4 Man byð merwe gesceaft, mihtum idel; beoð his dagas swylce demde gelice, swa þu on scimiendre sceade locige.
Dagas mine gedruran swa se deorca scua, and ic hege gelic, swa hit hraðe weornað.
Ic eom scuan gelic swyþe ahylded, oðlæded gōdum swa se gærshoppa.
Ælcne man þu þreast for his agenre scylde and gedest þæt he aswint on his mode and wyrð swa tedre swa swa gangewifran nett, for þam byð ælc man gedrefed and abysgod on idlum sorgum and on ymbhogum.
Hwæðere ge, manna bearn, mānes unlyt wyrceað on wægum and woh doð, and eow beswicað sylfe oftast, þær ge idel gylp on þam ilcan fremmað.
Gemune, mære God, hwæt si min lytle sped; ne huru ðu manna bearn on middangeard to idelnesse æfre geworhtest.