There are a number of different versions of the Lord’s Prayer in Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, covering differing dialects and time periods. They are all broadly recognisable, especially if compared against the King James Bible from the 17th century.
“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”
Matthew ch 6 vv 9-13
The texts shown below might not look very similar, but listen to the recordings for each version, and see if you can hear the similarities.
All our recordings are spoken by Steve Pollington.
West Saxon Dialect
Fæder ūre
þū þe eart on heofonum
sī þīn nama gehālgod.
tōbecume þīn rīce
gewurþe ðīn willa
on eorðan swā swā on heofonum.
ūrne gedæghwāmlīcan hlāf
syle ūs tōdæg.
and forgyf ūs ūre gyltas
swā swā wē forgyfað ūrum gyltendum.
and ne gelǣd þū ūs on costnunge
ac ālȳs ūs of yfele.
sōþlīce.
Our father
Thou art in heaven
Be thy name hallowed.
Come thy kingdom.
Be-done thy will
On earth so in heaven
Our daily bread
Give us today
And forgive us our wrongs
As we forgive our wrong-doers
And lead not thou us to temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen
Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in West Saxon
Northumbrian Dialect
FADER URÆ ðu art in heofnas
Sie ðin nama gehalgad.
Tocymeð ðin ric.
Sie ðin willo
in eorðo suæ is in heofne.
Userne ofæ wistlic hlaf sel ús todæg,
and forgef us usra scylda
suæ uoe forgefon usum scyldum
And ne inlæd usich in costunge,
ah gefrig usich from yfle
Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Northumbrian:
Mercian Dialect
Feder ure þu eart in heofenum
se þin noma is gehalgad
to cyme þin rice
sie þin willa on eorþan swe in heofenum
ure deghweamlice hlaf sele us to deg
ond forgef us ussa scylda swe ond us forgef ure scylde
and nu in læde us in costnunge
ales us from yfele
Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Mercian: