Hávamál, Words of the High One

Towards evening, Odin you should come again,
Hávamál, Words of the High One.

Illustration of the Hávamál in the translation of 1908 by Olive Bray - Public Domain
Illustration of the "Hávamál in the translation of 1908 by Olive Bray - Public Domain. 

Imagine the god of our modern Wednesdays - the name of the day comes from Wōden's day in Old Norse, another name for Odin - advising us how to live. This is idea behind the Hávamál, a poem of 164 verses with wisdom of yesterday and tomorrow. 

The Hávamál was found in the Codex Regius or "Royal Book" discovered in 1643. The text was compiled by an editor probably by the 13th century. That individual joined separate fragments of independent works that have in common the protagonism of Odin. It was first published in 1665 translated to Latin. 

There are more than twenty translations of the Hávamál to English. And all have differences, because how Olive Bray, the translator of "The Elder" or "Poetic Edda" published in 1908 by the Viking Club, rightly said, 

A translation is only a compromise at best,

(J. R. R. Tolkien got inspiration from this book that was published when he was 16 years old. )

But who was the original editor of the Hávamál? Who did curate these old Norse tales? 

Before, everybody pointed to Sæmundr Sigfússon, a priest and scholar from the Iceland of the 11-12th centuries. But today this is disputed. And even if the Hávamál is the most discussed piece of the "Poetic Edda", it's surrounded by mysteries. 

In a practical sense, can we learn something for our modern lives from this ancient text? 

Sure! Because parts of the advice put in the mouth of Odin transcend time. They are human in nature. How to confront life, proper behavior, and how to use our wisdom were as important then as today. 

To illustrate this, check my breve summary of lessons from the Hávamál  . 
  1. Don’t boast about your intelligence.
  2. Never pass for too wise.
  3. Common sense is vital.
  4. Alcohol is bad for the mind.
  5. Be cheerful until death.
  6. Travel helps to understand others.
  7. Greed brings trouble.
  8. Worrying never solves a problem.
  9. A quick tongue causes trouble.
  10. Fools look good when they stay silent.
  11. Never be a guest for too long.
  12. Be good with your friends.
  13. Money fools people.
  14. Not everybody is your friend.
  15. Conflict is part of human life.
  16. Keep your weapons close.
There is no doubt that the wisdom of the Hávamál is drawn from experience. 


(I liked the free translation of Professor Carolyne Larrington for its simplicity. In Amazon there are many other books related to this text that may be of interest - the previous link is affiliate, meaning that we may receive a small commission on your purchases without additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.)

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