Thou, Thee, Thy, Thyself, Thine

It's somehow irritating when I look at words like: thee, thou, thy, thyself and thine.

Not knowing the actual meanings of the words as well as how they're correctly used are definitely not a problem owing to the fact that their attendance at the books is very rare and we'd be considered as very obsolete if we are to use them in daily life.

However, they do really exist in a great abundance on the pages of bible and hymn of praises. It'll be pointless to read from verses to verses, chapters to chapters and even books to books if I can't make a meaning out of the scripture read. And, unfortunately, these words were among those that worsen my understanding of the old-fashionedly-written and hard-to-be-intelligible sentences.

Couldn't bear to read without comprehension, I checked the built-in dictionary in my Mac to look for the meanings of each word. Maybe it's really God's will to make me learn these words cos when I typed 'thou' in the search box, it came out with a whole list, explaining how the words are used in comparison to the 'you, your, yourself' that we're using right now.

* * * Adapted from the dictionary * * *

In modern English, the personal pronoun you (together with the possessives your and yours) covers a number of uses: it is both singular and plural, both objective and subjective, and both formal and familiar. This has not always been the case.

In Old English and Middle English, some of these different functions of you were supplied by different words. Thus,

Thou was at one time the singular subjective case, e.g. thou art a beast, while;

Thee was the singular objective case, e.g. he cares not for thee.

In addition, the form thy (modern equivalent your) was the singular possessive determiner, and;

Thine (modern equivalent yours) the singular possessive pronoun, both corresponding to thee.

The forms you and ye, on the other hand, were at one time reserved for plural uses.

* * * The end of the adapted * * *

So, have thou learn something from thy reading? Thou should practice thyself to gain better understanding. It's none of my business but it's thine if thou wanna use it in thy writing. What I can only say is 'if thou continue to do so, it'd be very old-fashioned of thee' Haha, I have successfully used all the words. *The sentences seem odd, but to me, they are acceptable :P*