Vǫluspá

miǫtvið męran

the glorious measuring-tree

ꝼyrer mollꝺ neðan.

beneath the earth.

Aar uar allꝺa

It was early in the ages

þar er ymer bygði

when Ymir lived;

vara ſanꝺꝛ ne ſioꝛ

there was neither sand nor sea

ne ſualar vnner

nor cool waves;

iǫꝛð ꝼannz ęꝼa

earth was nowhere to be found,

ne vpp himinn

nor heaven above;

gap var ginnunga

there was Ginnunga gap [the yawning void],

enn graſ ekki.

and grass nowhere.

Aaðꝛ boꝛſ ſyner

Until Bor's sons

biǫðum oꝼ yptu

raised up the lands,

þeir er męran

they who the glorious

miðgarð ſkopu

Midgard shaped;

ſol ſkeinn ſunnan

the sun shone from the south

aa ſalar ſteina

on the stones of the hall;

þa var grunꝺ groin

then the ground was grown

grænum lauki.

with green leek.

Sol uarp ſunnan

The sun cast from the south,

ſinni mꜳna

the moon's companion,

henꝺinni hægri

her right hand

oꝼ ioður

over the rim [of heaven];

ſol þat ne uiſſi

the sun did not know

huar hon ſali ꜳtti

where she had her halls,

ſtiǫꝛnur þat ne uiſſu

the stars did not know

huar þær ſtæði ꜳttu

where they had their places,

mꜳni þat ne uiſſi

the moon did not know

huat hann meginſ atti.

what power he had.

Þa gengu reginn ǫll

Then all the powers went

ꜳ rǫkſtola

to their judgment seats,

ginnheilog goð

the most holy gods,

ok um þat giettuz

and deliberated on this;

nott ok iðium

to night and [its] kin

nǫꝼn um gꜳꝼu

they gave names;

moꝛgin hetu

morning they named,

ok miðian ꝺag

and midday,

vnꝺurn ok aptan

undorn [a time of day] and evening,

ꜳrum at telia.

to reckon the years.

Hittuz æſir

The Aesir met

ꜳ iða uelli

on Idavoll;

aꝼlſ koſtoðu

they tested their strength,

allz ꝼreiſtuðu

tried everything,

aꝼla lǫgðu

set up forges,

auð ſmiðuðu

forged treasure,

tanger ſkopu

shaped tongs

ok tol giǫꝛðu.

and made tools.

Teꝼlðu i tvni

They played at tables in the home-field,

teiter uoꝛv

they were merry;

var þeim uettugiſ

they had no

vant oꝛ gulli

lack of gold,

unz þriar komv

until three came,

þuſſa meyjar

giant maidens,

ꜳmatkar miǫk

very mighty,

oꝛ iǫtvn heimvm

out of Jotunheim.

Þa gengu regin ǫll

Then all the powers went

ꜳ rǫkſtola

to their judgment seats,

ginnheilug goð

the most holy gods,

ok vm þat giættuz

and deliberated on this:

huerer ſkyllꝺu ꝺuergar

which dwarves should

ꝺꝛotter ſkepia

shape the hosts

oꝛ bꝛimi bloðgv

out of bloody Brimir

ok oꝛ blamſ leggivm

and out of Blam's limbs.

þar uar moðſogner

There Modsognir

męztr oꝼ oꝛðinn

had become the greatest

ꝺuerg allra

of all dwarves,

enn ꝺurinn annaʀ

and Durin second;

þeir manlikan

they made human likenesses,

mǫꝛg oꝼ gioꝛðv

many of them,

ꝺuerga i iǫꝛðu

dwarves in the earth,

ſem ꝺurinn ſagði

as Durin said:

Nyi niði

Nyi, Nidi,

noꝛðꝛi ſuðꝛi

Nordri, Sudri,

langniðia tal

the reckoning of the long descent

loꝼarſ haꝼat

held to Lofar,

vnꝺz þꝛiar komu

until three came,

þvſſa meyar

giant maidens,

ꜳſtker ok ǫꝼlger

loving and mighty,

æſer at hvſi

Aesir, to the house;

ꝼvnꝺu ꜳ lanꝺi

they found on land,

litt meganꝺi

of little strength,

aſk ok emblv

Ask and Embla,

oꝛluglauſa

without destiny.

ǫnꝺ þau ne ꜳttu

Breath they had not,

oð þau ne hǫꝼðu

spirit they had not,

lꜳ ne læti

neither blood nor bearing

ne litv goða

nor good colour.

ǫnꝺ gaꝼ oðinn

Breath gave Odin,

oð gaꝼ hener

spirit gave Hoenir,

lꜳ gaꝼ loðuʀ

blood gave Lodur

ok litu goða.

and good colour.

Aſk ueit ek ſtanꝺa

An ash I know standing,

heiter yggꝺꝛaſill

it is called Yggdrasil,

haar baðmr auſinn

a high tree, drenched

huita auri

with white clay.

þaðan koma meyiar

From there come maidens,

margſ vitanꝺi

knowing much,

þriar oꝛ þeim ſal

three, out of that hall

er a þolli ſtenꝺꝛ

which stands by the tree;

urð hetv eina

Urd they called one,

ueðꝛ ǫll ualynꝺ

all weathers treacherous.

uitu þer enn ęðꝛ huat.

Do you know yet, or what?

Þat man hon ꝼolkuig

She remembers that war of peoples,

ꝼyrſt i heimi

the first in the world,

er gullueig

when Gullveig

geirum ſtuꝺꝺi

they pierced with spears

ok i hǫll hꜳrſ

and in the hall of Har

hana bꝛenꝺu

burned her;

þꝛyſvar bꝛenꝺv

three times they burned,

þryſvar brenꝺv

three times they burned,

þryſvar boꝛna

three times born,

opt oſiallꝺan

often, not seldom,

þo hon en liꝼer.

yet she still lives.

Heiði hana hetv

Heid they called her

huarſ til hvſa kom

wherever she came to houses,

ok vǫlu vel ſpa

and a seeress of good prophecy;

uiti hon ganꝺa

she enchanted wands;

ſeið hon hvarſ hvn kunni

she worked seiðr [sorcery] wherever she could,

ſeið hon hvgleikin

she worked seiðr, rapt in mind;

æ var hon angann

ever was she the delight

illrar bruðar

of an evil woman.

þa gengv regin ǫll

Then all the powers went

a rǫk ſtola

to their judgment seats,

ginnheilvg goð

the most holy gods,

ok vm þat giettvz

and deliberated on this:

huart ſkyllꝺv æſir

whether the Aesir should

aꝼrꜳð giallꝺa

pay tribute,

eðꝛ ſkyllꝺv guðin ǫll

or all the gods should

gillꝺi eiga.

share the offerings.

Fleygði oðinn

Odin hurled [his spear]

ok i ꝼolk vm ſkaut

and shot into the host;

þat var enn ꝼolkuig

that was still the war of peoples,

ꝼyʀ i heimi

the first in the world.

bꝛotinn var boꝛðueggr

Broken was the plank-wall

borgar ꜳſa

of the Aesir's stronghold;

knaattu vaner uig ſpa

the Vanir by war-spells could

uǫllu ſpoꝛna.

tread the plains.

Þa kna vala

Then could Vali's

vigbonꝺ ſnua

war-bonds be twisted;

hellꝺꝛ voru harðgioꝛ

rather hard-made were

hǫꝼt oꝛ þǫꝛmum

the fetters of guts.

þar ſitr ſigyn

There sits Sigyn,

þeygi vm ſinum

not at all over her

uer uelglyiut

husband well pleased.

vitu þer enn eða huat.

Do you know yet, or what?

Geyr garmr miǫk

Garm bays loudly

ꝼyrer gnupahelli

before Gnupahellir;

ꝼeſtr man ſlitna

the fetter will break

enn ꝼreki renna

and the wolf run free.

ꝼramm ſe ek lengra

Further ahead I see,

ꝼiǫlð kann ek ſegia

much can I tell

um ragna rǫk

of the doom of the powers,

rǫmm ſigtiva.

the hard [fate] of the victory-gods.

Sat þar ꜳ haugi

There sat on a mound

festr man ſlitna

the fetter will break

enn ꝼ˙

and the w[olf run free].

Bræðꝛ munu beriaz

Brothers will fight

ok at bǫnum verðaz

and be each other's slayers;

munu ſyſtrungar

sisters' sons will

ſiꝼium ſpilla

spoil kinship;

hart er i heimí

it is harsh in the world,

hoꝛꝺomr mikill

great adultery,

ſkeggǫll ſkꜳlmǫllꝺ

an axe-age, a sword-age,

ſkillꝺer kloꝼner

shields are cloven,

Vinꝺ ǫllꝺ vargǫllꝺ

a wind-age, a wolf-age,

ꜳðꝛ verǫllꝺ ſteypiz

before the world falls headlong;

grunꝺer gialla

the grounds resound,

giꝼr ꝼliuganꝺi

troll-women flying;

man eingi maðr

no man will

ǫðꝛum þyrma

spare another.

Leika mimſ ſynir

Mim's sons are at play,

en miǫtvðꝛ kynꝺiz

and fate is kindled

at hínu gamla

at the old

giallar hoꝛní

Gjallarhorn;

hꜳtt blæſſ heimꝺallr

loud blows Heimdall,

hoꝛn er ꜳ lopti

the horn is aloft;

męler oðinn

Odin speaks

við mimſ hǫꝼut.

with Mim's head.

Skelꝼr yggꝺꝛaſilſ

Yggdrasil's

aſkr ſtanꝺanꝺi

ash trembles where it stands,

ymr hið allꝺna tre

the old tree groans,

enn iǫtunn loſnar

and the giant gets loose.

hræðaz aller

All are afraid

a helvegvm

on the roads to Hel,

ꜳðꝛ ſurtar þann

before Surt's

ſevi oꝼ gleyper.

kinsman swallows that one.

Hvat er með ꜳſum

What is with the Aesir?

hvat er með ꜳlꝼum

What is with the elves?

gnyr allr iǫtun heimr

All Jotunheim roars,

æſir eru ꜳ þingi

the Aesir are at assembly;

ſtynia ꝺuergar

the dwarves groan

ꝼyrer ſteinꝺyrvm

before their stone doors,

vegbergſ uiſir

the wise ones of the rock-walls.

uitv þer enn eða hvað

Do you know yet, or what?

Geyr nu garmr miǫk

Garm now bays loudly

ꝼyrer gnipa helli

before Gnipahellir;

ꝼ˙ m˙

the f[etter] w[ill break, and the wolf run free].

Hrymr ekr auſtan

Hrym drives from the east,

heꝼiz linꝺ ꝼyrer

lifts his linden [shield] before him;

ſnyz iǫꝛmunganꝺꝛ

Jormungand writhes

i iǫtvnmoði

in giant-rage;

oꝛmr knyr unner

the serpent beats the waves,

enn ari hlakkar

and the eagle screams,

ſlitr nai niðꝼǫlr

wan, it tears corpses;

naglꝼar loſnar.

Naglfar comes loose.

Kioll ꝼerr auſtan

A keel travels from the east;

koma mvnu mvſpellz

there will come Muspell's

vm lǫgh lyðer

people over the sea,

enn loki ſtyrer

and Loki steers.

ꝼarar ꝼiꝼlmeger

The monstrous brood goes

með ꝼreka aller

with the wolf, all of them;

þeim er broðer

with them is the brother

byleſtz i ꝼerð

of Byleist on the journey.

ſurtr ꝼerr ſunnan

Surt travels from the south

með ſuiga levi

with the bane of branches;

ſkinn aꝼ ſverðe

there shines from his sword

ſol valtiꝼa

the sun of the slaughter-gods;

griotbiǫꝛg gnata

the rock-cliffs clash

enn giꝼr hrata

and the troll-women stumble;

troða haler helveg

men tread the road to Hel,

enn himinn kloꝼnar.

and heaven splits.

Þa kemr hlinar

Then comes Hlin's

harmr annaʀ ꝼramm

second grief to pass,

enn oðinn ꝼerr

when Odin goes

við vlꝼ uega

to fight with the wolf,

enn bani belia

and Beli's slayer,

biartr at ſurti

the bright one, against Surt;

þar man ꝼriggiar

there will Frigg's

ꝼalla angann.

darling fall.

Geyr nu garmr miǫk

Garm now bays loudly

ꝼyrer gnipa helli

before Gnipahellir;

ꝼ˙ m˙

the f[etter] w[ill break, and the wolf run free].

Ginn loꝼt yꝼer

It gapes aloft above

linꝺi iarðar

the girdle of the earth;

gapa ygſ kiaꝼtar

the jaws gape of the terrible

oꝛmſ i heꝺum

serpent on high;

mun oðinſ ſon

Odin's son will

oꝛmi męta

meet the serpent,

vargſ at

of the wolf, at

viðarſ niðia.

Vidar's kinsman.

naðꝛ

the adder

munv halir

men will

ſol ter ſoꝛtna

The sun turns black,

ſigr ꝼollꝺ i mar

earth sinks into the sea,

huerꝼa aꝼ himni

from heaven vanish

heiðar ſtioꝛnur

the bright stars;

geiſar eimí

steam rages

ok allꝺꝛnari

and the life-nourisher,

leikr hꜳr hiti

high heat plays

vit> himin ſialꝼan.

against heaven itself.

Geyr nu garmr miǫk

Garm now bays loudly

ꝼyrer gnipa helli

before Gnipahellir;

ꝼeſtr man ſlitna

the fetter will break

enn ꝼreki renna

and the wolf run free.

ſer hon vpp koma

She sees come up

ǫðꝛu ſinni

a second time

iǫꝛð oꝛ ægi

earth out of the sea,

iðia græna

ever green;

ꝼalla ꝼoꝛſar

waterfalls tumble,

ꝼlygr ǫꝛn yꝼer

an eagle flies above,

ſꜳ er aá ꝼialli

the one that on the mountain

ꝼiſka veiðer.

hunts fish.

Hittaz æſer

The Aesir meet

a iðavelli

on Idavoll,

ok um mollꝺþinur

and about the earth-coiler,

matkan ꝺęma

the mighty, they talk,

ok minnaz þar

and they recall there

a meginꝺoma

the great judgments

ok a ꝼimbultyſ

and Fimbultyr's

ꝼoꝛnar runar.

ancient runes.

Þa munu æſer

Then the Aesir will

unꝺꝛſamlegar

find the wondrous

gullnar tǫꝼlur

golden game-pieces

i graſi ꝼinna

in the grass,

þærſ i aarꝺaga

those that in days of old

ááttar hǫꝼðv

they had owned.

munu oſaaner

Unsown will

akrar uaxa

fields grow;

bolſ man allz batna

all ill will grow better;

man ballꝺꝛ koma

Baldr will come.

bua þeir hǫðꝛ ok ballꝺꝛ

Hod and Baldr will dwell

hroptz ſigtoꝼter

in Hropt's victory-grounds,

vel uelltiꝼar

well, the gods of the slain.

uítu þer enn eðꝛ hvat.

Do you know yet, or what?

Þa kna hęner

Then Hoenir can

hlutvið kioſa

choose the lot-wood,

er burer byggia

and the sons dwell

bræðꝛa tueggia

of two brothers

vinꝺ heim viðan

in the wide wind-home.

vitv þer enn ęðꝛ huat.

Do you know yet, or what?

Sal ſer hon ſtanꝺa

A hall she sees standing,

ſolu ꝼegra

fairer than the sun,

gulli þaktan

thatched with gold,

a gimle

at Gimle;

þar ſkulo ꝺyggvar

there shall worthy

ꝺꝛottir byggia

hosts dwell

ok um allꝺꝛ ꝺaga

and for all their days

ynꝺiſ niota.

enjoy delight.

Þa kemr hinn riki

Then comes the mighty one

at regin ꝺomi

to the judgment of the powers,

ǫꝼlugr oꝼan

strong, from above,

ſa er ǫllv ræðꝛ.

he who rules all.

Kemr hinn ꝺimi

There comes the dark

ꝺꝛeki ꝼliuganꝺi

dragon flying,

naðꝛ ꝼraann neðan

the gleaming serpent, up from below

ꝼra niða

from Nida[fjoll];

berr ſier i ꝼiǫðꝛum

he carries in his feathers

ꝼlygr uǫll yꝼer

— he flies over the plain —

niðhoggr nai

Nidhogg, corpses.

nv man hon ſǫkkvaz

Now she will sink.