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English Language has changed tremendously over the
time. Here is one paragraph from Bible in Old English,
Middle English, King James Version and Modern English.
Old English
Soþlice on þam dagum wæs geworden gebod from þam casere
Augusto, þæt eall ymbehwyrft wære tomearcod. Þeos tomearcodnes wæs æryst geworden fram Þam deman Syrige
Cirino. And calle hig eodon, and syndrige ferdon on hyra ceastre. Ða ferde Iosep fram Galilea of þæreceastre Nazareth on Iudeisce ceastre
Dauides, seo is genemned Bethleem, for þam þe he wæs of Dauides huse and
hirede; þæt he ferde mid Marianþe him beweddod wæs, and wæs
geeacnod. Soþlice wæs geworden þa hi þar wæron, hire dags wæron gefyllede pæt heo
cende. And heo cende hyre frumcennedan sunu, and hine mid cildclaþum
bewand, and hine on binne alede, for þam þe hig næfdon rum on cumena
huse. And hydras wæron on þam ylcan rice waciende, and nihtwæccan healdende ofer heora
heorda. Þa stod Drihtnes engel him to cwæs, Nelle ge eow adrædan; soþlice nu ic eow bodie mycelne
gefean, se bio callum folce; for þam to dæg eow ys Hælend acenned, se is Drihten
Crist, on Dauides ceastre. And þa ws færinga geworden mid þam engle mycelnes heofenlices
werydes, God heriendra and þus cweþendra, Gode sy wuldor on
heahnesse, and on eorðan sybb mannum godes willan.
Middle English
(translation by John Wycliffe, c.1380-83)
And it was don in tho daies, a maundement wente out fro the emperour August, thatal the world schulde be
discryued. This firste discryuyng was maad of Cyryn,iustice of
Sirie. And alle men wenten tomake professioun, ech in to his owne
citee. And Joseph went vp fro Galilee, fro the citee Nazareth, in to
Judee, in toa citee of Dauid, that is clepid Bethleem, for that he was of the hous and of the meyne of
Dauid, that he schulde knouleche with Marie, his wijf, thatwas weddid to
hym, and was greet with child. And it was don, while thei weren there, the daies were
fulfillid, that sche schulde bere child. And sche bare hir first borun
sone, and slappide hym in clothis, and leide hym in a cratche, for ther ws no place to hym in no
chaumbir. And scheepherdis weren in the same cuntre, wakynge and kepynge the watchis of the nygt on her
flok. And lo! The aungel of the Lord stood bisidis hem, and the clernesse of God schinede aboute hem; and thei dredden with greet
drede. And the aungel seide to hem, Nyle ye drede; for lo! Ypreche to you a greet
ioye, that schal be to al puple. For a sauyoure is borun to dai to you, that is Crist the Lord, in the citee of
Dauid. And this is a tokene to you; ye schulen fynde a yong child wlappid in clothis,and leid in a
cratche. And sudenli ther was maad with the aungel a multitude of heuenli
knygthod, heriynge God, and seiynge, Glorie be in the higeste thingis to God, and in erthe pees be to men of good
wille.
King James version, c.1604
And it came to passé in those dayes, that thee went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was
governor of Syria) All went to bee taxed, euery one into his owne
citie. And Joseph also went vp fro Galilee, out of the citie of Nazareth, into Judea, vnto the citie of
Dauid, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and linage of
Dauid,) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the dayes were accomplished that she should be
deliuered. And she brought foorth her first borne sonne, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no roome for them in the
Inne. And there were in the same countrey shepheards abiding in y field, keeping watch ouer their flocke by night. And
loe, the Angle of the Lord came vpon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said vnto them, Feare not: For vnto you behold, I bring you good tidings of great
ioy, which shall be to all people. For vnto you is borne this day, in the citie of
Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a signe vnto you; yee shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angle a multitude of the heauenly hoste praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good wil towards men.
Modern English
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David.) To be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and
they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
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