Follow the money. Then translate the cash into certification in a more up to date language. Then use the certification to get a job you actually want...
I think it's harder for a sys analyst to get into programming than for a current programmer to switch teams.
UPDATE
Quite frankly, I was a bit surprised by the comments I received on this, so I'm going to clarify my post.
First, if you want to be a programmer, stay in programmer like jobs. It's hard enough to get in, but, once in, it's easier to change languages.
Second, and more controversial, is my position on following the money. Jobs are temporary. Unless you are unionized or have some other form of protection, it's relatively easy to lose it. By the same token, they are generally fairly easy to get.
If the choice is between two jobs you aren't crazy about ( aka a Morton's Fork ), then pick the one you can more easily leverage into a job you do want. In this case, both the money and the continued work directly programming help provide that leverage.
If you do not choose to expand your standard of living beyond what it is now, then the money can be used to pay for books, training, tools (servers, compilers, etc), and anything else necessary to get a certification. Costs which could easily reach thousands of dollars.
Personally, I don't put much value on a certification itself; however, I do place a lot of value on the hard work it takes to get it. If you are actually dedicated to this, then the training materials will only be one part of your education and acing an interview in a new job hunt will be easy. Further it will give you a solid foundation to build on.
I am a firm believer in working hard and smart now in order to enjoy the fruits of your labor later. Sure the higher paying job means working in a language you may not enjoy but it is only a means to an end. While at the job actually take the time to understand the language used. Programming is as much an art form as it is a job; and knowing other languages (even the crap ones) only strengthens you. The experience you gain will show you exactly why people cringe at it AND give you the knowledge necessary to evaluate which path you want to choose for your future.
Finally, unlike others here, I am not threatened by the success of others. In fact, I feel that our industry as a whole only gets better when colleagues take the time to truly educate themselves in order to provide a higher standard of practice. Further, I am sickened by the sheer number of people I run into that really have no clue what they are doing, or worse, try and hold others back for fear of their own position.
Regardless of the path you choose, I wish you well and am delighted that you are consciously trying to pick a future. Too many people just fall into this.
Finally, I am a programmer, and I own my own company. So take the above as coming from both a colleague and a potential future employer.