Based on M (orthographic forms) and the West-Saxon eorðan recension (substantive readings) with collations from B1, Bd (parallel view only), Br, Ca, CArms, Di, H, Hr, Ld, Ln, Mg, N, O, P, P1, SanM, T1, To, Tr1, W.
Nu scylun hergan[2] hefaenricaes uard,
metudæs maecti, end his modgidanc,
uerc uuldurfadur— sue[3] he uundra gihuaes,
heben til hrofe, haleg sceppend;
1a Nu] Nu M Nu P Nupue Di Nupuc P1 Nupuc Br Nu T1 Nuƿe B1 Nu ƿe To Ne N Nu⁁\ƿe/ O Nu ƿe| Ca Nu ƿe Hr \Nuƿe/ CArms Nu ƿe Ld Nu ƿe H Nuƿe W [N]〈u〉ƿe Bd Nu ƿe Mg Nu ƿe Ln Nu| pe Tr1 Nupe SanM.
1a scylun hergan] scylun herge\a/n M scılun herga P scwlun herga Di scııılııı herga| P1 scinlun horga Br sculon herıgean T1 herıgan sculon| B1 sceolon herıan To sculon her gean N sculan herıan O sceolan herıgean Ca sceolan herıan Hr \sceolon/| herıan CArms sceolan herıan herıan Ld sculon herıan H sculon herıa〈n〉|herı W sc〈u〉[lonhe]〈rı〉an·| Bd sculon herıan Mg sculun herıan Ln sceolon herıon Tr1 sculon herıan SanM.
1b hefaenricaes] hefaen rıcaes M hefen rıcæs P he fu⁁\n/rıca es| Di hesııı rıııca es P1 hesım|ruica es Br heofon|rıces T1 heofonrıces B1 heofonrıces To heofon rıces N heofon|rıces O heofon rıces Ca hel{o}fon|rıces Hr heofanrıces CArms heo|〈f〉on rıces Ld heofon rıces H heofon rıces W [he]〈o〉f〈o〉[nr]〈ı〉[c]〈ae〉[s] Bd heofon|rıces Mg heofon rıces Ln heofenrıces· Tr1 heofo〈n〉|rıces SanM.
1b uard] uard M uard P pueard· Di pueard P1 pueard Br ƿeard T1 ƿeard B1 ƿeard· To ƿe:|ard N ƿeard O ƿeard Ca ƿeard Hr ƿeard CArms ƿeard· Ld ƿeard· H ƿ〈e〉[ard]| W [ƿear]〈d〉·| Bd ƿeard· Mg ƿeard· Ln peard· Tr1 peard· SanM.
2a metudæs] metudæs M metudæs P metuda es Di ıııetııııdaes P1 metundaes Br meotodes T1 metodes B1 metodes To metodes N metodes O metodes Ca metudes Hr metudes CArms metudes Ld metudes H metoddes W [metodes] Bd metudes Mg metudes Ln metudes Tr1 mecudes SanM.
2a maecti] maectı M mehtı P mechtı· Di ıııechtı P1 mechti| Br meahte T1 mıhte| B1 mıhte To mıhte· N mıhte O mıhte Ca mıhte Hr mıhte· CArms mıhte| Ld myhte· H mıhte W [mı]〈h〉[t]〈e〉 Bd mıhte·| Mg mıchte· Ln mıhte| Tr1 míhte| SanM.
2b end] end M and P and Di and P1 and Br ⁊ T1 ⁊ B1 ⁊ To Ond N ⁊ O ⁊ Ca ⁊ Hr ⁊ CArms [⁊] Ld ⁊ H ⁊ W 〈⁊〉 Bd ⁊ Mg ⁊ Ln ⁊ Tr1 æ SanM.
2b his] hıs M hıs P hıs Di hıs P1 his Br hıs T1 hıs B1 hıs To hıs N hıs O hıs Ca hıs| Hr hıs CArms hıs Ld hıs H h[ıs]| W hıs| Bd hıs Mg hıs Ln hıs Tr1 hıs SanM.
2b modgidanc] modgıdanc M mod gıthanc P modgedeanc| Di ıııodged|aııc P1 modged auc Br 〈mod〉geþanc T1 mod ge þanc B1 mod|geþanc· To mod geþonc N mod 〈g〉e þonc| O mod ge þanc· Ca mod〈g〉e þanc Hr modre þanc CArms modgeþanc· Ld mod ge þanc‑| H mod ge þanc W [modgeþanc] Bd mod ge þanc· Mg mod〈t{g}〉e þanc· Ln modgeþanc· Tr1 mod ge þanc SanM.
3a uerc] uerc M uerc P puerc Di puere P1 puere Br ƿeorc| T1 ƿeorc B1 ƿeorc To ƿeoroda N ƿero{a} O ƿera| Ca ƿeorc Hr seorc CArms ƿeorc Ld ƿurc H ƿeorc W [ƿ]〈e〉[or]c| Bd ƿurc| Mg ƿeorc| Ln peorc Tr1 pure| SanM.
3a uuldurfadur] 〈uul〉dur fadur| M uuldur fadur P puldur fudur Di fadur P1 fadur Br ƿuldor fæder T1 ƿuldor godes| B1 ƿulder fæder To ƿul:|dor fæder N ƿuldor fæder O ƿuldor fæder· Ca ƿulder fæ|der Hr ƿulder fæder| CArms ƿulder fæ|〈d〉er· Ld ƿuldu{a}r fæder· H ƿ〈u〉[l]|dor fæder W [ƿuldorfæder] Bd ƿuldor fæder· Mg ƿuldor fæder· Ln puldor feder· Tr1 puldor· fæder SanM.
3b sue] sue M sue P suae Di suae P1 suae| Br sƿa T1 sƿa B1 sƿa To sƿa N sƿa O sƿa Ca sƿa Hr sua CArms Sƿa Ld sƿa H sƿa W [s]〈ƿ〉a| Bd sƿa Mg sƿa Ln spa Tr1 spa SanM.
3b he] he M he P hae Di he P1 he Br he T1 he B1 he To he N he O he Ca he Hr -- CArms he Ld he H he W [he] Bd he Mg he Ln he Tr1 he SanM.
3b uundra] uundra M uundra| P pundra Di puııdra P1 pundra Br ƿundra T1 ƿund ra B1 ƿundra To ƿundra N ƿundra O ƿuldres Ca -- Hr ƿundre CArms ƿundra Ld ƿundra H ƿu[n]|dra W [ƿundra] Bd ƿun‑|dra Mg ƿundra Ln pundra| Tr1 pnn|dra· SanM.
3b gihuaes] gıhuaes M gı huæs P gı huaes| Di gı huaes P1 gi hnaes Br gehƿæs T1 fela B1 gehƿæs〈·〉 To ge〈h〉{ƿ}hƿæs N ge hƿæs| O ge hƿæs Ca -- Hr geƿas· CArms ge〈hƿæ〉s Ld ge hƿılc H ge hƿılc W [ge]〈hƿ〉ı{y}lı{c}·| Bd ge hƿılc Mg ge hƿylc· Ln gehpylc· Tr1 ge hpılc· SanM.
4a eci] ecı M ecı P ecı Di ecı P1 eci Br ee{c}e T1 éce B1 ece To ece N ece O ece Ca -- Hr ece CArms ece| Ld ece H ece W [ece] Bd ece Mg eche Ln ece Tr1 ecce SanM.
4a dryctin] drın{yc}tın M dryctın P drıchtın Di dro⁁\ı/ch tııı P1 drıch tin Br 〈ad〉rih〈t〉en T1 drıhten B1 drıhten To drıhten N dryhten O drıhten· Ca -- Hr drıhten þa CArms drıhten þa Ld drıhten H drıh[ten]| W [drıhten] Bd drıhten| Mg drıhten Ln drıhten Tr1 drıdhten| SanM.
4b or] or M or P or Di or P1 or Br or T1 ord| B1 ær| To or| N oór⁁\d/ O ord Ca -- Hr -- CArms -- Ld ord H ƿord W 〈or〉d| Bd ord Mg ord Ln ord Tr1 ord SanM.
4b astelidæ] astelıdæ M astelıdæ P astalde Di astalde| P1 astnl|de Br on|stealde· T1 astealde B1 astealde· To onstealde N onstealde O onstealde Ca -- Hr -- CArms -- Ld astealde· H astealde W [astealde] Bd astalde· Mg a stealde· Ln astealde· Tr1 astald SanM.
5a He] he M he P he Di her P1 he Br he T1 he B1 He To he N he O he Ca -- Hr he CArms he Ld He| H he W [He] Bd He Mg He Ln Hu Tr1 he SanM.
5a aerist] aerıst M ærıst P u\a/erst Di aeırst P1 aerıst Br ærest T1 ærest B1 ærost To ærest N ærest O æres Ca ærest Hr ærest CArms ærest Ld ærest H [æ]|ræst W [æ]〈r〉[e]st| Bd ærest Mg ærust Ln erust Tr1 ærest SanM.
5a scop] scop M scop P scoo p Di scoop P1 sco op Br sceop T1 sceop B1 sceop〈·〉 To scop N gesceop| O ge|scóp Ca sceop Hr scop CArms sceop Ld ge sceop H ge scop· W [ges]〈eop〉 Bd ge|scop Mg ge scop| Ln gescop·| Tr1 ge stop| SanM.
5b eordu] aelda M aeldu P eor du| Di eor du P1 eor du Br eorðan T1 eorðan B1 eorðan To eorþū N eorðan O ⁁|e|orðan Ca eorðe| Hr eorðe CArms eorðe| Ld ylda H ylda W [yl]〈d〉a Bd ylda Mg ylda Ln ylda Tr1 ylda SanM.
5b barnum] barnū M barnum P bearnum Di pearıııım P1 peannum Br bearnū T1 bear|num B1 bearnū To bearnū N bearnun{m}um{::} O bearnū Ca bearnū Hr bearnū CArms bearnū Ld bearnū H [bear]|nū W b〈ea〉rnū·| Bd bearnum Mg bearnum· Ln bearnum· Tr1 bearnum· SanM.
6a heben] heben M hefen P efen Di efen P1 he ‑|fen Br heofon T1 heofon B1 heofon To heofon N heofon O heofon Ca heofon Hr heofon CArms heofon Ld heofon H heofe\o/n W [heo]〈f〉o〈n〉 Bd heofon| Mg heofon Ln heofon Tr1 heofon SanM.
6a til] tıl M to P to Di to P1 to Br to T1 to B1 to To to N to O to Ca to Hr to CArms to Ld to H to W [to] Bd to Mg to Ln to Tr1 to SanM.
6a hrofe] hrofe| M hrofæ P hrofe Di hrofe P1 hrofe Br hrofe| T1 hrofe B1 hrofe· To hrofe| N hrofe O rofe Ca hrofe· Hr rofe| CArms hrofe· Ld hrofe· H rofe W 〈h〉rofe·| Bd rofe· Mg hrofe· Ln hrope· Tr1 rofe| SanM.
6b haleg] h[a]leg M halıg P halıg Di halıg P1 halig Br halıg T1 halıg B1 halıg| To halıg N halıg| O halıg Ca -- Hr -- CArms -- ld halıg H [halıg]| W [halıg] Bd halıg Mg halı〈g〉 Ln halıg Tr1 halıg SanM.
6b sceppend] scepen· M sceppend| P sceppend Di sceppend P1 sceppend Br scyppend· T1 scyp|pend B1 drıhten· To sc⁁\y/pend· N scyppend O scyppend· Ca -- Hr -- CArms -- ld scyppend H scıppend W [scıp]〈pe〉n〈d〉| Bd scyppend·| Mg scyppend· Ln scyppend Tr1 styppend SanM.
7a tha] tha M tha P da· Di dā| P1 da̽ Br þa T1 þe B1 þa To þa N ða O þa Ca þa| Hr þa CArms þa Ld -- H -- W -- bd -- Mg -- Ln -- Tr1 -- SanM.
7a middungeard] mın{d}dun geard M mıddıngard P mıd‑|dumgeard Di mıddum geard P1 middum|gaerd Br mıddangeard T1 mıddan geard B1 mıddan eard To mıddan geard N mıddon geard O mıddan geard Ca mıddan geard Hr mıddan geard CArms mıd|dan geard Ld mıddan gearde| H mıddan ear[de]| W [mid]〈dan ea〉[r]de Bd mıddan gearde Mg mıddan gearde| Ln mıddan|gearde Tr1 myddan ge|arde SanM.
7b moncynnæs] moncynnæs M moncynnæs P moncınnes Di moııeıııııes P1 moneınnes Br moncynnes T1 mann cynnes| B1 mancynnes To moncynnes N moncynnes O mon‑|cynnes Ca moncynnes| Hr moncynnes CArms moncynnes Ld man cynnes H mann cynnes W [mon]|cynnes] Bd mancynnes| Mg mankynnes Ln mankynnes Tr1 mancımes SanM.
7b uard] uard M uard P peard Di peard P1 peard Br ƿeard T1 ƿeard B1 ƿeard To ƿeard N ƿeard| O ƿeard Ca ƿeard Hr ƿeard CArms ƿeard Ld ƿeard H ƿeard| W [ƿeard] Bd ƿeard Mg ƿearde{:} Ln peard· Tr1 pærd SanM.
8a eci] ecı M ecı P 〈é〉cı Di eeı P1 eei Br ece| T1 éce B1 ece To ece| N ece O ece Ca ece Hr ece CArms ece| Ld éce H ece W [e]〈c〉e| Bd ece Mg eche Ln ece Tr1 ecce| SanM.
8a dryctin] dryctın M dryctın P drıntın Di drıchtıııı P1 drichtin| Br drıhten T1 drıhten B1 drıhten To drıhten N dryhten O drıht̄ Ca drıhten Hr drıhten CArms drıhten Ld drıhten· H drıhten W [drıhten] Bd drıhten· Mg drıhten Ln drıhten· Tr1 drıhten· SanM.
8b æfter] æf〈ter〉 M æfter P c ef‑|ter Di aef ter P1 aef ter Br æfter T1 æfter B1 æfť To æfter N æfter O æft̄ Ca t efter| Hr æfter CArms æfter Ld Æfter H æfter W [æfte]〈r〉 Bd æfter| Mg Æfter Ln epter Tr1 After SanM.
8b tiadæ] tıadæ M tıadæ P tıade Di tıade P1 cia de Br teode T1 teode| B1 teode·| To eode N teod{:}de O teode Ca teode Hr -- CArms teode Ld tıda H tıd[a]| W tida| Bd tıda Mg tıda Ln tıda Tr1 tıda SanM.
9a firum] fırum M fırum P fırum· Di fırıııı| P1 firum Br fın{r}um T1 fyrum B1 fırum To fınū N fırum O fırū Ca fyrū Hr sysū CArms fyrum Ld fırum H fyrum W [fır]〈u〉m Bd fırum Mg fırum Ln pırum| Tr1 fírum| SanM.
9a foldu] fold\u/ M foldu P onfoldu Di olfoldu P1 olfoldu Br foldan T1 foldan B1 foldan· To foldan N folda⁁\n/ O foldan Ca onfolden Hr onfolden CArms on| folden Ld on foldum H onfoldum| W onfoldum| W onfoldum| Mg on foldum| Ln on poldum Tr1 onfoldum SanM.
9b frea] frea M frea P frea Di frea P1 fre Br frea T1 frea B1 frea To frea N frea| O m{fr}ea Ca frea| Hr fre CArms frea Ld frea H frea o{:} W [fre]a Bd frea Mg frea Ln euca Tr1 frea SanM.
9b allmectig] allmectıg| M all mehtıg·| P allmechtıg·| Di all ıııechtıg P1 all|mechtig· Br ælmıhtıg· T1 ælmıhtıg| B1 ælmıhtıg·| To ælmıhtıg· N ælmıhtıg· O ælmıhtıg· Ca ælmıhtıg halıg scyppeod·| Hr almnhtyg| \halıg scyppend/ CArms ælmıhtıg halıg |scyp|〈p〉eod·| Ld ælmyhtıg| H ealmıhtı·| W ælmıhtig·| Bd ælmıhtıg·| Mg ælmıhtıg·| Ln elııııhtıg· Tr1 ælmíhtes| SanM.
[2]scylun] scylun is either first person plural with an unexpressed subject (i.e. [uue] scilun), or third person plural with uerc uuldurfadur, 3a, as subject. The former interpretation is supported by the form in Bede’s paraphrase, debemus; but the latter interpretation is suggested by a lack of convincing syntactic parallels in Old English (see especially Mitchell 1985b). As Mitchell points out, there are parallels to uerc as subject.
In addition to P and M, scilun (and variant spellings) is found without uue or equivalent in N the uncorrected form of O, and T1 (all reflecting early forms of the West-Saxon eorðan recension); the fact that the West-Saxon eorðan recension appears to acquire a we in the course of its transmission indicates how this reading could have arisen through scribal trivialisation. See also §§ 5.18-5.20 for a discussion.
[3]sue] Howlett suggests that sue 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 sue is a conjunction.
[4]tha] tha 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 tha as an adverb.