all; that they may use it especially for the understanding of the Latin Vulgate edition and the ancient Holy Fathers; prohibiting anyone from daring in the future to change anything in this new Greek edition, either by adding or subtracting. If anyone shall act otherwise than is comprehended in this our sanction, let him know that he...