For both the UK and Scottish Parliaments, the wording of the oath is prescribed by the Promissory Oaths Act 1868. Alternatively, also under the Oaths Act 1978, Members may make a (secular) solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath. The form and manner of administering the oath are also set out in the Oaths Act 1978.

Oath (Promissory Oaths Act 1868)

I (name of Member) swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

Solemn Affirmation (Oaths Act 1978)

I (name of Member) do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law.

Scots Translations with Explanatory Notes - by Dr Dauvit Horsbroch, Scots Language Centre, July 2017

In July 2017, Dr Dauvit Horsbroch, Language and Information Officer of the Scots Language Centre, provided a modern Scots translation of the oath and affirmation. His translation, together with explanatory notes, can be read below.

Oath (Promissory Oaths Act 1868)

A sweir bi Michty God that A will be leal an gie true allegiance til Her Grace Queen Leezabeth, an her heirs whitsaever, conform tae law. As God is tentie.

Solemn Affirmation (Oaths Act 1978)

A div solemnly, aefauldly, an truelins declare an threap, that A will be leal an gie true allegiance til Her Grace Queen Leezabeth, an her heirs whitsaever, conform tae law.

Explanatory Notes

1. Her heirs and successors.

In Scots the established legal phrase which is equivalent to this is ‘heirs whitsaever’ (which has a number of variations) and is defined as ‘heirs of whatever sort, having a right by blood to succeed’. The form here is pronounced as ‘whit-say-ever’. See page 280, Concise Scots Dictionary (Aberdeen University Press,1985).

2. According to law.

In Scots the long-established equivalent to this is ‘conform tae’ which is explained as ‘in conformity or accordance with’. See p. 110, Concise Scots Dictionary.

3. So help me God.

When I had to consider an equivalent way to express this in Scots, I was uncertain as to the original intent in English, so consulted sources and some online academic discussion. The general consensus is that ‘so help me God’ may be explained as ‘I have invoked God as my witness, and if the things I say are not true he/she will not save (help) me but condemn me’. So I translated this into Scots as As God is tentie which may be explained in English as ‘I invoke God as my (ever) watchful judge as to the truth of this’.

4. A div sweir, etc

In Scots the emphatic equivalent of ‘do’ is div and is more appropriate for beginning an oath than unemphatic dae.

5. Til

In Scots ‘to’ takes two forms - tae and til. Til comes before a vowel or words beginning with an H, except when the word following is a verb, then it is simply tae.

6. Faithful

This may be translated into Scots as either aefauld (pronounced a as in stay, faw-ld rhymes with cauld) or as leal (pronounced lee-ull). Scots aefauld also translates English ‘sincere’ so I have used leal for faithful and aefauldly for sincerely.

7. Truly

In Scots something may be true, but we may also say truelins, equivalent to ‘truly’ or ‘indeed’.

8. Affirm

In Scots we threap which means, as a verb, to (a) contend, or (b) assert.

9. Her Majesty

The common convention in Scots, at least in earlier times, was to address a monarch as your grace rather than majesty. I have retained this custom.

10. Elizabeth

The distinct form in Scots is Leezabeth, for which the pet form is Leezie.

Other versions for interest

North East Scots (Doric)

I, (name), depone aat I wull be leal and bear aefauld alleadgance tae her majesty Queen Elizabeth her airs an ony fa come aifter her anent the law/laa. Sae help me God.

I, (name), dee solemly, aefauldly an truly declare and depone at I will be leal and bear aefauld alleadgance tae Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth her airs an ony fa come aifter her anent the law.

Ulster Scots 

A sweer bi Aamichtie God that A wull aye houl a richt leal an faithfu hairt tae Hir Majestie Queen Elsbeth, an Hir line o heirskip, anent tha Laa. Micht God be ma halp an stay.