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How
English Has Changed
As The Bible has been written down throughout Christian times,
it is interesting to compare the different versions and note the differences which demonstrate language change.
Five translations
of the Gospel according to St Matthew, Chapter 8, Verses 1 & 2.
Anglo
Saxon 995
Sothlice tha
seHaelend of tham munte nyther astah, tha fyligdon hym mycle maenio.
Tha genealaehte an hreofla to him and hine to him geathmedde, and thus
cwaeth, Drihten, gyf thu wylt, thu miht me geclaensian.
Wyclif
1389
Forsothe when
Jhesus hadde comen doun fro the hil, many cumpanyes folewiden hym.
And loo! a leprouse man cummynge worshipide hym, sayinge, Lord, yif
thou wolt, thou maist make me clene.
Tyndale
1526
When Jesus
was come down from the mountayne, moch people folowed him.
And lo! there cam a lepre and worsheped him, saynge, Master, if thou
wylt, thou canst make me clene.
King
James Version 1611
When he was
come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if
thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
New
English Bible 1961
After he had
come down from the hill he was followed by a great crowd. And now a
leper approached him, bowed low, and said, "Sir, if only you will,
you can cleanse me."
* What
differences can you see between the versions?
Look not only at vocabulary and spelling but also punctuation, verb forms
and pronouns.
For more details of the language of the King James Bible visit the King James Bible Trust.
The Lord's Prayer
Old English:
Matthew 6.9 (WSCp, 11th c.)
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum; Si þin nama gehalgod to becume þin rice gewurþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum.
Middle English:
Matthew 6.9 (Wycliffe's translation, c. 1380)
Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halewid be thi name; thi kyndoom come to; be thi wille don in erthe as in heuene
Early Modern
Book of Common Prayer (1559)
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Late Modern
Book of Common Prayer (1928)
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
What changes do you identify?
What influences might have caused the changes?
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