Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard
 metudæs maecti end his modgidanc
 uerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuaes
 eci dryctin or astelidæ
 he aerist scop aelda barnum
 heben til hrofe haleg scepen.
 tha middungeard moncynnæs uard
 eci dryctin æfter tiadæ
 firum foldu frea allmectigprimo cantauit Cædmon istud carmen.



 Nu scilun herga hefenricæs uard
 metudæs mehti and his modgithanc
 uerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuæs
 eci dryctin or astelidæ.
 he ærist scop ældu barnum
 hefen to hrofæ halig sceppend
 tha middingard moncynn&ealig;s uard
 eci dryctin æfter tiadæ
 firum foldu frea allmehtig





 MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION


 Now let me praise the keeper of Heaven's kingdom,
 The might of the Creator, and his thought,
 The work of the Father of glory, how each of wonders
 The Eternal Lord established in the beginning.
 He first created for the sons of men
 Heaven as a roof, the holy Creator,
 Then Middle-earth the keeper of mankind,
 The Eternal Lord, afterwards made,
 The earth for men, the Almighty Lord.



 In the beginning Caedmon sang this poem.