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My English Translation of the Havamal


This is a work in progress and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Licence

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License


1

> Look around when you get to a door,

> Always be careful, always be alert;

> For you never know

> If you might see an enemy.


2

> Greetings to the giver!

> A stranger has arrived!

> Where will the stranger sit?

> Give them a seat by the fire,

> and test their luck.


3

> Give the wanderer a fire

> To warm their cold knees

> Meat and dry clothes are needed by those

> Who have traveled through the mountains.


4

> Give the guest water with a meal,

> A towel, a warm welcome,

> Conversation, and then silence

> So that they may tell their story.


5

> Those who travel need wisdom;

> A fool should stay at home;

> The fool will be laughed at

> In the company of the wise.


6

> One should not brag about their wisdom,

> But instead be careful;

> When wise folks come,

> Those who are silent

> Rarely say mistakes.

> One will not find a better friend

> Than their own wisdom.


7

> A cautious guest

> Who comes to a meal

> Sits in silence;

> Keeping their ears alert;

> Keeping their eyes alert.

> This keeps the wise person safe.


8

> One is happy

> When they receive

> The praise of others,

> Because it is difficult to know

> What is in the mind of another person.


9

> One is happy

> When they themself

> Receive praise and has wisdom in their life,

> Because bad advice

> Is often given

> Among folks.


10

> The best thing

> One can carry with them

> Is wisdom.

> It is better than wealth

> In unknown places.


11

> The best thing

> One can carry with them

> Is wisdom.

> The worst thing

> One can carry with them

> Is a head full of booze.


12

> Alcohol is not as good

> As one might think,

> Because the more one drinks,

> The less wise one becomes.


13

> Like a bird named Mindlessness

> That flies over meals,

> Waiting to steal the wisdom of folks;

> That bird had a hold on me

> When I was a guest of Gunnloth.


14

> I was drunk.

> I was too drunk.

> I was wise when I was with Fjalar:

> Drinking booze is best

> When you can still keep your wits about you.


15

> The child of royalty

> Should be silent and thoughtful,

> And also brave in battle;

> One should be happy and joyful

> Until the day they themself die.


16

> The fool thinks that they will live forever

> If they avoid battle,

> But old age will kill them

> Even if they are spared from spears.


17

> The fool stares when they visit a friend,

> And mumbles and is shy,

> But if they drink alcohol, immediately

> Everyone will know what a fool they are.


18

> Only one who has traveled to many places

> And experienced many things,

> Can underderstand the mind of another person,

> Assuming that person is also wise.


19

> Drink your booze, but in moderation.

> Speak wisely, or be silent.

> No one will think that you are rude

> If you go to bed early.


20

> A greedy person, without wisdom,

> Will eat until they are sick;

> Wise folks will often mock them

> Because of their big belly.


21

> The flocks know when to go home

> And leave the grazing grass behind,

> But a fool does not know

> How much food their stomach can hold.


22

> The miserable person, maliciously,

> Will make fun of everyone else,

> But is unable to see

> Their own flaws.


23

> The fool stays awake the whole night

> Worrying about everything.

> In the morning, they will still be worried

> And everything will still be the same as before.


24

> The fool thinks that those

> who laugh at them are their friends.

> When they are with wise folks, the fool does not know

> That they are being mocked.


25

> The fool thinks that those

> who laugh at them are their friends.

> But when the fool is on trial, they will find very few

> Who will speak favorably of them.


26

> A fool thinks they know everything,

> When they sit alone in their own home;

> But they can't answer a single question

> That is asked by others.


27

> It is best for a fool to be silent

> When they are around others,

> Because no one will notice how unwise the fool is

> Until the fool starts talking;

> But a fool does not know how unwise they are

> When they keep talking.


28

> A person seems wise when they ask good questions

> And give good answers.

> Anything folks know can't be hidden

> And will be gossiped about.


29

> A fool who never stops talking,

> Saying useless things:

> A blabbering mouth, if it can't be controlled,

> Will often lead to pain and trouble.


30

> Do not mock or ruin the reputation of another,

> Even if they are a guest;

> A person will still appear wise

> If they aren't asked questions

> And they stay out of trouble.

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