J. Roth

World Masterpieces 271

English through the Ages

Modern English

 

He said to them, "When you pray, say: "`Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation

 

Early Modern English—circa 1600 A.D.  The English of Shakespeare

 

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

 

Middle English—circa 1300 A.D.  The English of Chaucer

 

& he seiž to hem, whan ’ee pre’en, sey ’ee, Fader oure, halewid be ži name, ži kingdam come to

’if to vs todai oure eche da’is bred

& for’if to vs oure synnes, as & wee for’iuen to eche owende to vs, & leed vs not in to temptacioun

 

Old English—circa 1000 A.D.  The English of Beowulf

 

 

ža cwęž he to him: cwešaš žus. žonne ge eow gebiddaš; Ure fęder žu še on heofone eart: si žin nama gehalgod tocume žin rice. gewurše šin willa on heofone and on eoržan.

syle us todęg urne dęghwamlican hlaf:

and forgyf us ure gyltas. swa we forgyfaš ęlcum žara že wiš us agyltaš: and ne lęd žu us on costunge: ac alys us fram yfele;