Hávamál
Translations
in English
Old Norse Poetry
I
Overview of Hávamál
Hávamál (“Sayings of the High One”) is one of the most well-known poems from the Poetic Edda. It is traditionally attributed to Odin and consists of a collection of wisdom, advice, and reflections on life, honor, and conduct.
The poem is made up of a series of stanzas offering practical and philosophical guidance. It covers themes such as hospitality, reputation, friendship, and the pursuit of wisdom, making it one of the most widely read texts in Old Norse literature.
Hávamál is part of the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems preserved in medieval Icelandic manuscripts, main one being the so called Codex Regius. The poem is often divided into sections, including general wisdom, advice attributed to Odin, and passages dealing with runes and knowledge.
The translations on this page are presented for comparative and educational study, preserving several historically important English editions of Hávamál in a single accessible resource.
Themes of Hávamál
- Wisdom and practical advice
- Hospitality and social conduct
- Reputation and honor
- Knowledge and the pursuit of wisdom
II
Read Hávamál in English
Hávamál has been translated into English many times, with each edition reflecting different scholarly and literary priorities. Some translators aim for close philological accuracy, while others emphasize poetic rhythm, readability, or reconstruction of Old Norse verse forms.
The translations collected here include several historically significant public-domain editions, including those by Benjamin Thorpe (1866), Olive Bray (1908), Henry Adams Bellows (1923), and Lee M. Hollander (1928). Together, they represent different approaches to rendering the wisdom of Hávamál into English.
No single translation captures every aspect of the original Old Norse text. Reading multiple versions alongside one another can provide a broader understanding of the poem, its ambiguities, and the interpretive choices made by different translators.
Where available, original commentary, editorial notes, and Old Norse texts have been preserved alongside the translations.
The translations presented below were selected for their historical influence, distinctive translation styles, and continuing importance in modern English readings of Hávamál.
Hávamál - The Sayings of the High One
Modern English Translation (in the works.)
— a clear and accessible modern rendering.
Hávamál - The Sayings of HOr
English Translation (1928) by Lee M. Hollander
— metrically influenced translation balancing poetic form and philological accuracy.
Hovamol - The Ballad of the High One
English Translation (1923) by Henry Adams Bellows
— influential academic translation widely read throughout the twentieth century.
Hávamál - The Words of Odin the HIgh One
English Translation (1908) by Olive Bray.
— dual-language literary edition with Old Norse text, commentary, and editorial notes.
Hávamál - The High One's Lay
English Translation (1866) by Benjamin Thorpe.
— early philological prose translation foundational to later English editions.
III
COMPARATIVE TRANSLATION SAMPLES
The following passages illustrate how different translators approach the language, rhythm, and tone of Hávamál. Variations in diction, meter, and poetic structure reflect differing attempts to balance readability, philological accuracy, and the style of Old Norse verse.
1
Have thy eyes about thee when thou enterest a door,
be wary alway,
be watchful alway;
for never one knoweth when need will be
to meet hidden foe in the hall.
–Lee M Hollander
1
Within 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.
–Henry Adams Bellows
1
At every door-way,
ere one enters,
one should spy round,
one should pry round
for uncertain is the witting
that there be no foeman sitting,
within, before one on the floor.
–Olive Bray
1
All door-ways,
before going forward,
should be looked to;
for difficult it is to know
where foes may sit
within a dwelling.
–Benjamin Thorpe
Keep Exploring
Other Old Norse Poems
Explore other poems from the Poetic Edda and the wider Old Norse corpus.
