Völuspá

Hljóðs bið ek allarhelgar kindirmeiri ok minnimögu Heimdallar;viltu at ek, Valföðrvel fyr teljaforn spjöll firaþau er fremst of man.

Hear me, all you holy kindred,great and small, sons of Heimdall.You want it told well, Father of the Slain —the oldest lore of men, the first I remember.

Ek man jötnaár of bornaþá er forðum mikfædda höfðu;níu man ek heimaníu íviðjurmjötvið mæranfyr mold neðan.

I remember giants, born long ago,who raised me in the time before.I remember nine worlds, nine giant-women,and the great world-tree, deep under the earth.

Ár var aldaþat er ekki varvar-a sandr né særné svalar unnir;jörð fannsk ævané upphiminngap var ginnungaen gras hvergi.

It was early in time, when nothing was:no sand, no sea, no cold waves.Earth was nowhere, no sky above —only a yawning gap, and grass nowhere.

Áðr Burs synirbjöðum of yppðuþeir er Miðgarðmæran skópu;sól skein sunnaná salar steinaþá var grund gróingrænum lauki.

Then Bur's sons lifted the land,shaped Midgard, the great middle-world.The sun shone from the south on the stones of the earth,and the ground grew green with new leeks.

Sól varp sunnansinni mánahendi inni hægrium himinjöður;sól þat né vissihvar hon sali áttimáni þat né vissihvat hann megins áttistjörnur þat né vissuhvar þær staði áttu.

The sun, the moon's companion, threw her right handover the sky's rim from the south.The sun did not know where her hall would be,the moon did not know what power he held,the stars did not know where their places were.

Þá gengu regin öllá rökstólaginnheilög goðok um þat gættusk;nótt ok niðjumnöfn of gáfumorgin hétuok miðjan dagundorn ok aftanárum at telja.

Then all the powers went to their thrones of judgment,the holiest gods, and took counsel.To night and her children they gave names —morning and midday,afternoon and evening —to count out the years.

Hittusk æsirá Iðavelliþeir er hörg ok hofhátimbruðu;afla lögðuauð smíðuðutangir skópuok tól gerðu.

The gods met at Idavoll,raised high shrines and temples.They set up forges, worked out wealth,shaped their tongs, and made their tools.

Tefldu í túniteitir váruvar þeim vettergisvant ór gulliuns þrjár kvámuþursa meyjarámáttkar mjökór Jötunheimum.---------

They played chess in the yard, and were glad;gold was nothing they lacked —until three giant-women came,huge in their power, out of Jotunheim.

Þá gengu regin öllá rökstólaginnheilög goðok um þat gættuskhverir skyldi dvergadróttir skepjaór Brimis blóðiok ór Bláins leggjum.

Then all the powers went to their thrones of judgment,the holiest gods, and took counsel:who should shape the race of dwarvesout of Brimir's blood and Blain's bones.

Þar var Móðsognirmæztr of orðinndverga allraen Durinn annarr;þeir mannlíkunmörg of gerðudvergar í jörðusem Durinn sagði.

There Modsognir was madegreatest of all the dwarves, and Durin next.They shaped many likenesses of men,dwarves in the earth, as Durin told them.

Nýi, NiðiNorðri, SuðriAustri, VestriAlþjófr, DvalinnNár ok NáinnNípingr, DáinnBívurr, BávurrBömburr, NóriÁnn ok ÁnarrÓinn, Mjöðvitnir.

Nyi, Nidi,Nordri, Sudri,Austri, Vestri,Althjof, Dvalin,Nar and Nain,Niping, Dain,Bivor, Bavor,Bombor, Nori,An and Onar,Oin, Miodvitnir.

Veggr ok GandalfrVindalfr, ÞorinnÞrár ok ÞráinnÞekkr, Litr ok VitrNýr ok Nýráðrnú hefi ek dvergaReginn ok Ráðsviðrrétt of talða.

Vegg and Gandalf,Vindalf, Thorin,Thrar and Thrain,Thekk, Lit and Vit,Nyr and Nyrad —now I have countedRegin and Radsvid —the dwarves rightly.

Fíli, KíliFundinn, NáliHefti, VíliHannar, SvíurrBillingr, BrúniBíldr ok BuriFrár, HornboriFrægr ok LóniAurvangr, JariEikinskjaldi.

Fili, Kili,Fundin, Nali,Hefti, Vili,Hannar, Sviur,Billing, Bruni,Bild and Buri,Frar, Hornbori,Fraeg and Loni,Aurvang, Jari,Eikinskjaldi.

Mál er dvergaí Dvalins liðiljóna kindumtil Lofars teljaþeir er sóttufrá salar steiniAurvanga sjöttil Jöruvalla.

It's time to count the dwarvesin Dvalin's line,down to Lofar,for the sons of men —those who set outfrom the hall of stone,from Aurvangar's seat,to Joruvellir.

Þar var Draupnirok DolgþrasirHár, HaugsporiHlévangr, GlóinnDóri, ÓriDúfr, AndvariSkirfir, VirfirSkáfiðr, Ái.

There were Draupnirand Dolgthrasir,Har, Haugspori,Hlevang, Gloin,Dori, Ori,Duf, Andvari,Skirfir, Virfir,Skafid, Ai.

Alfr ok YngviEikinskjaldiFjalarr ok FrostiFinnr ok Ginnarr;þat mun æ uppimeðan öld lifirlangniðja talLofars hafat.---------

Alf and Yngvi,Eikinskjaldi,Fjalar and Frosti,Finn and Ginnar.That will stand forever,as long as men live —the long list of Lofar's kin.

Unz þrír kvámuór því liðiöflgir ok ástkiræsir at húsifundu á landilítt megandiAsk ok Embluörlöglausa.

Until three came, strong and loving,gods, from that company, to a dwelling;they found on the land, weak in strength,Ask and Embla, without fate.

Önd þau né áttuóð þau né höfðulá né lætiné litu góða;önd gaf Óðinnóð gaf Hænirlá gaf Lóðurrok litu góða.

They had no breath, no wit,no blood, no bearing, no fair color.Odin gave breath, Hoenir gave wit,Lodur gave blood and fair color.

Ask veit ek standaheitir Yggdrasillhár baðmr, ausinnhvíta auri;þaðan koma döggvarþærs í dala fallastendr æ yfir grænnUrðarbrunni.

I know an ash standing, called Yggdrasil,a tall tree, drenched in white clay;from it come the dews that fall in the valleys —it stands forever green over Urd's well.

Þaðan koma meyjarmargs vitandiþrjár ór þeim sæer und þolli stendr;Urð hétu einaaðra Verðandi- skáru á skíði, -Skuld ina þriðju;þær lög lögðuþær líf kurualda börnumörlög seggja.

From there come maidens, knowing much,three, out of the pool beneath the tree;one is called Urd, another Verdandi —they carved on wood — Skuld the third.They set down laws, they chose the livesof the sons of men, they spoke their fates.

Þat man hon folkvígfyrst í heimier Gullveigugeirum studduok í höll Hárshana brennduþrisvar brennduþrisvar bornaoft, ósjaldanþó hon enn lifir.

She remembers the first war in the world,when they drove spears through Gullveigand burned her in the hall of the High One —burned her three times, born three times,again and again — yet still she lives.

Heiði hana hétuhvars til húsa komvölu velspáavitti hon ganda;seið hon, hvars hon kunniseið hon hug leikinnæ var hon anganillrar brúðar.

They called her Heid, wherever she came to houses,a far-seeing seeress; she cast spells.She worked magic wherever she could,bewitched minds with her craft —she was always the joy of a wicked woman.

Þá gengu regin öllá rökstólaginnheilög goðok um þat gættuskhvárt skyldu æsirafráð gjaldaeða skyldu goðin öllgildi eiga.

Then all the powers went to their thrones of judgment,the holiest gods, and took counsel:whether the gods should pay a heavy tribute,or all the gods should share the cost.

Fleygði Óðinnok í folk of skautþat var enn folkvígfyrst í heimi;brotinn var borðveggrborgar ásaknáttu vanir vígspávöllu sporna.

Odin hurled his spear, shot it into the host —that was the first war in the world;the plank-wall around the gods' stronghold broke,the Vanir, skilled in war, trod the field.

Þá gengu regin öllá rökstólaginnheilög goðok um þat gættuskhverjir hefði loft alltlævi blanditeða ætt jötunsÓðs mey gefna.

Then all the powers went to their thrones of judgment,the holiest gods, and took counsel:who had mixed all the sky with evil,or given Od's bride to the race of giants.

Þórr einn þar váþrunginn móði- hann sjaldan sitr -er hann slíkt of fregn -:á gengusk eiðarorð ok særimál öll meginliger á meðal fóru.

Thor alone struck there, swollen with fury —he seldom sits still when he hears such things —and the oaths were broken, the words and vows,all the great pledges made between them.

Veit hon Heimdallarhljóð of folgitund heiðvönumhelgum baðmiá sér hon ausaskaurgum forsiaf veði Valföðrs.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

She knows that Heimdall's horn lies hiddenunder the bright and holy tree;she sees it drenched in a churning torrent,poured from the pledge that Odin paid.Do you know more now — or not?

Ein sat hon útiþá er inn aldni komyggjungr ásaok í augu leit.Hvers fregnið mik?Hví freistið mín?Allt veit ek, Óðinnhvar þú auga faltí inum mæraMímisbrunni.Drekkr mjöð Mímirmorgun hverjanaf veði Valföðrs.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

She sat alone outside when the old one came,the terror of the gods, and looked in her eyes."What do you ask of me? Why do you test me?I know it all, Odin — where you hid your eye,deep in the famous well of Mimir."Mimir drinks mead every morningfrom the pledge that the Father of the Slain paid.Do you know more now — or not?

Valði henni Herföðrhringa ok menfekk spjöll spakligok spá gandasá hon vítt ok of víttof veröld hverja.

The Father of Hosts gave her rings and necklaces,gave her wise words and the gift of far-sight;she saw wide, and ever wider,over every world there is.

Sá hon valkyrjurvítt of komnargörvar at ríðatil Goðþjóðar;Skuld helt skildien Skögul önnurGunnr, Hildr, Göndulok Geirskögul.Nú eru talðarnönnur Herjansgörvar at ríðagrund valkyrjur.

She saw valkyries gathering from afar,ready to ride to the gods' own land;Skuld held a shield, and Skogul another,Gunn, Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul.Now the maidens of the War-Father are named —valkyries, ready to ride the earth.

Ek sá Baldriblóðgum tívurÓðins barniörlög folgin;stóð of vaxinnvöllum hærimjór ok mjök fagrmistilteinn.

I saw for Baldr, the bleeding god,Odin's own child, a fate laid hidden:standing grown, taller than the field,slender and very fair — the mistletoe.

Varð af þeim meiðier mær sýndiskharmflaug hættligHöðr nam skjóta;Baldrs bróðir varof borinn snemmasá nam Óðins sonreinnættr vega.

From that stem, which had seemed so slight,came a deadly shaft — Hod let it fly.Baldr's brother was born early;one night old, he struck for Odin's son.

Þó hann æva hendrné höfuð kembðiáðr á bál of barBaldrs andskota;en Frigg of grétí Fensölumvá Valhallar.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

He never washed his hands, never combed his hair,until he carried Baldr's killer to the fire.But Frigg wept in Fensalirfor the grief of Valhalla.Do you know more now — or not?

Þá kná Válivígbönd snúaheldr váru harðgörhöft ór þörmum.

Then Vali twisted the war-bonds tight —cruelly made were those fetters,cut from entrails.

Haft sá hon liggjaund Hveralundilægjarns líkiLoka áþekkjan;þar sitr Sigynþeygi of sínumver vel glýjuð.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

She saw one lying bound, under Hveralund,in the shape of treacherous Loki;there sits Sigyn, not glad at all,watching over her husband.Do you know more now — or not?

Á fellur austanum eitrdalasöxum ok sverðumSlíðr heitir sú.

A river flows from the east, through valleys of poison,heavy with knives and swords —it is called Slid.

Stóð fyr norðaná Niðavöllumsalr ór gulliSindra ættar;en annarr stóðá Ókólnibjórsalr jötunsen sá Brimir heitir.

To the north, on Nidavellir, stooda hall of gold, built by Sindri's kin;and another stood on Okolnir,the giant's beer-hall — that one is called Brimir.

Sal sá hon standasólu fjarriNáströndu ánorðr horfa dyrr;falla eitrdroparinn um ljórasá er undinn salrorma hryggjum.

She saw a hall standing, far from the sun,on the Shore of Corpses, its doors facing north;drops of poison fall in through the smoke-hole —that hall is woven from serpents' backs.

Sá hon þar vaðaþunga straumamenn meinsvaraok morðvargaok þann er annars glepreyrarúnu;þar saug Niðhöggrnái framgengnasleit vargr vera.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

She saw men wading there, through heavy currents,oath-breakers, and murderers too,and those who seduced another man's wife;there Nidhogg sucked the blood of the dead,the wolf tore men apart.Do you know more now — or not?

Austr sat in aldnaí Járnviðiok fæddi þarFenris kindir;verðr af þeim öllumeinna nokkurrtungls tjúgarií trölls hami.

In the east sat the old one, in Ironwood,and there she raised the brood of Fenrir;one of them all will becomea snatcher of the moon, in troll's shape.

Fyllisk fjörvifeigra mannarýðr ragna sjötrauðum dreyra;svört verða sólskinum sumur eftirveðr öll válynd.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

He gorges on the flesh of the doomed,reddens the halls of the gods with blood;sunlight turns black in the summers after,all weather grows wild and cruel.Do you know more now — or not?

Sat þar á haugiok sló hörpugýgjar hirðirglaðr Eggþér;gól of hánumí galgviðifagrrauðr hanisá er Fjalarr heitir.

On a hill he sat, and struck his harp —the giantess's herdsman, glad Eggther;above him crowed, in the gallows-wood,a bright red rooster, called Fjalar.

Gól of ásumGullinkambisá vekr hölðaat Herjaföðrs;en annarr gelrfyr jörð neðansótrauðr haniat sölum Heljar.

Gold-comb crowed out over the gods,waking the warriors at the War-Father's hall;and another crows below the earth,a soot-red rooster, at the gates of Hel.

Geyr nú Garmr mjökfyr Gnipahellifestr mun slitnaen freki renna;fjölð veit ek fræðafram sé ek lengraum ragna rökrömm sigtíva.

Garm bays loud nowbefore Gnipahellir —the chain will snap,the wolf run free.Much lore I hold,and I see further still:the doom of the gods,the fall of the mighty.

Bræðr munu berjaskok at bönum verðaskmunu systrungarsifjum spilla;hart er í heimihórdómr mikillskeggöld, skalmöldskildir ro klofnirvindöld, vargöldáðr veröld steypisk;mun engi maðröðrum þyrma.

Brothers will fight, and kill each other;sisters' sons will break their kinship.Hard is the world, deep in whoredom —an axe-age, a sword-age, shields split apart,a wind-age, a wolf-age, before the world falls.No man will spare another.

Leika Míms syniren mjötuðr kyndiskat inu gallaGjallarhorni;hátt blæss Heimdallrhorn er á loftimælir Óðinnvið Míms höfuð.

Mimir's sons play, and fate awakensat the sound of the Gjallarhorn;Heimdall blows loud, the horn held high —Odin speaks with Mimir's head.

Skelfr Yggdrasilsaskr standandiymr it aldna tréen jötunn losnar;hræðask allirá helvegumáðr Surtar þannsefi of gleypir.

Yggdrasil shakes, the standing ash —the old tree groans, and the giant breaks free.All things fear, on the roads of Hel,until Surt's fire swallows them.

Hvat er með ásum?Hvat er með alfum?Gnýr allr Jötunheimræsir ro á þingistynja dvergarfyr steindurumveggbergs vísir.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

What of the gods? What of the elves?All Jotunheim roars — the gods hold council.The dwarves groan before their doors of stone,masters of the rock.Do you know more now — or not?

Geyr nú Garmr mjökfyr Gnipahellifestr mun slitnaen freki renna;fjölð veit ek fræðafram sé ek lengraum ragna rökrömm sigtíva.

Garm bays loud nowbefore Gnipahellir —the chain will snap,the wolf run free.Much lore I hold,and I see further still:the doom of the gods,the fall of the mighty.

Hrymr ekr austanhefisk lind fyrirsnýsk Jörmungandrí jötunmóði;ormr knýr unniren ari hlakkarslítr nái niðfölrNaglfar losnar.

Hrym drives from the east, shield raised before him;the world-serpent writhes in giant-rage;the serpent churns the waves, the eagle screams,tearing at corpses — Naglfar breaks free.

Kjóll ferr austankoma munu Múspellsof lög lýðiren Loki stýrir;fara fíflmegirmeð freka allirþeim er bróðirBýleists í för.

A ship sails from the east — Muspell's people comeover the sea, with Loki at the helm;all the monstrous brood ride out with the wolf,and with them travels the brother of Byleist.

Surtr ferr sunnanmeð sviga læviskínn af sverðisól valtíva;grjótbjörg gnataen gífr ratatroða halir helvegen himinn klofnar.

Surt comes from the south with the bane of branches —fire that scorches; his sword shineslike the sun of the slaughter-gods.The cliffs of stone crash down, giant-women stumble,men tread the road to Hel, and the sky splits open.

Þá kemr Hlínarharmr annarr framer Óðinn ferrvið ulf vegaen bani Beljabjartr at Surti;þá mun Friggjarfalla angan.

Then comes to Hlin a second grief,when Odin goes out to fight the wolf,and the bright slayer of Beli turns on Surt —then Frigg's beloved will fall.

Geyr nú Garmr mjökfyr Gnipahellifestr mun slitnaen freki renna;fjölð veit ek fræðafram sé ek lengraum ragna rökrömm sigtíva.

Garm bays loud nowbefore Gnipahellir —the chain will snap,the wolf run free.Much lore I hold,and I see further still:the doom of the gods,the fall of the mighty.

Þá kemr inn miklimögr SigföðurVíðarr, vegaat valdýri.Lætr hann megi Hveðrungsmundum standahjör til hjartaþá er hefnt föður.

Then comes the great son of Sigfather,Vidar, to fight the beast of death.He drives his blade into the heartof Hvedrung's son — his father is avenged.

Þá kemr inn mærimögr Hlóðynjargengr Óðins sonrvið orm vegadrepr af móðiMiðgarðs véurrmunu halir allirheimstöð ryðja;gengr fet níuFjörgynjar burrneppr frá naðriníðs ókvíðnum.

Then comes the glorious son of Hlodyn,Odin's own son, to fight the serpent;the guardian of Midgard strikes in fury, kills it —all men will flee their homes.Nine steps he walks, Fjorgyn's son,worn out, away from the snake, unafraid.

Sól tér sortnasígr fold í marhverfa af himniheiðar stjörnur;geisar eimiok aldrnarileikr hár hitivið himin sjalfan.

The sun turns black, the earth sinks in the sea,the bright stars fall from the sky;fire rages and steam rises,flame leaps high against heaven itself.

Geyr nú Garmr mjökfyr Gnipahellifestr mun slitnaen freki renna;fjölð veit ek fræðafram sé ek lengraum ragna rökrömm sigtíva.

Garm bays loud nowbefore Gnipahellir —the chain will snap,the wolf run free.Much lore I hold,and I see further still:the doom of the gods,the fall of the mighty.

Sér hon upp komaöðru sinnijörð ór ægiiðjagræna;falla forsarflýgr örn yfirsá er á fjallifiska veiðir.

She sees the earth rise again,a second time, out of the sea, all green;waterfalls tumble, an eagle flies over,hunting fish from the mountainside.

Finnask æsirá Iðavelliok um moldþinurmáttkan dæmaok minnask þará megindómaok á Fimbultýsfornar rúnir.

The gods meet again at Idavoll,and speak of the mighty world-serpent;they remember there the great judgments,and the ancient runes of the Mighty One.

Þar munu eftirundrsamligargullnar töflurí grasi finnaskþærs í árdagaáttar höfðu.

There, in the grass, will be found againwondrous golden game-pieces —the ones they owned in the earliest days.

Munu ósánirakrar vaxaböls mun alls batnaBaldr mun koma;búa þeir Höðr ok BaldrHrofts sigtoftirvé valtíva.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

Fields will grow unsown, all harm will heal,Baldr will come back.Hod and Baldr will dwell in Hropt's battle-hall,the shrine of the war-gods.Do you know more now — or not?

Þá kná Hænirhlautvið kjósaok burir byggjabræðra tveggjavindheim víðan.Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

Then Hoenir will choose the sacred lots,and the sons of two brothers will settlethe wide realm of the winds.Do you know more now — or not?

Sal sér hon standasólu fegragulli þakðaná Gimléi;þar skulu dyggvardróttir byggjaok um aldrdagaynðis njóta.

She sees a hall standing, fairer than the sun,roofed with gold, at Gimle;there the faithful people will dwell,and know joy for all their days.

Þá kemr inn ríkiat regindómiöflugr ofansá er öllu ræðr.

Then comes the mighty one, to the judgment of the powers,strong, descending from above —the one who rules over all.

Þar kemr inn dimmidreki fljúgandinaðr fránn, neðanfrá Niðafjöllum;berr sér í fjöðrum- flýgr völl yfir, -Niðhöggr nái.Nú mun hon sökkvask.

There comes the dark dragon, flying,the shining serpent, up from Nidafjoll;Nidhogg carries corpses in his feathersas he flies over the field. Now she will sink down.