Exeter Riddle 26

From Cunnan

This is the 26th riddle from The Exeter Book.

Translation

An enemy came,     claiming my life.
My worldly strength     he stripped, then wet me,
Drowned me in water     then drew me out,
Set me in sunshine,     where soon I lost
The hair I had.     A hard edged knife
Cut me and ground me     clean from all grime,
Fingers folded me,     a fine bird's clothing
With swift drops made     many traces
Across my brown skin's breadth,     imbibing the tree-dye,
A valley stream     strode across me
And left a dark path.     A pious man clothed me
In boards, then hauled     hide across me
Bedecked with gold;     I was glad to be bound by
The smith's fine work     of wire around me.
Now the decorations     and the dye of red
In such wonderous forms     give wider fame
To the people's protector     from the pains of hell.
If the children of men     choose to enjoy me
They shall be safer     and surer of victory,
Mightier of heart,     happier of mind,
Wiser of spirit,     wealthier in friends
Who are dearer and faster,     more faithful and better,
Kinder and fairer,     who foster glory
With fondest love      and fellowship,
Kindness links them,     its loving embrace
Holding them soundly.     Say what I am,
That is needful to man.     My name is famous,
A giver of healing,     and holy too.

           Translation by Conrad Leviston.

Original

Mec feonda sum  feore besnyþede, 
woruldstrenga binom,  wætte siþþan, 
dyfde on wætre,  dyde eft þonan, 
sette on sunnan,  þær ic swiþe beleas 
herum þam þe ic hæfde.  Heard mec siþþan 
snað seaxses ecg,  sindrum begrunden; 
fingras feoldan,  ond mec fugles wyn 
geond speddropum  spyrede geneahhe, 
ofer brunne brerd,  beamtelge swealg, 
streames dæle,  stop eft on mec, 
siþade sweartlast.  Mec siþþan wrah 
hæleð hleobordum,  hyde beþenede, 
gierede mec mid golde;  forþon me gliwedon 
wrætlic weorc smiþa,  wire bifongen. 
Nu þa gereno  ond se reada telg 
ond þa wuldorgesteald  wide mære 
dryhtfolca helm,  nales dol wite. 
Gif min bearn wera  brucan willað, 
hy beoð þy gesundran  ond þy sigefæstran, 
heortum þy hwætran  ond þy hygebliþran, 
ferþe þy frodran,  habbaþ freonda þy ma, 
swæsra ond gesibbra,  soþra ond godra, 
tilra ond getreowra,  þa hyra tyr ond ead 
estum ycað  ond hy arstafum 
lissum bilecgað  ond hi lufan fæþmum 
fæste clyppað.  Frige hwæt ic hatte, 
niþum to nytte.  Nama min is mære, 
hæleþum gifre  ond halig sylf. 

Answer

Although some give the conservative anwer book, the answer is almost certainly The Bible. Note that the translation above was made on the assumption of the latter answer.