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Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Lord's Prayer in Old, Middle and Modern English

A friend showed me today a print out of the Lord's prayer in Old, Middle, King James and Modern English. It's very interesting.

The Lords Prayer in Old English
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum. Si þin nama gehalgodto becume þin rice gewurþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendumand ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele. Soþlice.´

The Lords Prayer in Middle English:
Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halewid be thi name;thi kyngdoom come to; be thi wille don, in erthe as in heuene. Yyue to vs this dai oure breed ouer othir substaunce, and foryyue to vs oure dettis, as we foryyuen to oure dettouris; and lede vs not in to temptacioun, but delyuere vs fro yuel.Amen.

Another version from 1430:






































King James, 1611:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Modern, ESV:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be i your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.


Language evolves, cultures evolve, God remains the same.

2 comments:

Doug said...

Old Pope Adrian seems to have used a bit of artistic licence, since his prayer is in rhyming couplets. I like it though, and it's probably the closest to Scots.

Dan Waugh said...

oops, i deleted that one after I published it. I had copied the wrong one into the post. sorry. i liked it also.