History of the Lord's Prayer in English explained

The Lord's Prayer has been translated and updated throughout the history of the English language. Here are examples which show the major developments:

Translations of Matthew 6:9b–13

The text of the Matthean Lord's Prayer in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible ultimately derives from first Old English translations. Not considering the doxology, only five words of the KJV are later borrowings directly from the Latin Vulgate (these being debts, debtors, temptation, deliver, and amen). Early English translations such as the Wycliffe and the Old English, however, were themselves translations of the Latin Vulgate.

AD 995, Old English^[1]

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Fæder ūre

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|þū þē eart on heofonum

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Sī þīn nama gehālgod

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Tō becume þīn rice

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Gewurþe þīn willa

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|On erðon swā swā on heofonum

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Urne gedæghwamlīcan hlāf syle ūs tō dæg

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|And forgyf ūs ūre gyltas

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Swā swā wē forgyfð ūrum gyltendum.

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|And ne gelæd þū ūs on costnunge

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: italic=no|Ac alȳs ūs of yfele.

English, Old (ca.450-1100);: Sōþlice.

AD 1389 Wycliffe^[1]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Oure fadir

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|That art in hevenes

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Halwid be thi name

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thi kingdom come to

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Be thi wille don

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|On erthe as in hevenes

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Give to us this day oure bred ovir othir substaunce

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgiv us oure dettis

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|As we forgiven oure dettours

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And lede us not in to temptacioun

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|But delyevr us from yvel

Amen.

AD 1526 Tyndale^[1]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|O oure father which arte in heven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|halowed be thy name;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|let thy kingdom come;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|thy wyll be fulfilled

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as well in erth as hit ys in heven;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|geve vs this daye oure dayly breade;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|and forgeve vs oure treaspases,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|even as we forgeve them which treaspas vs;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|leede vs not into temptacion,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|but delyvre vs ffrom yvell.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|For thyne is the kingdom and the power,^[2]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|and the glorye for ever.

Amen.

AD 1611 King James Version^[3]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Our father which art in heauen,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|hallowed be thy name

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy kingdome come.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy will be done,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|in earth, as it is in heauen.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Giue vs this day our daily bread.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgiue vs our debts,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as we forgiue our debters.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And lead vs not into temptation,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|but deliuer vs from euill:

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|For thine is the kingdome, and the power,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|and the glory, for euer,

Amen.

AD 1901 American Standard Version^[4]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Our Father who art in heaven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Hallowed be thy name

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy kingdom come.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy will be done,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as in heaven, so on earth.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Give us this day our daily bread,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgive us our debts,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as we also have forgiven our debtors.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And bring us not into temptation,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|but deliver us from the evil one.

AD 1989 New Revised Standard Version^[5]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Our Father in heaven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|hallowed be your name.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Your kingdom come.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Your will be done,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|on earth as it is in heaven.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Give us this day our daily bread.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgive us our debts,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as we also have forgiven our debtors.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And do not bring us to the time of trial,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|but rescue us from the evil one.

Other liturgical sources

AD 1549 Anglican BCP^[6]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Our father, whyche art in heaven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|halowed be thy name.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy Kyngdome come.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy wyll be doen in yearth,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as it is in heaven.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Geve us this daye our dayly breade.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgeve us our trespaces,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as wee forgeve them that trespasse agaynst us.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And leade us not into temptacion.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|But deliver us from evill.

Amen.

AD 1662 Anglican BCP^[7]

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 trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil:

[For thine is the kingdom, the power, :and the glory, for ever and ever.]

Amen.

1759 Ordo administrandi sacramenta^[8]

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

AD 1772 Anglican BCP^[9]

Our Father, which art in heaven;

Hallowed by 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 trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil:

[For thine is the kingdom, :and the power, :and the glory, for ever and ever.]

Amen.

Baltimore Catechism 1885^[10]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Our Father, who art in heaven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|hallowed be Thy name:

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy kingdom come;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy will be done on earth

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as it is in heaven.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Give us this day our daily bread;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|and forgive us our trespasses

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|as we forgive those who trespass against us:

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|and lead us not into temptation,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

The 1892 U.S. BCP^[11]

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|OUR Father who art in heaven,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Hallowed be thy Name.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy kingdom come.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Thy will be done on earth,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|As it is in heaven.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|Give us this day our daily bread.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And forgive us our trespasses,

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|As we forgive those who trespass against us.

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|And lead us not into temptation;

English, Middle (1100-1500);: italic=no|But deliver us from evil:

[For thine is the kingdom, and the power, :and the glory, for ever and ever.]

Amen.

AD 1928 Anglican BCP^[12]

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

AD 1988 ELLC

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

[For the kingdom, the power, :and the glory are yours now and for ever.]

Amen.

AD 2000 Church of England Common Worship

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

AD 2011 Catholic Roman Missal

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Other versions

1768 Benjamin Franklin

Heavenly Father,

May all revere thee,

And become thy dutiful Children and faithful Subjects.

May thy Laws be obeyed on Earth as perfectly as they are in Heaven.

Provide for us this Day as thou has hitherto daily done.

Forgive us our Trespasses, and enable us likewise to forgive those that offend us.

Keep us out of Temptation, and deliver us from Evil.

References

Sources

Book: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops . Roman Missal . 2011 . International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation . 3.
Web site: 2024 . . Common Worship: Common Material: The Lord's Prayer . Church of England.
Cook . Albert S. . 1891 . The Evolution of the Lord's Prayer in English . . 12 . 1 . 59–66 . 10.2307/287989 . 0002-9475 . 287989 . free.
Book: Praying Together . 1988 . . 11–14 . The Lord’s Prayer. https://web.archive.org/web/20070702021454/http://www.englishtexts.org/praying.pdf . 2 July 2007 .
Book: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin . 1972 . Yale University Press . Willcox . William B. . 15 (January 1 through December 31, 1768) . New Haven and London . 299–303 . A New Version of the Lord’s Prayer, [late 1768?] . https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-15-02-0170 . William B. Willcox.

Notes and References

https://archive.org/details/gothicanglosax00ulfi The Gothic and Anglo-Saxon gospels in parallel columns with the versions of Wycliffe and Tyndale
https://archive.org/stream/englishhexaplaex00schouoft#page/24/mode/2up 1534 Tyndale in the English Hexapla
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611-Bible/book.php?book=Matthew&chapter=6&verse= King James Bible Online
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=ASV Biblegateway ASV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=NRSVCE Biblegateway NRSV
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1549/Communion_1549.htm The First Book of Common Prayer
http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp1662/communion/index.html The Order of the Administration of the Lord's Supper
http://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=Challoner+%22who+art+in+heaven+hallowed%22+exorcizo+ Richard Challoner, Ordo administrandi sacramenta 1759
https://books.google.com/books?id=ReoUAAAAQAAJ The Book of Common Prayer, 1772
Web site: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine .
Web site: 1892 Book of Common Prayer: Holy Communion .
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1928/Family_Prayer.htm Forms of Prayer