Poetry: Theard vs. Weard

(Beowulf's Heofon ricet Theard differs from Caedmon's Heofon rices Weard.)

Crist waer a cennijd
Cyninga wuldor
On midne winter:
Maere theoden!
Ece almihtig!
On thij eahteothan daeg
Hael end gehaten
Heofon ricet theard.

Christ was born
King of glory
In mid-winter:
Illustrious King!
Eternal, Almighty!
On the eighth day
Saviour was called,
Of Heaven’s kingdom ruler.
----
Nu sculon herian heofon-rices Weard,
Metodes meahta and his mod-gethanc,
weorc Wuldor-Faeder, swa he wundra gehwaes,
ece Dryhten, or astealda.
He aerest scop ielda bearnum
heofon to hrofe, halig Scieppend;
tha middan-geard mann-cynnes Weard,
ece Dryhten, aefter teodefirum
foldan Frea aelmihtig.

Now we must praise the Guardian of the kingdom of heaven,
the strength of the measurer and the way of his thoughts,
the work of the Glorious Father as he made every wonder,
Everlasting Lord. He established the beginning,
creating first the children of men,
heaven to roof them, Holy Creator,
the Guardian of middle-earth and mankind,
Everlasting Lord, afterwards He prepared
the earth for men, God Almighty.