Christ III

This passage, about fire engulfing the world at Judgement Day, gives a modern English translation of Christ III, lines 993–1013 (in the line-numbering of the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records):

Seoþeð swearta leg     synne on fordonum, ond goldfrætwe     gleda forswelgað, eall ærgestreon     eþelcyninga.

Þonan ænig ne mæg, firendædum fah,     frið gewinnan, legbryne losian     londes ower, ac þæt fyr nimeð     þurh foldan gehwæt, græfeð grimlice,     georne aseceð innan ond utan     eorðan sceatas, oþþæt eall hafað     ældes leoma woruldwidles wom     wælme forbærned.

Ðonne mihtig god     on þone mæran beorg mid þy mæstan     mægenþrymme cymeð, heofonengla cyning,     halig scineð, wuldorlic ofer weredum,     waldende god, ond hine ymbutan     æþelduguð betast, halge herefeðan,     hlutre blicað, eadig engla gedryht.

[1] The black flame will seethe     sins among the corrupted, And hot coals will devour     gold ornaments, All ancient wealth     of worldly kings.