Here is "The Lord's Prayer
" in glorious Middle English
, from the Wyclif Bible
, circa 1390
. By comparing this version with the Old English version
and Modern English versions
, one can quickly draw a thumbnail-sketch understanding of the major differences between these three major periods in the development of the English
The Lourdes Preyere
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.