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.
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 multiple times, each reflecting different styles and interpretations, from early scholarly translations to more modern and accessible versions.
A new translation is currently in development to present the poem in clear, modern English while remaining faithful to the original meaning.
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
— scholarly translation balancing accuracy and poetic form.
Hovamol - The Ballad of the High One
English Translation (1923) by Henry Adams Bellows
— one of the most widely read early English editions.
Hávamál - The Words of Odin the HIgh One
English Translation (1908) by Olive Bray.
— a classic early 20th-century translation with literary style.
Hávamál - The High One's Lay
English Translation (1866) by Benjamin Thorpe.
— one of the earliest English translations of the Poetic Edda.
III
Translation samples
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.
