Psalm 46 and William Shakespear

King James Version

This information has been culled from several sources.

Here are some coincidences that occasionally have been used to argue WS's authorship of the 46^th Psalm in the King James Version. It is most likely just a red-herring as the words "will," "shake," "spear" and "I am" appear in the same positions in Richard Taverner's 1539 version of the Psalm.

• The 46^th word from the beginning is "shake." The 46^th word from the end (not counting "selah") is "spear."
• The KJV is said to have been completed in 1610 when W.S. was 46 and published the following year.
• WS's birthday is celebrated 4/23/1564. 23 X 2 = 46. And 64, as in 1564, reversed is 46. WS's death is observed as 4/23/1616. If you add 1564 (1+5+6+4) you get 16. If you add 4/23/1616 (4+2+3+1+6+1+6) you get 23. Again 23 x 2 =46. If you add 4/21/1564 together (a possible date for WS's birth since all we know is that he was baptized on the 26^th and the custom was to wait three days from birth for baptism) (4+2+1+1+5+6+4), you get 23 again!
• The 14 word from the beginning is "will." The 32^nd word from the end (counting "selah" this time) lands you on "I am." Put together this equals "I am Will." 14+32=46.
• 4 + 6 = 10. Go to verse 10. Count in 6 words to “I” (which is part of “I am”). Now count in another 4 words to “will,” giving “I am Will.”
• "William Shakespere" can be anagrammed to "We are like his Psalm" or “Here was I, like a psalm.”

Psalm 46

King James Version

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah ^[1].

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.