The complete text
Völuspá
The Prophecy of the Seeress
About these two editions
These are complete reading editions of the poem and its accompanying prose, rather than a facsimile of Codex Regius. Bellows sometimes orders, divides, or supplements stanzas differently, so the two editions do not always share stanza numbers. Editorial introductions and footnotes are omitted; follow the source links for that commentary. These editions include readings from more than one manuscript. In particular, the stanza about a mighty ruler arriving from above is from Hauksbók, not Codex Regius.
Original wording is retained. Obvious transcription errors in stanza numbering have been corrected. Spelling and names differ from the modern retelling.
Tap an underlined name for an explanation. Switch editions above at any time.
Old Norse
Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗
Stanza 1Hljóðs bið ek allar helgar kindir, meiri ok minni mögu ; viltu at ek, Valföðr, vel fyr telja forn spjöll fira, þau er fremst of man.
Stanza 2Ek man jötna ár of borna, þá er forðum mik fædda höfðu; níu man ek heima, níu íviðjur, mjötvið mæran fyr mold neðan.
Stanza 3Ár var alda, þat er ekki var, var-a sandr né sær né svalar unnir; jörð fannsk æva né upphiminn, gap var ginnunga en gras hvergi.
Stanza 4Áðr Burs synir bjöðum of yppðu, þeir er mæran skópu; sól skein sunnan á salar steina, þá var grund gróin grænum lauki.
Stanza 5 varp sunnan, sinni mána, hendi inni hægri um himinjöður; sól þat né vissi, hvar hon sali átti, máni þat né vissi, hvat hann megins átti, stjörnur þat né vissu hvar þær staði áttu.
Stanza 6Þá gengu regin öll á rökstóla, ginnheilög goð, ok um þat gættusk; nótt ok niðjum nöfn of gáfu, morgin hétu ok miðjan dag, undorn ok aftan, árum at telja.
Stanza 7Hittusk æsir á , þeir er hörg ok hof hátimbruðu; afla lögðu, auð smíðuðu, tangir skópu ok tól gerðu.
Stanza 8Tefldu í túni, teitir váru, var þeim vettergis vant ór gulli, uns þrjár kvámu þursa meyjar ámáttkar mjök ór Jötunheimum.
Stanza 9Þá gengu regin öll á rökstóla, ginnheilög goð, ok um þat gættusk, hverir skyldi dverga dróttir skepja ór Brimis blóði ok ór Bláins leggjum.
Stanza 10Þar var Móðsognir mæztr of orðinn dverga allra, en annarr; þeir mannlíkun mörg of gerðu dvergar í jörðu, sem sagði.
Stanza 11, Niði, Norðri, Suðri, , , Alþjófr, , ok Náinn , Dáinn Bívurr, Bávurr, Bömburr, , Ánn ok Ánarr, Óinn, Mjöðvitnir.
Stanza 12Veggr ok , , Þorinn, Þrár ok Þráinn, Þekkr, Litr ok Vitr, ok Nýráðr, nú hefi ek dverga, ok Ráðsviðr, rétt of talða.
Stanza 13, , Fundinn, , Hefti, , , Svíurr, , Brúni, Bíldr ok Buri, , , ok , , , .
Stanza 14Mál er dverga í liði ljóna kindum til Lofars telja, þeir er sóttu frá salar steini Aurvanga sjöt til Jöruvalla.
Stanza 15Þar var ok Dolgþrasir, , , , Glóinn, , Óri , , , Skáfiðr, Ái.
Stanza 16 ok , , Fjalarr ok , Finnr ok Ginnarr; þat mun æ uppi meðan öld lifir, langniðja tal Lofars hafat.
Stanza 17Unz þrír kvámu ór því liði öflgir ok ástkir æsir at húsi, fundu á landi lítt megandi ok Emblu örlöglausa.
Stanza 18Önd þau né áttu, óð þau né höfðu, lá né læti né litu góða; önd gaf , óð gaf Hænir, lá gaf ok litu góða.
Stanza 19 veit ek standa, heitir , hár baðmr, ausinn hvíta auri; þaðan koma döggvar, þærs í dala falla, stendr æ yfir grænn Urðarbrunni.
Stanza 20Þaðan koma meyjar margs vitandi þrjár ór þeim sæ, er und þolli stendr; Urð hétu eina, aðra , - skáru á skíði, - ina þriðju; þær lög lögðu, þær líf kuru alda börnum, örlög seggja.
Stanza 21Þat man hon folkvíg fyrst í heimi, er Gullveigu geirum studdu ok í höll Hárs hana brenndu, þrisvar brenndu, þrisvar borna, oft, ósjaldan, þó hon enn lifir.
Stanza 22Heiði hana hétu hvars til húsa kom, völu velspáa, vitti hon ganda; seið hon, hvars hon kunni, seið hon hug leikinn, æ var hon angan illrar brúðar.
Stanza 23Þá gengu regin öll á rökstóla, ginnheilög goð, ok um þat gættusk, hvárt skyldu æsir afráð gjalda eða skyldu goðin öll gildi eiga.
Stanza 24Fleygði ok í folk of skaut, þat var enn folkvíg fyrst í heimi; brotinn var borðveggr borgar ása, knáttu vanir vígspá völlu sporna.
Stanza 25Þá gengu regin öll á rökstóla, ginnheilög goð, ok um þat gættusk, hverjir hefði loft allt lævi blandit eða ætt jötuns Óðs mey gefna.
Stanza 26 einn þar vá þrunginn móði, - hann sjaldan sitr - er hann slíkt of fregn -: á gengusk eiðar, orð ok særi, mál öll meginlig, er á meðal fóru.
Stanza 27Veit hon hljóð of folgit und heiðvönum helgum baðmi, á sér hon ausask aurgum forsi af veði Valföðrs. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 28Ein sat hon úti, þá er inn aldni kom yggjungr ása ok í augu leit. Hvers fregnið mik? Hví freistið mín? Allt veit ek, , hvar þú auga falt, í inum mæra Mímisbrunni. Drekkr mjöð morgun hverjan af veði Valföðrs. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 29Valði henni Herföðr hringa ok men, fekk spjöll spaklig ok spá ganda, sá hon vítt ok of vítt of veröld hverja.
Stanza 30Sá hon valkyrjur vítt of komnar, görvar at ríða til Goðþjóðar; helt skildi, en önnur, Gunnr, , ok . Nú eru talðar nönnur Herjans, görvar at ríða grund valkyrjur.
Stanza 31Ek sá Baldri, blóðgum tívur, Óðins barni, örlög folgin; stóð of vaxinn völlum hæri mjór ok mjök fagr mistilteinn.
Stanza 32Varð af þeim meiði, er mær sýndisk, harmflaug hættlig, nam skjóta; bróðir var of borinn snemma, sá nam Óðins sonr einnættr vega.
Stanza 33Þó hann æva hendr né höfuð kembði, áðr á bál of bar andskota; en of grét í Fensölum vá Valhallar. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 34Þá kná vígbönd snúa, heldr váru harðgör höft ór þörmum.
Stanza 35Haft sá hon liggja und Hveralundi, lægjarns líki áþekkjan; þar sitr þeygi of sínum ver vel glýjuð. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 36Á fellur austan um eitrdala söxum ok sverðum, Slíðr heitir sú.
Stanza 37Stóð fyr norðan á Niðavöllum salr ór gulli Sindra ættar; en annarr stóð á Ókólni bjórsalr jötuns, en sá heitir.
Stanza 38Sal sá hon standa sólu fjarri Náströndu á, norðr horfa dyrr; falla eitrdropar inn um ljóra, sá er undinn salr orma hryggjum.
Stanza 39Sá hon þar vaða þunga strauma menn meinsvara ok morðvarga ok þann er annars glepr eyrarúnu; þar saug Niðhöggr nái framgengna, sleit vargr vera. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 40Austr sat in aldna í Járnviði ok fæddi þar kindir; verðr af þeim öllum einna nokkurr tungls tjúgari í trölls hami.
Stanza 41Fyllisk fjörvi feigra manna, rýðr ragna sjöt rauðum dreyra; svört verða sólskin um sumur eftir, veðr öll válynd. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 42Sat þar á haugi ok sló hörpu gýgjar hirðir, glaðr Eggþér; gól of hánum í galgviði fagrrauðr hani, sá er Fjalarr heitir.
Stanza 43 of ásum , sá vekr hölða at Herjaföðrs; en annarr gelr fyr jörð neðan sótrauðr hani at sölum Heljar.
Stanza 44Geyr nú mjök fyr , festr mun slitna, en freki renna; fjölð veit ek fræða, fram sé ek lengra um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Stanza 45Bræðr munu berjask ok at bönum verðask, munu systrungar sifjum spilla; hart er í heimi, hórdómr mikill, skeggöld, skalmöld, skildir ro klofnir, vindöld, vargöld, áðr veröld steypisk; mun engi maðr öðrum þyrma.
Stanza 46Leika Míms synir, en mjötuðr kyndisk at inu galla Gjallarhorni; hátt blæss , horn er á lofti, mælir við Míms höfuð.
Stanza 47Skelfr askr standandi, ymr it aldna tré, en jötunn losnar; hræðask allir á helvegum áðr Surtar þann sefi of gleypir.
Stanza 48Hvat er með ásum? Hvat er með alfum? Gnýr allr , æsir ro á þingi, stynja dvergar fyr steindurum, veggbergs vísir. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 49Geyr nú mjök fyr , festr mun slitna en freki renna; fjölð veit ek fræða, fram sé ek lengra um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Stanza 50 ekr austan, hefisk lind fyrir, snýsk í jötunmóði; ormr knýr unnir, en ari hlakkar, slítr nái niðfölr, losnar.
Stanza 51Kjóll ferr austan, koma munu Múspells of lög lýðir, en stýrir; fara fíflmegir með freka allir, þeim er bróðir Býleists í för.
Stanza 52 ferr sunnan með sviga lævi, skínn af sverði sól valtíva; grjótbjörg gnata, en gífr rata, troða halir helveg, en himinn klofnar.
Stanza 53Þá kemr Hlínar harmr annarr fram, er ferr við ulf vega, en bani Belja bjartr at Surti; þá mun Friggjar falla angan.
Stanza 54Geyr nú mjök fyr , festr mun slitna, en freki renna; fjölð veit ek fræða, fram sé ek lengra um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Stanza 55Þá kemr inn mikli mögr Sigföður, , vega at valdýri. Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs mundum standa hjör til hjarta, þá er hefnt föður.
Stanza 56Þá kemr inn mæri mögr Hlóðynjar, gengr Óðins sonr við orm vega, drepr af móði Miðgarðs véurr, munu halir allir heimstöð ryðja; gengr fet níu Fjörgynjar burr neppr frá naðri níðs ókvíðnum.
Stanza 57 tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur; geisar eimi ok aldrnari, leikr hár hiti við himin sjalfan.
Stanza 58Geyr nú mjök fyr , festr mun slitna en freki renna; fjölð veit ek fræða fram sé ek lengra um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Stanza 59Sér hon upp koma öðru sinni jörð ór ægi iðjagræna; falla forsar, flýgr örn yfir, sá er á fjalli fiska veiðir.
Stanza 60Finnask æsir á ok um moldþinur máttkan dæma ok minnask þar á megindóma ok á Fimbultýs fornar rúnir.
Stanza 61Þar munu eftir undrsamligar gullnar töflur í grasi finnask, þærs í árdaga áttar höfðu.
Stanza 62Munu ósánir akrar vaxa, böls mun alls batna, mun koma; búa þeir ok Hrofts sigtoftir, vé valtíva. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 63Þá kná Hænir hlautvið kjósa ok burir byggja bræðra tveggja vindheim víðan. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stanza 64Sal sér hon standa sólu fegra, gulli þakðan á Gimléi; þar skulu dyggvar dróttir byggja ok um aldrdaga ynðis njóta.
Stanza 65Þá kemr inn ríki at regindómi öflugr ofan, sá er öllu ræðr.
Stanza 66Þar kemr inn dimmi dreki fljúgandi, naðr fránn, neðan frá Niðafjöllum; berr sér í fjöðrum, - flýgr völl yfir, - Niðhöggr nái. Nú mun hon sökkvask.
English translation
Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗
Stanza 1Hearing I ask | from the holy races, From 's sons, | both high and low; Thou wilt, , | that well I relate Old tales I remember | of men long ago.
Stanza 2I remember yet | the giants of yore, Who gave me bread | in the days gone by; Nine worlds I knew, | the nine in the tree With mighty roots | beneath the mold.
Stanza 3Of old was the age | when lived; Sea nor cool waves | nor sand there were; Earth had not been, | nor heaven above, But a yawning gap, | and grass nowhere.
Stanza 4Then 's sons lifted | the level land, the mighty | there they made; The sun from the south | warmed the stones of earth, And green was the ground | with growing leeks.
Stanza 5The sun, the sister | of the moon, from the south Her right hand cast | over heaven's rim; No knowledge she had | where her home should be, The moon knew not | what might was his, The stars knew not | where their stations were.
Stanza 6Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held; Names then gave they | to noon and twilight, Morning they named, | and the waning moon, Night and evening, | the years to number.
Stanza 7At met | the mighty gods, Shrines and temples | they timbered high; Forges they set, and | they smithied ore, Tongs they wrought, | and tools they fashioned.
Stanza 8In their dwellings at peace | they played at tables, Of gold no lack | did the gods then know,-- Till thither came | up giant-maids three, Huge of might, | out of .
Stanza 9Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held, To find who should raise | the race of dwarfs Out of 's blood | and the legs of .
Stanza 10There was | the mightiest made Of all the dwarfs, | and next; Many a likeness | of men they made, The dwarfs in the earth, | as said.
Stanza 11 and , | and , and , | , , and , | , , , , | , , An and Onar, | Ai, .
Stanza 12 and ) | , , and , | , Vit and Lit, and ,-- | now have I told-- and -- | the list aright.
Stanza 13, , | , , , | , , , , | and , , , | .
Stanza 14The race of the dwarfs | in 's throng Down to | the list must I tell; The rocks they left, | and through wet lands They sought a home | in the fields of sand.
Stanza 15There were | and , , , | , , , Ori, | , , , , | , Ai.
Stanza 16 and , | , and , | and ; So for all time | shall the tale be known, The list of all | the forbears of .
Stanza 17Then from the throng | did three come forth, From the home of the gods, | the mighty and gracious; Two without fate | on the land they found, and , | empty of might.
Stanza 18Soul they had not, | sense they had not, Heat nor motion, | nor goodly hue; Soul gave , | sense gave , Heat gave | and goodly hue.
Stanza 19An ash I know, | its name, With water white | is the great tree wet; Thence come the dews | that fall in the dales, Green by 's well | does it ever grow.
Stanza 20Thence come the maidens | mighty in wisdom, Three from the dwelling | down 'neath the tree; is one named, | the next,-- On the wood they scored,-- | and the third. Laws they made there, and life allotted To the sons of men, and set their fates.
Stanza 21The war I remember, | the first in the world, When the gods with spears | had smitten , And in the hall | of had burned her, Three times burned, | and three times born, Oft and again, | yet ever she lives.
Stanza 22 they named her | who sought their home, The wide-seeing witch, | in magic wise; Minds she bewitched | that were moved by her magic, To evil women | a joy she was.
Stanza 23On the host his spear | did hurl, Then in the world | did war first come; The wall that girdled | the gods was broken, And the field by the warlike | was trodden.
Stanza 24Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held, Whether the gods | should tribute give, Or to all alike | should worship belong.
Stanza 25Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held, To find who with venom | the air had filled, Or had given Oth's bride | to the giants' brood.
Stanza 26In swelling rage | then rose up ,-- Seldom he sits | when he such things hears,-- And the oaths were broken, | the words and bonds, The mighty pledges | between them made.
Stanza 27I know of the horn | of , hidden Under the high-reaching | holy tree; On it there pours | from 's pledge A mighty stream: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 28Alone I sat | when the Old One sought me, The terror of gods, | and gazed in mine eyes: "What hast thou to ask? | why comest thou hither? , I know | where thine eye is hidden."
Stanza 29I know where 's | eye is hidden, Deep in the wide-famed | well of ; Mead from the pledge | of each mom Does drink: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 30Necklaces had I | and rings from , Wise was my speech | and my magic wisdom; . . . . . . . . . . Widely I saw | over all the worlds.
Stanza 31On all sides saw I | assemble, Ready to ride | to the ranks of the gods; bore the shield, | and rode next, , , , | and . Of 's maidens | the list have ye heard, ready | to ride o'er the earth.
Stanza 32I saw for , | the bleeding god, The son of , | his destiny set: Famous and fair | in the lofty fields, Full grown in strength | the mistletoe stood.
Stanza 33From the branch which seemed | so slender and fair Came a harmful shaft | that should hurl; But the brother of | was born ere long, And one night old | fought 's son.
Stanza 34His hands he washed not, | his hair he combed not, Till he bore to the bale-blaze | 's foe. But in | did weep sore For 's need: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 35One did I see | in the wet woods bound, A lover of ill, | and to like; By his side does | sit, nor is glad To see her mate: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 36From the east there pours | through poisoned vales With swords and daggers | the river . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stanza 37Northward a hall | in Of gold there rose | for 's race; And in Okolnir | another stood, Where the giant | his beer-hall had.
Stanza 38A hall I saw, | far from the sun, On it stands, | and the doors face north, Venom drops | through the smoke-vent down, For around the walls | do serpents wind.
Stanza 39I saw there wading | through rivers wild Treacherous men | and murderers too, And workers of ill | with the wives of men; There sucked | the blood of the slain, And the wolf tore men; | would you know yet more?
Stanza 40The giantess old | in sat, In the east, and bore | the brood of ; Among these one | in monster's guise Was soon to steal | the sun from the sky.
Stanza 41There feeds he full | on the flesh of the dead, And the home of the gods | he reddens with gore; Dark grows the sun, | and in summer soon Come mighty storms: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 42On a hill there sat, | and smote on his harp, the joyous, | the giants' warder; Above him the cock | in the bird-wood crowed, Fair and red | did stand.
Stanza 43Then to the gods | crowed , He wakes the heroes | in 's hall; And beneath the earth | does another crow, The rust-red bird | at the bars of .
Stanza 44Now howls loud | before , The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.
Stanza 45Brothers shall fight | and fell each other, And sisters' sons | shall kinship stain; Hard is it on earth, | with mighty whoredom; Axe-time, sword-time, | shields are sundered, Wind-time, wolf-time, | ere the world falls; ever shall men | each other spare.
Stanza 46Fast move the sons | of Mim, and fate Is heard in the note | of the ; Loud blows , | the horn is aloft, In fear quake all | who on -roads are.
Stanza 47 shakes, | and shiver on high The ancient limbs, | and the giant is loose; To the head of Mim | does give heed, But the kinsman of | shall slay him soon.
Stanza 48How fare the gods? | how fare the elves? All groans, | the gods are at council; Loud roar the dwarfs | by the doors of stone, The masters of the rocks: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 49Now howls loud | before , The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.
Stanza 50From the east comes | with shield held high; In giant-wrath | does the serpent writhe; O'er the waves he twists, | and the tawny eagle Gnaws corpses screaming; | is loose.
Stanza 51O'er the sea from the north | there sails a ship With the people of , | at the helm stands ; After the wolf | do wild men follow, And with them the brother | of Byleist goes.
Stanza 52 fares from the south | with the scourge of branches, The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword; The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink, The dead throng -way, | and heaven is cloven.
Stanza 53Now comes to | yet another hurt, When fares | to fight with the wolf, And 's fair slayer | seeks out , For there must fall | the joy of .
Stanza 54Then comes 's | mighty son, , to fight | with the foaming wolf; In the giant's son | does he thrust his sword Full to the heart: | his father is avenged.
Stanza 55Hither there comes | the son of , The bright snake gapes | to heaven above; . . . . . . . . . . Against the serpent | goes 's son.
Stanza 56In anger smites | the warder of earth,-- Forth from their homes | must all men flee;- Nine paces fares | the son of , And, slain by the serpent, | fearless he sinks.
Stanza 57The sun turns black, | earth sinks in the sea, The hot stars down | from heaven are whirled; Fierce grows the steam | and the life-feeding flame, Till fire leaps high | about heaven itself.
Stanza 58Now howls loud | before , The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.
Stanza 59Now do I see | the earth anew Rise all green | from the waves again; The cataracts fall, | and the eagle flies, And fish he catches | beneath the cliffs.
Stanza 60The gods in | meet together, Of the terrible girdler | of earth they talk, And the mighty past | they call to mind, And the ancient | of the Ruler of Gods.
Stanza 61In wondrous beauty | once again Shall the golden tables | stand mid the grass, Which the gods had owned | in the days of old, . . . . . . . . . .
Stanza 62Then fields unsowed | bear ripened fruit, All ills grow better, | and comes back; and dwell | in 's battle-hall, And the mighty gods: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 63Then wins | the prophetic wand, . . . . . . . . . . And the sons of the brothers | of abide In now: | would you know yet more?
Stanza 64More fair than the sun, | a hall I see, Roofed with gold, | on it stands; There shall the righteous | rulers dwell, And happiness ever | there shall they have.
Stanza 65There comes on high, | all power to hold, A mighty lord, | all lands he rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stanza 66From below the dragon | dark comes forth, flying | from ; The bodies of men on | his wings he bears, The serpent bright: | but now must I sink.