Hávamál

Old Norse

Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗

Stanza 1Gáttir allar, áðr gangi fram, um skoðask skyli, um skyggnast skyli, því at óvíst er at vita, hvar óvinir sitja á fleti fyrir.

Stanza 2Gefendr heilir! Gestr er inn kominn, hvar skal sitja sjá? Mjök er bráðr, sá er á bröndum skal síns of freista frama.

Stanza 3Elds er þörf, þeims inn er kominn ok á kné kalinn; matar ok váða er manni þörf, þeim er hefr um fjall farit.

Stanza 4Vatns er þörf, þeim er til verðar kemr, þerru ok þjóðlaðar, góðs of æðis, ef sér geta mætti, orðs ok endrþögu.

Stanza 5Vits er þörf, þeim er víða ratar; dælt er heima hvat; at augabragði verðr, sá er ekki kann ok með snotrum sitr.

Stanza 6At hyggjandi sinni skyli-t maðr hræsinn vera, heldr gætinn at geði; þá er horskr ok þögull kemr heimisgarða til, sjaldan verðr víti vörum, því at óbrigðra vin fær maðr aldregi en mannvit mikit.

Stanza 7Inn vari gestr, er til verðar kemr, þunnu hljóði þegir, eyrum hlýðir, en augum skoðar; svá nýsisk fróðra hverr fyrir.

Stanza 8Hinn er sæll, er sér of getr lof ok líknstafi; ódælla er við þat, er maðr eiga skal annars brjóstum í.

Stanza 9Sá er sæll, er sjalfr of á lof ok vit, meðan lifir; því at ill ráð hefr maðr oft þegit annars brjóstum ór.

Stanza 10Byrði betri berr-at maðr brautu at en sé mannvit mikit; auði betra þykkir þat í ókunnum stað; slíkt er válaðs vera.

Stanza 11Byrði betri berr-at maðr brautu at en sé mannvit mikit; vegnest verra vegr-a hann velli at en sé ofdrykkja öls.

Stanza 12Er-a svá gótt sem gótt kveða öl alda sona, því at færa veit, er fleira drekkr síns til geðs gumi.

Stanza 13Óminnishegri heitir sá er yfir ölðrum þrumir, hann stelr geði guma; þess fugls fjöðrum ek fjötraðr vark í garði Gunnlaðar.

Stanza 14Ölr ek varð, varð ofrölvi at ins fróða Fjalars; því er ölðr bazt, at aftr of heimtir hverr sitt geð gumi.

Stanza 15Þagalt ok hugalt skyli þjóðans barn ok vígdjarft vera; glaðr ok reifr skyli gumna hverr, unz sinn bíðr bana.

Stanza 16Ósnjallr maðr hyggsk munu ey lifa, ef hann við víg varask; en elli gefr hánum engi frið, þótt hánum geirar gefi.

Stanza 17Kópir afglapi er til kynnis kemr, þylsk hann um eða þrumir; allt er senn, ef hann sylg of getr, uppi er þá geð guma.

Stanza 18Sá einn veit er víða ratar ok hefr fjölð of farit, hverju geði stýrir gumna hverr, sá er vitandi er vits.

Stanza 19Haldi-t maðr á keri, drekki þó at hófi mjöð, mæli þarft eða þegi, ókynnis þess vár þik engi maðr, at þú gangir snemma at sofa.

Stanza 20Gráðugr halr, nema geðs viti, etr sér aldrtrega; oft fær hlægis, er með horskum kemr, manni heimskum magi.

Stanza 21Hjarðir þat vitu, nær þær heim skulu, ok ganga þá af grasi; en ósviðr maðr kann ævagi síns of mál maga.

Stanza 22Vesall maðr ok illa skapi hlær at hvívetna; hittki hann veit, er hann vita þyrfti, at hann er-a vamma vanr.

Stanza 23Ósviðr maðr vakir um allar nætr ok hyggr at hvívetna; þá er móðr, er at morgni kemr, allt er víl sem var.

Stanza 24Ósnotr maðr hyggr sér alla vera viðhlæjendr vini; hittki hann fiðr, þótt þeir um hann fár lesi, ef hann með snotrum sitr.

Stanza 25Ósnotr maðr hyggr sér alla vera viðhlæjendr vini; þá þat finnr, er at þingi kemr, at hann á formælendr fáa.

Stanza 26Ósnotr maðr þykkisk allt vita, ef hann á sér í vá veru; hittki hann veit, hvat hann skal við kveða, ef hans freista firar.

Stanza 27Ósnotr maðr, er með aldir kemr, þat er bazt, at hann þegi; engi þat veit, at hann ekki kann, nema hann mæli til margt; veit-a maðr, hinn er vettki veit, þótt hann mæli til margt.

Stanza 28Fróðr sá þykkisk, er fregna kann ok segja it sama; eyvitu leyna megu ýta synir, því er gengr um guma.

Stanza 29Ærna mælir, sá er æva þegir, staðlausu stafi; hraðmælt tunga, nema haldendr eigi, oft sér ógótt of gelr.

Stanza 30At augabragði skal-a maðr annan hafa, þótt til kynnis komi; margr þá fróðr þykkisk, ef hann freginn er-at ok nái hann þurrfjallr þruma.

Stanza 31Fróðr þykkisk, sá er flótta tekr, gestr at gest hæðinn; veit-a görla, sá er of verði glissir, þótt hann með grömum glami.

Stanza 32Gumnar margir erusk gagnhollir, en at virði vrekask; aldar róg þat mun æ vera, órir gestr við gest.

Stanza 33Árliga verðar skyli maðr oft fáa, nema til kynnis komi: str ok snópir, lætr sem solginn sé ok kann fregna at fáu.

Stanza 34Afhvarf mikit er til ills vinar, þótt á brautu búi, en til góðs vinar liggja gagnvegir, þótt hann sé firr farinn.

Stanza 35Ganga skal, skal-a gestr vera ey í einum stað; ljúfr verðr leiðr, ef lengi sitr annars fletjum á.

Stanza 36Bú er betra, þótt lítit sé, halr er heima hverr; þótt tvær geitr eigi ok taugreftan sal, þat er þó betra en bæn.

Stanza 37Bú er betra, þótt lítit sé, halr er heima hverr; blóðugt er hjarta, þeim er biðja skal sér í mál hvert matar.

Stanza 38Vápnum sínum skal-a maðr velli á feti ganga framar, því at óvíst er at vita, nær verðr á vegum úti geirs of þörf guma.

Stanza 39Fannk-a ek mildan mann eða svá matar góðan, at væri-t þiggja þegit, eða síns féar svági [glöggvan], at leið sé laun, ef þægi.

Stanza 40Féar síns, er fengit hefr, skyli-t maðr þörf þola; oft sparir leiðum, þats hefr ljúfum hugat; margt gengr verr en varir.

Stanza 41Vápnum ok váðum skulu vinir gleðjask; þat er á sjalfum sýnst; viðrgefendr ok endrgefendr erusk lengst vinir, ef þat bíðr at verða vel.

Stanza 42Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf; hlátr við hlátri skyli hölðar taka en lausung við lygi.

Stanza 43Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera, þeim ok þess vin; en óvinar síns skyli engi maðr vinar vinr vera.

Stanza 44Veiztu, ef þú vin átt, þann er þú vel trúir, ok vill þú af hánum gótt geta, geði skaltu við þann blanda ok gjöfum skipta, fara at finna oft.

Stanza 45Ef þú átt annan, þanns þú illa trúir, vildu af hánum þó gótt geta, fagrt skaltu við þann mæla en flátt hyggja ok gjalda lausung við lygi.

Stanza 46Það er enn of þann er þú illa trúir ok þér er grunr at hans geði, hlæja skaltu við þeim ok um hug mæla; glík skulu gjöld gjöfum.

Stanza 47Ungr var ek forðum, fór ek einn saman, þá varð ek villr vega; auðigr þóttumk, er ek annan fann, maðr er manns gaman.

Stanza 48Mildir, fræknir menn bazt lifa, sjaldan sút ala; en ósnjallr maðr uggir hotvetna, sýtir æ glöggr við gjöfum.

Stanza 49Váðir mínar gaf ek velli at tveim trémönnum; rekkar þat þóttusk, er þeir rift höfðu; neiss er nökkviðr halr.

Stanza 50Hrörnar þöll, sú er stendr þorpi á, hlýr-at henni börkr né barr; svá er maðr, sá er manngi ann. Hvat skal hann lengi lifa?

Stanza 51Eldi heitari brennr með illum vinum friðr fimm daga, en þá sloknar, er inn sétti kemr, ok versnar allr vinskapr.

Stanza 52Mikit eitt skal-a manni gefa; oft kaupir sér í litlu lof, með halfum hleif ok með höllu keri fekk ek mér félaga.

Stanza 53Lítilla sanda lítilla sæva lítil eru geð guma; því allir menn urðu-t jafnspakir; half er öld hvar.

Stanza 54Meðalsnotr skyli manna hverr; æva til snotr sé; þeim er fyrða fegrst at lifa, er vel margt vitu.

Stanza 55Meðalsnotr skyli manna hverr, æva til snotr sé; því at snotrs manns hjarta verðr sjaldan glatt, ef sá er alsnotr, er á.

Stanza 56Meðalsnotr skyli manna hverr, æva til snotr sé; örlög sín viti engi fyrir, þeim er sorgalausastr sefi.

Stanza 57Brandr af brandi brenn, unz brunninn er, funi kveikisk af funa; maðr af manni verðr at máli kuðr, en til dælskr af dul.

Stanza 58Ár skal rísa, sá er annars vill fé eða fjör hafa; sjaldan liggjandi ulfr lær of getr né sofandi maðr sigr.

Stanza 59Ár skal rísa, sá er á yrkjendr fáa, ok ganga síns verka á vit; margt of dvelr, þann er um morgin sefr, hálfr er auðr und hvötum.

Stanza 60Þurra skíða ok þakinna næfra, þess kann maðr mjöt, þess viðar, er vinnask megi mál ok misseri.

Stanza 61Þveginn ok mettr ríði maðr þingi at, þótt hann sé-t væddr til vel; skúa ok bróka skammisk engi maðr né hests in heldr, þótt hann hafi-t góðan

Stanza 62Snapir ok gnapir, er til sævar kemr, örn á aldinn mar; svá er maðr, er með mörgum kemr ok á formælendr fáa.

Stanza 63Fregna ok segja skal fróðra hverr, sá er vill heitinn horskr; einn vita né annarr skal, þjóð veit, ef þrír ro.

Stanza 64Ríki sitt skyli ráðsnotra hverr í hófi hafa; þá hann þat finnr, er með fræknum kemr at engi er einna hvatastr.

Stanza 65orða þeira,

er maðr öðrum segir

oft hann gjöld of getr.

Stanza 66Mikilsti snemma kom ek í marga staði, en til síð í suma; öl var drukkit, sumt var ólagat, sjaldan hittir leiðr í líð.

Stanza 67Hér ok hvar myndi mér heim of boðit, ef þyrftak at málungi mat, eða tvau lær hengi at ins tryggva vinar, þars ek hafða eitt etit.

Stanza 68Eldr er beztr með ýta sonum ok sólar sýn, heilyndi sitt, ef maðr hafa náir, án við löst at lifa.

Stanza 69Er-at maðr alls vesall, þótt hann sé illa heill; sumr er af sonum sæll, sumr af frændum, sumr af fé ærnu, sumr af verkum vel.

Stanza 70Betra er lifðum en sé ólifðum, ey getr kvikr kú; eld sá ek upp brenna auðgum manni fyrir, en úti var dauðr fyr durum.

Stanza 71Haltr ríðr hrossi, hjörð rekr handar vanr, daufr vegr ok dugir, blindr er betri en brenndr séi, nýtr manngi nás.

Stanza 72Sonr er betri, þótt sé síð of alinn eftir genginn guma; sjaldan bautarsteinar standa brautu nær, nema reisi niðr at nið.

Stanza 73Tveir ro eins herjar, tunga er höfuðs bani; er mér í heðin hvern handar væni.

Stanza 74Nótt verðr feginn sá er nesti trúir, skammar ro skips ráar; hverf er haustgríma; fjölð of viðrir á fimm dögum en meira á mánuði.

Stanza 75Veit-a hinn, er vettki veit, margr verðr af aurum api; maðr er auðigr, annar óauðigr, skyli-t þann vítka váar.

Stanza 76Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjalfr it sama, en orðstírr deyr aldregi, hveim er sér góðan getr.

Stanza 77Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjalfr it sama, ek veit einn, at aldrei deyr: dómr um dauðan hvern.

Stanza 78Fullar grindr sá ek fyr Fitjungs sonum, nú bera þeir vánar völ; svá er auðr sem augabragð, hann er valtastr vina.

Stanza 79Ósnotr maðr, ef eignask getr fé eða fljóðs munuð, metnaðr hánum þróask, en mannvit aldregi, fram gengr hann drjúgt í dul.

Stanza 80Þat er þá reynt, er þú að rúnum spyrr inum reginkunnum, þeim er gerðu ginnregin ok fáði fimbulþulr, þá hefir hann bazt, ef hann þegir.

Stanza 81At kveldi skal dag leyfa, konu, er brennd er, mæki, er reyndr er, mey, er gefin er, ís, er yfir kemr, öl, er drukkit er.

Stanza 82Í vindi skal við höggva, veðri á sjó róa, myrkri við man spjalla, mörg eru dags augu; á skip skal skriðar orka, en á skjöld til hlífar, mæki höggs, en mey til kossa.

Stanza 83Við eld skal öl drekka, en á ísi skríða, magran mar kaupa, en mæki saurgan, heima hest feita, en hund á búi.

II.

Stanza 84Meyjar orðum skyli manngi trúa né því, er kveðr kona, því at á hverfanda hvéli váru þeim hjörtu sköpuð, brigð í brjóst of lagið.

Stanza 85Brestanda boga, brennanda loga, gínanda ulfi, galandi kráku, rýtanda svíni, rótlausum viði, vaxanda vági, vellanda katli,

Stanza 86Fljúganda fleini, fallandi báru, ísi einnættum, ormi hringlegnum, brúðar beðmálum eða brotnu sverði, bjarnar leiki eða barni konungs.

Stanza 87Sjúkum kalfi, sjalfráða þræli, völu vilmæli, val nýfelldum.

Stanza 88Akri ársánum trúi engi maðr né til snemma syni, - veðr ræðr akri. en vit syni; hætt er þeira hvárt.

Stanza 89Bróðurbana sínum þótt á brautu mæti, húsi hálfbrunnu, hesti alskjótum, - þá er jór ónýtr, ef einn fótr brotnar -, verði-t maðr svá tryggr at þessu trúi öllu.

Stanza 90Svá er friðr kvenna, þeira er flátt hyggja, sem aki jó óbryddum á ísi hálum, teitum, tvévetrum ok sé tamr illa, eða í byr óðum beiti stjórnlausu, eða skyli haltr henda hrein í þáfjalli.

Stanza 91Bert ek nú mæli, því at ek bæði veit, brigðr er karla hugr konum; þá vér fegrst mælum, er vér flást hyggjum: þat tælir horska hugi.

Stanza 92Fagrt skal mæla ok fé bjóða, sá er vill fljóðs ást fá, líki leyfa ins ljósa mans, sá fær, er fríar.

Stanza 93Ástar firna skyli engi maðr annan aldregi; oft fá á horskan, er á heimskan né fá, lostfagrir litir.

Stanza 94Eyvitar firna er maðr annan skal, þess er um margan gengr guma; heimska ór horskum gerir hölða sonu sá inn máttki munr.

Stanza 95Hugr einn þat veit, er býr hjarta nær, einn er hann sér of sefa; öng er sótt verri hveim snotrum manni en sér engu at una.

Stanza 96Þat ek þá reynda, er ek í reyri sat, ok vættak míns munar; hold ok hjarta var mér in horska mær; þeygi ek hana at heldr hefik.

Stanza 97Billings mey ek fann beðjum á sólhvíta sofa; jarls ynði þótti mér ekki vera nema við þat lík at lifa.

Stanza 98"Auk nær aftni skaltu, Óðinn, koma, ef þú vilt þér mæla man; allt eru ósköp, nema einir viti slíkan löst saman."

Stanza 99Aftr ek hvarf ok unna þóttumk vísum vilja frá; hitt ek hugða, at ek hafa mynda geð hennar allt ok gaman.

Stanza 100Svá kom ek næst, at in nýta var vígdrótt öll of vakin með brennandum ljósum ok bornum viði, svá var mér vílstígr of vitaðr.

Stanza 101Auk nær morgni, er ek var enn of kominn, þá var saldrótt of sofin; grey eitt ek þá fann innar góðu konu bundit beðjum á.

Stanza 102Mörg er góð mær, ef görva kannar, hugbrigð við hali; þá ek þat reynda, er it ráðspaka teygða ek á flærðir fljóð; háðungar hverrar leitaði mér it horska man, ok hafða ek þess vettki vífs.

III.

Stanza 103Heima glaðr gumi ok við gesti reifr, sviðr skal um sig vera, minnigr ok málugr, ef hann vill margfróðr vera, oft skal góðs geta; fimbulfambi heitir, sá er fátt kann segja, þat er ósnotrs aðal.

Stanza 104Inn aldna jötun ek sótta, nú em ek aftr of kominn: fátt gat ek þegjandi þar; mörgum orðum mælta ek í minn frama í Suttungs sölum.

Stanza 105Gunnlöð mér of gaf gullnum stóli á drykk ins dýra mjaðar; ill iðgjöld lét ek hana eftir hafa síns ins heila hugar, síns ins svára sefa.

Stanza 106Rata munn létumk rúms of fá ok um grjót gnaga; yfir ok undir stóðumk jötna vegir, svá hætta ek höfði til.

Stanza 107Vel keypts litar hefi ek vel notit, fás er fróðum vant, því at Óðrerir er nú upp kominn á alda vés jaðar.

Stanza 108Ifi er mér á, at ek væra enn kominn jötna görðum ór, ef ek Gunnlaðar né nytak, innar góðu konu, þeirar er lögðumk arm yfir.

Stanza 109Ins hindra dags gengu hrímþursar Háva ráðs at fregna Háva höllu í; at Bölverki þeir spurðu, ef hann væri með böndum kominn eða hefði hánum Suttungr of sóit.

Stanza 110Baugeið Óðinn, hygg ek, at unnit hafi; hvat skal hans tryggðum trúa? Suttung svikinn hann lét sumbli frá ok grætta Gunnlöðu.

IV.

Stanza 111Mál er at þylja þular stóli á Urðarbrunni at, sá ek ok þagðak, sá ek ok hugðak, hlýdda ek á manna mál; of rúnar heyrða ek dæma, né of ráðum þögðu Háva höllu at, Háva höllu í, heyrða ek segja svá:

Stanza 112Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: nótt þú rís-at nema á njósn séir eða þú leitir þér innan út staðar.

Stanza 113Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: fjölkunnigri konu skal-at-tu í faðmi sofa, svá at hon lyki þik liðum.

Stanza 114Hon svá gerir, at þú gáir eigi þings né þjóðans máls; mat þú vill-at né mannskis gaman, ferr þú sorgafullr at sofa.

Stanza 115Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: annars konu teygðu þér aldregi eyrarúnu at.

Stanza 116Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: á fjalli eða firði, ef þik fara tíðir, fásktu at virði vel.

Stanza 117Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: illan mann láttu aldregi óhöpp at þér vita, því at af illum manni fær þú aldregi gjöld ins góða hugar.

Stanza 118Ofarla bíta ek sá einum hal orð illrar konu; fláráð tunga varð hánum at fjörlagi ok þeygi of sanna sök.

Stanza 119Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: veistu, ef þú vin átt, þann er þú vel trúir, far þú at finna oft, því at hrísi vex ok hávu grasi vegr, er vættki treðr.

Stanza 120Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: góðan mann teygðu þér at gamanrúnum ok nem líknargaldr, meðan þú lifir.

Stanza 121Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: vin þínum ver þú aldregi fyrri at flaumslitum; sorg etr hjarta, ef þú segja né náir einhverjum allan hug.

Stanza 122Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: orðum skipta þú skalt aldregi við ósvinna apa,

Stanza 123Því at af illum manni mundu aldregi góðs laun of geta, en góðr maðr mun þik gerva mega líknfastan at lofi.

Stanza 124Sifjum er þá blandat, hver er segja ræðr einum allan hug; allt er betra en sé brigðum at vera; er-a sá vinr öðrum, er vilt eitt segir.

Stanza 125Ráðumk, þér Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: þrimr orðum senna skal-at-tu þér við verra mann oft inn betri bilar, þá er inn verri vegr.

Stanza 126Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: skósmiðr þú verir né skeftismiðr, nema þú sjalfum þér séir: skór er skapaðr illa eða skaft sé rangt, þá er þér böls beðit.

Stanza 127Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: hvars þú böl kannt, kveð þú þér bölvi at ok gef-at þínum fjándum frið.

Stanza 128Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: illu feginn ver þú aldregi, en lát þér at góðu getit.

Stanza 129Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: upp líta skal-at-tu í orrustu, - gjalti glíkir verða gumna synir, - síðr þitt of heilli halir.

Stanza 130Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: ef þú vilt þér góða konu kveðja at gamanrúnum ok fá fögnuð af, fögru skaltu heita ok láta fast vera; leiðisk manngi gótt, ef getr.

Stanza 131Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: varan bið ek þik vera ok eigi ofvaran; ver þú við öl varastr ok við annars konu ok við þat it þriðja, at þjófar né leiki.

Stanza 132Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: at háði né hlátri hafðu aldregi gest né ganganda.

Stanza 133Oft vitu ógörla, þeir er sitja inni fyrir, hvers þeir ro kyns, er koma; er-at maðr svá góðr at galli né fylgi, né svá illr, at einugi dugi.

Stanza 134Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: at hárum þul hlæ þú aldregi, oft er gótt, þat er gamlir kveða; oft ór skörpum belg skilin orð koma þeim er hangir með hám ok skollir með skrám ok váfir með vílmögum.

Stanza 135Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: gest þú né geyja né á grind hrekir; get þú váluðum vel.

Stanza 136Rammt er þat tré, er ríða skal öllum at upploki; baug þú gef, eða þat biðja mun þér læs hvers á liðu.

Stanza 137Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, - njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð, ef þú getr -: hvars þú öl drekkir, kjós þér jarðar megin, því at jörð tekr við ölðri, en eldr við sóttum, eik við abbindi, ax við fjölkynngi, höll við hýrógi, - heiftum skal mána kveðja, - beiti við bitsóttum, en við bölvi rúnar, fold skal við flóði taka.

V.

Stanza 138Veit ek, at ek hekk vindga meiði á nætr allar níu, geiri undaðr ok gefinn Óðni, sjalfr sjalfum mér, á þeim meiði, er manngi veit hvers af rótum renn.

Stanza 139Við hleifi mik sældu né við hornigi; nýsta ek niðr, nam ek upp rúnar, æpandi nam, fell ek aftr þaðan.

Stanza 140Fimbulljóð níu nam ek af inum frægja syni Bölþorns, Bestlu föður, ok ek drykk of gat ins dýra mjaðar, ausinn Óðreri.

Stanza 141Þá nam ek frævask ok fróðr vera ok vaxa ok vel hafask, orð mér af orði orðs leitaði, verk mér af verki verks leitaði.

Stanza 142Rúnar munt þú finna ok ráðna stafi, mjök stóra stafi, mjök stinna stafi, er fáði fimbulþulr ok gerðu ginnregin ok reist hroftr rögna.

Stanza 143Óðinn með ásum, en fyr alfum Dáinn, Dvalinn ok dvergum fyrir, Ásviðr jötnum fyrir, ek reist sjalfr sumar.

Stanza 144Veistu, hvé rísta skal? Veistu, hvé ráða skal? Veistu, hvé fáa skal? Veistu, hvé freista skal? Veistu, hvé biðja skal? Veistu, hvé blóta skal? Veistu, hvé senda skal? Veistu, hvé sóa skal?

Stanza 145Betra er óbeðit en sé ofblótit, ey sér til gildis gjöf; betra er ósent en sé ofsóit. Svá Þundr of reist fyr þjóða rök, þar hann upp of reis, er hann aftr of kom.

VI.

Stanza 146Ljóð ek þau kann, er kann-at þjóðans kona ok mannskis mögr. Hjalp heitir eitt, en þat þér hjalpa mun við sökum ok sorgum ok sútum görvöllum.

Stanza 147Þat kann ek annat, er þurfu ýta synir, þeir er vilja læknar lifa.

Stanza 148Það kann ek þriðja: ef mér verðr þörf mikil hafts við mína heiftmögu, eggjar ek deyfi minna andskota, bíta-t þeim vápn né velir.

Stanza 149Þat kann ek it fjórða: ef mér fyrðar bera bönd að boglimum, svá ek gel, at ek ganga má, sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr, en af höndum haft.

Stanza 150Þat kann ek it fimmta: ef ek sé af fári skotinn flein í folki vaða, fýgr-a hann svá stinnt, at ek stöðvig-a-k, ef ek hann sjónum of sék.

Stanza 151Þat kann ek it sétta: ef mik særir þegn á vrótum hrás viðar, ok þann hal er mik heifta kveðr, þann eta mein heldr en mik.

Stanza 152Þat kann ek it sjaunda: ef ek sé hávan loga sal of sessmögum, brennr-at svá breitt, at ek hánum bjargig-a-k; þann kann ek galdr at gala.

Stanza 153Þat kann ek it átta, er öllum er nytsamligt at nema: hvars hatr vex með hildings sonum þat má ek bæta brátt.

Stanza 154Þat kann ek it níunda: ef mik nauðr of stendr at bjarga fari mínu á floti, vind ek kyrri vági á ok svæfik allan sæ.

Stanza 155Þat kann ek it tíunda: ef ek sé túnriður leika lofti á, ek svá vinnk, at þær villar fara sinna heimhama, sinna heimhuga.

Stanza 156Þat kann ek it ellifta: ef ek skal til orrostu leiða langvini, und randir ek gel, en þeir með ríki fara heilir hildar til, heilir hildi frá, koma þeir heilir hvaðan.

Stanza 157Þat kann ek it tolfta: ef ek sé á tré uppi váfa virgilná, svá ek ríst ok í rúnum fák, at sá gengr gumi ok mælir við mik.

Stanza 158Þat kann ek it þrettánda: ef ek skal þegn ungan verpa vatni á, mun-at hann falla, þótt hann í folk komi, hnígr-a sá halr fyr hjörum.

Stanza 159Þat kann ek it fjögurtánda: ef ek skal fyrða liði telja tíva fyrir, ása ok alfa ek kann allra skil; fár kann ósnotr svá.

Stanza 160Þat kann ek it fimmtánda er gól Þjóðrerir dvergr fyr Dellings durum: afl gól hann ásum, en alfum frama, hyggju Hroftatý.

Stanza 161Þat kann ek it sextánda: ef ek vil ins svinna mans hafa geð allt ok gaman, hugi ek hverfi hvítarmri konu, ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa.

Stanza 162Þat kann ek it sjautjánda at mik mun seint firrask it manunga man. Ljóða þessa mun þú, Loddfáfnir, lengi vanr vera; þó sé þér góð, ef þú getr, nýt ef þú nemr, þörf ef þú þiggr.

Stanza 163Þat kann ek it átjánda, er ek æva kennik mey né manns konu, - allt er betra, er einn of kann; þat fylgir ljóða lokum, - nema þeiri einni, er mik armi verr, eða mín systir sé.

VII.

Stanza 164Nú eru Háva mál kveðin Háva höllu í, allþörf ýta sonum, óþörf jötna sonum; heill sá, er kvað, heill sá, er kann, njóti sá, er nam, heilir, þeirs hlýddu.

English translation

Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗

Stanza 1Within the gates | ere a man shall go, (Full warily let him watch,) Full long let him look about him; For little he knows | where a foe may lurk, And sit in the seats within.

Stanza 2Hail to the giver! | a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit? Swift shall he be who, | with swords shall try The proof of his might to make.

Stanza 3Fire he needs | who with frozen knees Has come from the cold without; Food and clothes | must the farer have, The man from the mountains come.

Stanza 4Water and towels | and welcoming speech Should he find who comes, to the feast; If renown he would get, | and again be greeted, Wisely and well must he act.

Stanza 5Wits must he have | who wanders wide, But all is easy at home; At the witless man | the wise shall wink When among such men he sits.

Stanza 6A man shall not boast | of his keenness of mind, But keep it close in his breast; To the silent and wise | does ill come seldom When he goes as guest to a house; (For a faster friend | one never finds Than wisdom tried and true.)

Stanza 7The knowing guest | who goes to the feast, In silent attention sits; With his ears he hears, | with his eyes he watches, Thus wary are wise men all.

Stanza 8Happy the one | who wins for himself Favor and praises fair; Less safe by far | is the wisdom found That is hid in another's heart.

Stanza 9Happy the man | who has while he lives Wisdom and praise as well, For evil counsel | a man full oft Has from another's heart.

Stanza 10A better burden | may no man bear For wanderings wide than wisdom; It is better than wealth | on unknown ways, And in grief a refuge it gives.

Stanza 11A better burden | may no man bear For wanderings wide than wisdom; Worse food for the journey | he brings not afield Than an over-drinking of ale.

Stanza 12Less good there lies | than most believe In ale for mortal men; For the more he drinks | the less does man Of his mind the mastery hold.

Stanza 13Over beer the bird | of forgetfulness broods, And steals the minds of men; With the heron's feathers | fettered I lay And in Gunnloth's house was held.

Stanza 14Drunk I was, | I was dead-drunk, When with Fjalar wise I was; 'Tis the best of drinking | if back one brings His wisdom with him home.

Stanza 15The son of a king | shall be silent and wise, And bold in battle as well; Bravely and gladly | a man shall go, Till the day of his death is come.

Stanza 16The sluggard believes | he shall live forever, If the fight he faces not; But age shall not grant him | the gift of peace, Though spears may spare his life.

Stanza 17The fool is agape | when he comes to the feast, He stammers or else is still; But soon if he gets | a drink is it seen What the mind of the man is like.

Stanza 18He alone is aware | who has wandered wide, And far abroad has fared, How great a mind | is guided by him That wealth of wisdom has.

Stanza 19Shun not the mead, | but drink in measure; Speak to the point or be still; For rudeness none | shall rightly blame thee If soon thy bed thou seekest.

Stanza 20The greedy man, | if his mind be vague, Will eat till sick he is; The vulgar man, | when among the wise, To scorn by his belly is brought.

Stanza 21The herds know well | when home they shall fare, And then from the grass they go; But the foolish man | his belly's measure Shall never know aright.

Stanza 22A paltry man | and poor of mind At all things ever mocks; For never he knows, | what he ought to know, That he is not free from faults.

Stanza 23The witless man | is awake all night, Thinking of many things; Care-worn he is | when the morning comes, And his woe is just as it was.

Stanza 24The foolish man | for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; When among the wise | he marks it not Though hatred of him they speak.

Stanza 25The foolish man | for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; But the truth when he comes | to the council he learns, That few in his favor will speak.

Stanza 26An ignorant man | thinks that all he knows, When he sits by himself in a corner; But never what answer | to make he knows, When others with questions come.

Stanza 27A witless man, | when he meets with men, Had best in silence abide; For no one shall find | that nothing he knows, If his mouth is not open too much. (But a man knows not, | if nothing he knows, When his mouth has been open too much.)

Stanza 28Wise shall he seem | who well can question, And also answer well; Nought is concealed | that men may say Among the sons of men.

Stanza 29Often he speaks | who never is still With words that win no faith; The babbling tongue, | if a bridle it find not, Oft for itself sings ill.

Stanza 30In mockery no one | a man shall hold, Although he fare to the feast; Wise seems one oft, | if nought he is asked, And safely he sits dry-skinned.

Stanza 31Wise a guest holds it | to take to his heels, When mock of another he makes; But little he knows | who laughs at the feast, Though he mocks in the midst of his foes.

Stanza 32Friendly of mind | are many men, Till feasting they mock at their friends; To mankind a bane | must it ever be When guests together strive.

Stanza 33Oft should one make | an early meal, Nor fasting come to the feast; Else he sits and chews | as if he would choke, And little is able to ask.

Stanza 34Crooked and far | is the road to a foe, Though his house on the highway be; But wide and straight | is the way to a friend, Though far away he fare.

Stanza 35Forth shall one go, | nor stay as a guest In a single spot forever; Love becomes loathing | if long one sits By the hearth in another's home.

Stanza 36Better a house, | though a hut it be, A man is master at home; A pair of goats | and a patched-up roof Are better far than begging.

Stanza 37Better a house, | though a hut it be, A man is master at home; His heart is bleeding | who needs must beg When food he fain would have.

Stanza 38Away from his arms | in the open field A man should fare not a foot; For never he knows | when the need for a spear Shall arise on the distant road.

Stanza 39If wealth a man | has won for himself, Let him never suffer in need; Oft he saves for a foe | what he plans for a friend, For much goes worse than we wish.

Stanza 40None so free with gifts | or food have I found That gladly he took not a gift, Nor one who so widely | scattered his wealth That of recompense hatred he had.

Stanza 41Friends shall gladden each other | with arms and garments, As each for himself can see; Gift-givers' friendships | are longest found, If fair their fates may be.

Stanza 42To his friend a man | a friend shall prove, And gifts with gifts requite; But men shall mocking | with mockery answer, And fraud with falsehood meet.

Stanza 43To his friend a man | a friend shall prove, To him and the friend of his friend; But never a man | shall friendship make With one of his foeman's friends.

Stanza 44If a friend thou hast | whom thou fully wilt trust, And good from him wouldst get, Thy thoughts with his mingle, | and gifts shalt thou make, And fare to find him oft.

Stanza 45If another thou hast | whom thou hardly wilt trust, Yet good from him wouldst get, Thou shalt speak him fair, | but falsely think, And fraud with falsehood requite.

Stanza 46So is it with him | whom thou hardly wilt trust, And whose mind thou mayst not know; Laugh with him mayst thou, | but speak not thy mind, Like gifts to his shalt thou give.

Stanza 47Young was I once, | and wandered alone, And nought of the road I knew; Rich did I feel | when a comrade I found, For man is man's delight.

Stanza 48The lives of the brave | and noble are best, Sorrows they seldom feed; But the coward fear | of all things feels, And not gladly the niggard gives.

Stanza 49My garments once | in a field I gave To a pair of carven poles; Heroes they seemed | when clothes they had, But the naked man is nought.

Stanza 50On the hillside drear | the fir-tree dies, All bootless its needles and bark; It is like a man | whom no one loves,-- Why should his life be long?

Stanza 51Hotter than fire | between false friends Does friendship five days burn; When the sixth day comes | the fire cools, And ended is all the love.

Stanza 52No great thing needs | a man to give, Oft little will purchase praise; With half a loaf | and a half-filled cup A friend full fast I made.

Stanza 53A little sand | has a little sea, And small are the minds of men; Though all men are not | equal in wisdom, Yet half-wise only are all.

Stanza 54A measure of wisdom | each man shall have, But never too much let him know; The fairest lives | do those men live Whose wisdom wide has grown.

Stanza 55A measure of wisdom | each man shall have, But never too much let him know; For the wise man's heart | is seldom happy, If wisdom too great he has won.

Stanza 56A measure of wisdom | each man shall have, But never too much let him know; Let no man the fate | before him see, For so is he freest from sorrow.

Stanza 57A brand from a brand | is kindled and burned, And fire from fire begotten; And man by his speech | is known to men, And the stupid by their stillness.

Stanza 58He must early go forth | who fain the blood Or the goods of another would get; The wolf that lies idle | shall win little meat, Or the sleeping man success.

Stanza 59He must early go forth | whose workers are few, Himself his work to seek; Much remains undone | for the morning-sleeper, For the swift is wealth half won.

Stanza 60Of seasoned shingles | and strips of bark For the thatch let one know his need, And how much of wood | he must have for a month, Or in half a year he will use.

Stanza 61Washed and fed | to the council fare, But care not too much for thy clothes; Let none be ashamed | of his shoes and hose, Less still of the steed he rides, (Though poor be the horse he has.)

Stanza 62When the eagle comes | to the ancient sea, He snaps and hangs his head; So is a man | in the midst of a throng, Who few to speak for him finds.

Stanza 63To question and answer | must all be ready Who wish to be known as wise; Tell one thy thoughts, | but beware of two,-- All know what is known to three.

Stanza 64The man who is prudent | a measured use Of the might he has will make; He finds when among | the brave he fares That the boldest he may not be.

Stanza 65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oft for the words | that to others one speaks He will get but an evil gift.

Stanza 66Too early to many | a meeting I came, And some too late have I sought; The beer was all drunk, | or not yet brewed; Little the loathed man finds.

Stanza 67To their homes men would bid | me hither and yon, If at meal-time I needed no meat, Or would hang two hams | in my true friend's house, Where only one I had eaten.

Stanza 68Fire for men | is the fairest gift, And power to see the sun; Health as well, | if a man may have it, And a life not stained with sin.

Stanza 69All wretched is no man, | though never so sick; Some from their sons have joy, Some win it from kinsmen, | and some from their wealth, And some from worthy works.

Stanza 70It is better to live | than to lie a corpse, The live man catches the cow; I saw flames rise | for the rich man's pyre, And before his door he lay dead.

Stanza 71The lame rides a horse, | the handless is herdsman, The deaf in battle is bold; The blind man is better | than one that is burned, No good can come of a corpse.

Stanza 72A son is better, | though late he be born, And his father to death have fared; Memory-stones | seldom stand by the road Save when kinsman honors his kin.

Stanza 73Two make a battle, | the tongue slays the head; In each furry coat | a fist I look for.

Stanza 74He welcomes the night | whose fare is enough, (Short are the yards of a ship,) Uneasy are autumn nights; Full oft does the weather | change in a week, And more in a month's time.

Stanza 75A man knows not, | if nothing he knows, That gold oft apes begets; One man is wealthy | and one is poor, Yet scorn for him none should know.

Stanza 76Among Fitjung's sons | saw I well-stocked folds,-- Now bear they the beggar's staff; Wealth is as swift | as a winking eye, Of friends the falsest it is.

Stanza 77Cattle die, | and kinsmen die, And so one dies one's self; But a noble name | will never die, If good renown one gets.

Stanza 78Cattle die, | and kinsmen die, And so one dies one's self; One thing now | that never dies, The fame of a dead man's deeds.

Stanza 79Certain is that | which is sought from runes, That the gods so great have made, And the Master-Poet painted; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the race of gods: Silence is safest and best.

Stanza 80An unwise man, | if a maiden's love Or wealth he chances to win, His pride will wax, but his wisdom never, Straight forward he fares in conceit.

Stanza 81Give praise to the day at evening, | to a woman on her pyre, To a weapon which is tried, | to a maid at wed lock, To ice when it is crossed, | to ale that is drunk.

Stanza 82When the gale blows hew wood, | in fair winds seek the water; Sport with maidens at dusk, | for day's eyes are many; From the ship seek swiftness, | from the shield protection, Cuts from the sword, | from the maiden kisses.

Stanza 83By the fire drink ale, | over ice go on skates; Buy a steed that is lean, | and a sword when tarnished, The horse at home fatten, | the hound in thy dwelling.

Stanza 84A man shall trust not | the oath of a maid, Nor the word a woman speaks; For their hearts on a whirling | wheel were fashioned, And fickle their breasts were formed.

Stanza 85In a breaking bow | or a burning flame, A ravening wolf | or a croaking raven, In a grunting boar, | a tree with roots broken, In billowy seas | or a bubbling kettle,

Stanza 86In a flying arrow | or falling waters, In ice new formed | or the serpent's folds, In a bride's bed-speech | or a broken sword, In the sport of bears | or in sons of kings,

Stanza 87In a calf that is sick | or a stubborn thrall, A flattering witch | or a foe new slain.

Stanza 88In a brother's slayer, | if thou meet him abroad, In a half-burned house, | in a horse full swift-- One leg is hurt | and the horse is useless-- None had ever such faith | as to trust in them all.

Stanza 89Hope not too surely | for early harvest, Nor trust too soon in thy son; The field needs good weather, | the son needs wisdom, And oft is either denied.

Stanza 90The love of women | fickle of will Is like starting o'er ice | with a steed unshod, A two-year-old restive | and little tamed, Or steering a rudderless | ship in a storm, Or, lame, hunting reindeer | on slippery rocks.

Stanza 91Clear now will I speak, | for I know them both, Men false to women are found; When fairest we speak, | then falsest we think, Against wisdom we work with deceit.

Stanza 92Soft words shall he speak | and wealth shall he offer Who longs for a maiden's love, And the beauty praise | of the maiden bright; He wins whose wooing is best.

Stanza 93Fault for loving | let no man find Ever with any other; Oft the wise are fettered, | where fools go free, By beauty that breeds desire.

Stanza 94Fault with another | let no man find For what touches many a man; Wise men oft | into witless fools Are made by mighty love.

Stanza 95The head alone knows | what dwells near the heart, A man knows his mind alone; No sickness is worse | to one who is wise Than to lack the longed-for joy.

Stanza 96This found I myself, | when I sat in the reeds, And long my love awaited; As my life the maiden | wise I loved, Yet her I never had.

Stanza 97Billing's daughter | I found on her bed, In slumber bright as the sun; Empty appeared | an earl's estate Without that form so fair.

Stanza 98"Othin, again | at evening come, If a woman thou wouldst win; Evil it were | if others than we Should know of such a sin."

Stanza 99Away I hastened, | hoping for joy, And careless of counsel wise; Well I believed | that soon I should win Measureless joy with the maid.

Stanza 100So came I next | when night it was, The warriors all were awake; With burning lights | and waving brands I learned my luckess way.

Stanza 101At morning then, | when once more I came, And all were sleeping still, A dog found | in the fair one's place, Bound there upon her bed.

Stanza 102Many fair maids, | if a man but tries them, False to a lover are found; That did I learn | when I longed to gain With wiles the maiden wise; Foul scorn was my meed | from the crafty maid, And nought from the woman I won.

Stanza 103Though glad at home, | and merry with guests, A man shall be wary and wise; The sage and shrewd, | wide wisdom seeking, Must see that his speech be fair; A fool is he named | who nought can say, For such is the way of the witless.

Stanza 104I found the old giant, | now back have I fared, Small gain from silence I got; Full many a word, | my will to get, I spoke in Suttung's hall.

Stanza 105The mouth of Rati | made room for my passage, And space in the stone he gnawed; Above and below | the giants' paths lay, So rashly I risked my head.

Stanza 106Gunnloth gave | on a golden stool A drink of the marvelous mead; A harsh reward | did I let her have For her heroic heart, And her spirit troubled sore.

Stanza 107The well-earned beauty | well I enjoyed, Little the wise man lacks; So Othrörir now | has up been brought To the midst of the men of earth.

Stanza 108Hardly, methinks, | would I home have come, And left the giants' land, Had not Gunnloth helped me, | the maiden good, Whose arms about me had been.

Stanza 109The day that followed, | the frost-giants came, Some word of Hor to win, (And into the hall of Hor;) Of Bolverk they asked, | were he back midst the gods, Or had Suttung slain him there?

Stanza 110On his ring swore Othin | the oath, methinks; Who now his troth shall trust? Suttung's betrayal | he sought with drink, And Gunnloth to grief he left.

Stanza 111It is time to chant | from the chanter's stool; By the wells of Urth I was, I saw and was silent, | I saw and thought, And heard the speech of Hor. (Of runes heard I words, | nor were counsels wanting, At the hall of Hor, In the hall of Hor; Such was the speech I heard.)

Stanza 112I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,--- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Rise not at night, | save if news thou seekest, Or fain to the outhouse wouldst fare.

Stanza 113I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Beware of sleep | on a witch's bosom, Nor let her limbs ensnare thee.

Stanza 114Such is her might | that thou hast no mind For the council or meeting of men; Meat thou hatest, | joy thou hast not, And sadly to slumber thou farest.

Stanza 115I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Seek never to win | the wife of another, Or long for her secret love.

Stanza 116I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If o'er mountains or gulfs | thou fain wouldst go, Look well to thy food for the way.

Stanza 117I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: An evil man | thou must not let Bring aught of ill to thee; For an evil man | will never make Reward for a worthy thought.

Stanza 118I saw a man | who was wounded sore By an evil woman's word; A lying tongue | his death-blow launched, And no word of truth there was.

Stanza 119I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If a friend thou hast | whom thou fully wilt trust, Then fare to find him oft; For brambles grow | and waving grass On the rarely trodden road.

Stanza 120I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: A good man find | to hold in friendship, And give heed to his healing charms.

Stanza 121I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Be never the first | to break with thy friend The bond that holds you both; Care eats the heart | if thou canst not speak To another all thy thought.

Stanza 122I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Exchange of words | with a witless ape Thou must not ever make.

Stanza 123For never thou mayst | from an evil man A good requital get; But a good man oft | the greatest love Through words of praise will win thee.

Stanza 124Mingled is love | when a man can speak To another all his thought; Nought is so bad | as false to be, No friend speaks only fair.

Stanza 125I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: With a worse man speak not | three words in dispute, Ill fares the better oft When the worse man wields a sword.

Stanza 126I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: A shoemaker be, | or a maker of shafts, For only thy single self; If the shoe is ill made, | or the shaft prove false, Then evil of thee men think.

Stanza 127I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If evil thou knowest, | as evil proclaim it, And make no friendship with foes.

Stanza 128I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: In evil never | joy shalt thou know, But glad the good shall make thee.

Stanza 129I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Look not up | when the battle is on,-- (Like madmen the sons | of men become,--) Lest men bewitch thy wits.

Stanza 130I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If thou fain wouldst win | a woman's love, And gladness get from her, Fair be thy promise | and well fulfilled; None loathes what good he gets.

Stanza 131I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: I bid thee be wary, | but be not fearful; (Beware most with ale or another's wife, And third beware | lest a thief outwit thee.)

Stanza 132I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Scorn or mocking | ne'er shalt thou make Of a guest or a journey-goer.

Stanza 133Oft scarcely he knows | who sits in the house What kind is the man who comes; None so good is found | that faults he has not, Nor so wicked that nought he is worth.

Stanza 134I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Scorn not ever | the gray-haired singer, Oft do the old speak good; (Oft from shrivelled skin | come skillful counsels, Though it hang with the hides, And flap with the pelts, And is blown with the bellies.)

Stanza 135I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Curse not thy guest, | nor show him thy gate, Deal well with a man in want.

Stanza 136Strong is the beam | that raised must be To give an entrance to all; Give it a ring, | or grim will be The wish it would work on thee.

Stanza 137I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: When ale thou drinkest) | seek might of earth, (For earth cures drink, | and fire cures ills, The oak cures tightness, | the ear cures magic, Rye cures rupture, | the moon cures rage, Grass cures the scab, | and runes the sword-cut;) The field absorbs the flood.

Stanza 138Now are Hor's words | spoken in the hall, Kind for the kindred of men, Cursed for the kindred of giants: Hail to the speaker, | and to him who learns! Profit be his who has them! Hail to them who hearken!

Stanza 139I ween that I hung | on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none | may ever know What root beneath it runs.

Stanza 140None made me happy | with loaf or horn, And there below I looked; I took up the runes, | shrieking I took them, And forthwith back I fell.

Stanza 141Nine mighty songs | I got from the son Of Bolthorn, Bestla's father; And a drink I got | of the goodly mead Poured out from Othrörir.

Stanza 142Then began I to thrive, | and wisdom to get, I grew and well I was; Each word led me on | to another word, Each deed to another deed.

Stanza 143Runes shalt thou find, | and fateful signs, That the king of singers colored, And the mighty gods have made; Full strong the signs, | full mighty the signs That the ruler of gods doth write.

Stanza 144Othin for the gods, | Dain for the elves, And Dvalin for the dwarfs, Alsvith for giants | and all mankind, And some myself I wrote.

Stanza 145Knowest how one shall write, | knowest how one shall rede? Knowest how one shall tint, | knowest how one makes trial? Knowest how one shall ask, | knowest how one shall offer? Knowest how one shall send, | knowest how one shall sacrifice?

Stanza 146Better no prayer | than too big an offering, By thy getting measure thy gift; Better is none | than too big a sacrifice, . . . . . . . . . . So Thund of old wrote | ere man's race began, Where he rose on high | when home he came.

Stanza 147The songs I know | that king's wives know not, Nor men that are sons of men; The first is called help, | and help it can bring thee In sorrow and pain and sickness.

Stanza 148A second I know, | that men shall need Who leechcraft long to use; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 149A third I know, | if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe; Blunt do I make | mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff.

Stanza 150A fourth I know, | if men shall fasten Bonds on my bended legs; So great is the charm | that forth I may go, The fetters spring from my feet, Broken the bonds from my hands.

Stanza 151A fifth I know, | if I see from afar An arrow fly 'gainst the folk; It flies not so swift | that I stop it not, If ever my eyes behold it.

Stanza 152A sixth I know, | if harm one seeks With a sapling's roots to send me; The hero himself | who wreaks his hate Shall taste the ill ere I.

Stanza 153A seventh I know, | if I see in flames The hall o'er my comrades' heads; It burns not so wide | that I will not quench it, I know that song to sing.

Stanza 154An eighth I know, | that is to all Of greatest good to learn; When hatred grows | among heroes' sons, I soon can set it right.

Stanza 155A ninth I know, | if need there comes To shelter my ship on the flood; The wind I calm | upon the waves, And the sea I put to sleep.

Stanza 156A tenth I know, | what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work | that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their own homes.

Stanza 157An eleventh I know, | if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, | and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home.

Stanza 158A twelfth I know, | if high on a tree I see a hanged man swing; So do I write | and color the runes That forth he fares, And to me talks.

Stanza 159A thirteenth I know, | if a thane full young With water I sprinkle well; He shall not fall, | though he fares mid the host, Nor sink beneath the swords.

Stanza 160A fourteenth I know, | if fain I would name To men the mighty gods; All know I well | of the gods and elves, Few be the fools know this.

Stanza 161A fifteenth I know, | that before the doors Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf; Might he sang for the gods, | and glory for elves, And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise.

Stanza 162A sixteenth I know, | if I seek delight To win from a maiden wise; The mind I turn | of the white-armed maid, And thus change all her thoughts.

Stanza 163A seventeenth I know, | so that seldom shall go A maiden young from me; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 164Long these songs | thou shalt, Loddfafnir, Seek in vain to sing; Yet good it were | if thou mightest get them, Well, if thou wouldst them learn, Help, if thou hadst them.

Stanza 165An eighteenth I know, | that ne'er will I tell To maiden or wife of man,-- The best is what none | but one's self doth know, So comes the end of the songs,-- Save only to her | in whose arms I lie, Or who else my sister is.