Nu ⁁\ƿe/ sculan herian heofonrices ƿeard,
metodes mihte, ond his modgeþonc,
ƿero{a} ƿuldorfæder— sƿa[2] he ƿundra gehƿæs,
ece dryhten, oor⁁\d/ onstealde!
5
He ærest gesceop eorðan bearnun{m}um
heofon to hrofe, halig scyppend;
1a Nu ⁁\ƿe/] Nu T1 N. 1a sculan herian] herigan sculon B1. 3a ƿero{a}] ƿeorc T1 B1 To ƿeoroda N. 3a ƿuldorfæder] ƿuldorgodes B1. 3b ƿundra] ƿuldres Ca. 3b gehƿæs] fela B1. 4b oor⁁\d/] or T1 N ær To. 4b onstealde] astealde B1 To. 5a gesceop] sceop T1 B1 To N. 5b eorðan] eorþum N. 6b scyppend] drihten To. 7a ða] þe B1. 8b teodde] eode N.
[1]The scribe of O has altered his text considerably by correction (see above, Chapter 4: Manuscripts (O) and Chapter 7: Editorial introduction, West-Saxon eorðan recension). This edition records information about additions and deletions in O in semi-diplomatic form.
[2]sƿa] Howlett suggests that sƿa may be intended as an adverb (“thus”) rather than a causal conjunction (“as, because”). For a discussion of the evidence, see above, § C.9. The punctuation here assumes sƿa is a conjunction.
[3]ða] ða can be construed as either a causal conjunction (“when”) or an adverb (“then”). While the reading has considerable effect on our understanding of the poem’s structure and theology (see above, § C.9, and esp. Blockley 1998, 20-26), neither reading can be ruled out conclusively. The punctuation in this edition follows that of most modern editions in treating ða as an adverb.