The Manuscript Texts of Völuspá
II. Hauksbók : Hawk's Book

The poem we know today as Völuspá is actually a combination of two different versions of the same poem found in two separate manuscripts: Codex Regius and Hauksbók. While many verses of the two poems are identical, both manuscripts contain unique lines and verses, and arrange the existing verses in different manners. The combined text is then further refined using variant versions of the verses cited by Snorri Sturluson in his Edda. The translations of Voluspa available today are all of this blended nature. Thus the English reader is denied a true picture of what the actual manuscript versions of this important poem look like. This is an attempt to remedy that.

This is the Hauksbók Manuscript

See Also: Codex Regius

Icelandic Text from Jormungrund
English Translation modified from that of Benjamin Thorpe 1865
Text in red indicates significant variants from the Codex Regius version.

1. Hlioðs bið ek allar helgar kind^ir meiri ok minⁿi mogu hei^mdallar villtu at ek vafodrs vel fra^mm telia forn spioll fira þau er ek fremz v^m man.	1. A hearing I pray all holy kind, great and small, sons of Heimdall they will that I Woe-father´s (Loki's?) deeds recount, men´s ancient damage,* those that I best remember. With Hauksbók* 1/5 reading vaföðrs vél, possibly "the ancient damage to men" caused by the wiles of the Woe-father (Loki).
2. Ek man iotna aar v^m borna þa er forðu^m mik fædda hofðv: niu man ek heima niu i uidiur miotvið meran f^yr molld neðan.	2. I remember Jötuns born early on, those who me of old have reared. nine worlds I remember, nine wood-ogresses, the great measuring tree, beneath the earth.
3. Aar uar allda þar er ym^ir bygði vara sandr ne sior ne svalar unn^ir iorð fanⁿz efa ne vpp himinⁿ gap v^ar ginⁿvnga enⁿ g^ras ecki.	3. When time was young, where Ymir dwelt, was no sand, no sea, nor cool waves; earth existed not, nor heaven above, A gap was gaping, and no grass.
4. Aadr bors syn^ir bioðu^m of yptu þ^eir er meran miðgarð skopu sol skeinⁿ sunⁿan aa salar steina þa u^ar grund groin grænum lauki.	4. Before Bor´s sons raised up heaven´s vault, they who the noble Midgard shaped. The sun shone from the south on the hall's stones: then was the ground grown with green leeks.
5. Sol u^arp sunⁿan sinⁿi maana hendi inⁿi hægri of ioður sol þ^at ne uissi hu^ar h^on sali aatti stiornur þ^at ne uissu hvar þær stadi aattu maani þ^at ne vissi hvat h^ann megins atti.	5. The sun from the south, the moon´s companion, her right hand cast about the horse-doors.* The sun did not know what halls she possessed. The stars did not know where they had a station. The moon did not know what power he possessed. The reading himin-jöðurr* is conjectural, based on compounding the readings himinn from K and iodur from H, which is understood as a variant of iaðarr, “edge, rim”.
6. Þa g^engu regin oll aa rokstola ginⁿheilvg goð ok v^m þ^at giettuz nott ok niðiu^m nofn vm gaafu morgin hetv ok miðian dag vndvrn ok aptan aaru^m at telia.	6. Then went all the powers went to their judgment seats, the all-holy gods, and thereon held council: to night and waning moon gave names; morn they named, and mid-day, afternoon and eve, to reckon years.
7. Hittuz æsir aa idauelli afls kostuðv allz freistuðu afla logðu auð smiðuðu tang^ir skopv ok tol giordu.	7. The Æsir met on Ida’s plain; their strength they proved, all things tried, furnaces established, precious things forged, shaped tongs, and made tools;
8. Tefldu itvni teit^ir uorv v^ar þ^eim uettugis vant or gulli unz þriar komv þussa meyiar aamatkar miok or iotvn heimvm.	8. at tables played at home; joyous they were; to them was naught the want of gold, until three came þussa [“thurs”-?] maidens, all powerful, from Jötunheim.
9. Þa g^engu regin oll aa rokstola ginⁿheilug goð ok v^m þ^at giættuz hv^erer skylldu du^ergar drott^ir skepia or brimi bloðgv ok or blains leggiu^m.	9. Then all the powers went to the judgement seats the most holy gods and deliberated on this: Who of the dwarves should create men from the blood of Brimir and the limbs (or: bones) of Blainn
10. Þar u^ar modsogn^ir meztr of orðinⁿ du^erga allra enⁿ durinⁿ anⁿaR þ^eir manlikan morg of giorðv du^erga i iorðu se^m durinⁿ sagði.	10. There Mótsognir was the most esteemed of all the dwarves, but Durinn the second. human forms they made many dwarves in the earth as Durinn commanded.
11. Nyi niði norðri suðri austri vestri alþiofr dualinⁿ. naar ok nainⁿ nipingr dainⁿ ueggr gand alfr uindaalfr þorinⁿ.	11. Nýi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri, Asutri and Vestri, Althiöf, Dvalin Nár and Náin, Niping, Dáin, Veig and Gandálf, Vindálf Thorin,
12. BifvR bafvR bombvR nori aan ok onaR ai mioðvitn^ir. þrar ok þrainⁿ þror litr ok vitr nyr ok nyraaðr nv hefi ek rekka reginⁿ ok raaðsviðr rett v^m talða.	12. Bivör, Bavör, Bömbur, Nori, An and Anar, Ai, Miödvitnir, Thrar and Thrain, Thror, Vitr, and Litr, Nýr and Nýrád, Now have I reckoned Regin and Rádsvid. rightly told.
13. Fili kili funⁿdin nali hefti fili hanaR ok svidR naar ok nainⁿ nipingr dáinⁿ billingr bruni billdr ok buri fror fornbogi freg ok loni	13. Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali, Hepti, Vili, Hanar, Sviðr, Nár and Náin, Niping, Dáin, Billing, Bruni, Bild, Búri, Frár, Fornbogi, Fræg and Lóni,
14. Aurvangr iari eikin skialldi maal er du^erga i dualins liði liona kindu^m t^il lofars telia þ^eim er sottu f^ra salar steini orvanga siot t^il iorv valla.	14. Aurvang, Iari, Eikinskialdi. Time ´tis of the dwarfs in Dvalin´s band, to the sons of men, to Lofar up to reckon, those who came forth from the stone halls, earth´s foundation, to Iora´s plains.
15. Þar var draufn^ir ok dolgþraser haar haugspori hlevargr gloinⁿ skirf^ir virv^ir skafiðr ai aalfr ok yngvi eikinskialldi.	15. There were Draupnir, and Dólgthrasir, Hár, Haugspori, Hlævang, Glóin, Skirvir, Virvir, Skafid, Ai, Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskialdi,
16. Þat man æ vppi meðan olld lif^ir langniðia tal lofars hafat.	16. That ever above shall, while mortals live, accounted be, the progeny of Lofar,
17. Vndz þriar komu þussa mey^ar aastk^ir ok oflg^ir æser at husi fundu aa l^andi litt megandi ask ok emblv orluglausa.	17. Until there came þussa [thurs? cp. st. 8] maids mighty and benevolent Æsir to the house. They found on land, with little strength, Ask and Embla, örlog (destiny)-less.
18. ond þau ne attu oð þau ne hofðu laa ne læti ne litv goða. Ond gaf oðinⁿ od gaf hen^ir laa gaf loðvR ok litv goða.	18. önd (spirit/breath) they did not possess, óðr (mind, inspiration) they did not have, blood nor motive powers, nor good colour. Önd gave Odin, óðr gave Hoenir, blood gave Lodur, and good color.
19. Ask ueit ek standa heit^ir yggdrasill har badmr ausinⁿ huita auri. þaðan koma doggvar þers i dala falla stendr æ yf^ir grænⁿ vrðar brunⁿi.	19. I know an ash standing named Yggdrasil, a high tree, laved with white mud: thence come the dews that fall in dales stands ever green over Urd´s fountain.
20. Þaðan koma meyiar margs vitandi þriar or þ^eim sal er a þolli stendr. vrd hetv eina aðra u^erdandi skaaru aa skiði skulld hina þriðiu. Þær log logðu þær lif kuru allda bornu^m orlog at segia.	20. Thence come maidens, much knowing, three from the hall, which under that tree stands; Urd hight one, the second Verdandi, - on a tablet they graved - Skuld the third. They laid down laws, they allotted life human born; örlog (destiny) to pronounce.
21. Þa gengv regin oll a rokstola ginnheilugh \| god ok um þat giettuz hverr hefði loft allt levi blandit eðr ætt io\|tuns oðs mey gefna	21. Then all the powers went to their judgment-seats, the high-holy gods and thereon held council: who had mingled all the air with evil? or to the Jötun race had given Od´s maid [Freyja]?
22. Þorr einⁿ þar vaa þrunginⁿ moði h^ann sialldan sitr er h^ann slikt of fregn aa g^enguz eiðar orð ok ok særi maal oll meginlig er aa meðal voru.	22. There alone was Thor with anger swollen. He seldom sits, when he hears of the like. Oaths are not held sacred; nor words, nor swearing, nor binding compacts reciprocally made.
23. Veit hon heimdallar hlioð um folgit und^ir heiðvonv^m helgu^m baðmi aa ser hoⁿ avsaz orgu^m forsi af ueði ualfoðrs uitu þ^er enⁿ e^ða huat.	23. She knows that Heimdall’s hearing is hidden under the heaven-bright holy tree. A river she sees flow, with foamy fall, from Valfather’s pledge. Know ye yet, or what?
24. Austr byr hin alldna i iarnvidi ok feð^ir þar fenris kind^ir v^erðr af þ^eim ollum einⁿa nokkur tungls t · · gari i trollz hami.	24. East lived the crone, in Ironwood, and bore there Fenrir´s progeny: of them all one especially shall be the moon’s de[vour]er, in a troll’s guise.
25. fylliz fiorfi feig^ra manⁿa ryðr ragna siot rauðu^m dreyra svort v^erða solskin um sumvr eft^ir ueðr oll ualynd uitv þ^er einⁿ enⁿ eðr huat.	25. He is sated with the last breath of fated men; the gods’ seat he defiles with red blood: swart becomes the sunshine then for summers after; weather all wicked. Know ye yet, or what?
26. Þat man hon folkuig fyrst i heimi er gullueíg geiru^m studdi ok i holl haars h^ana brendu þrysvar brendv þrysvar borna opt osialldan þo hon en lif^ir.	26. She remembers that war, the first folk-war in the world, when Gullveig they studded with spears, and in the High One´s hall burnt her, thrice burnt, thrice born, often not seldom; yet she still lives.
27. Heiði hana hetv hu^ars til hvsa ko^m ok volu vel spa uiti hon ganda seid hon hvars hvn kunⁿi seid hoⁿ hvgleikin æ var hon anganⁿ illrar bruðar.	27. Heid they called her, wherever she came, the well-foreseeing Vala: she enchanted gandr* sorcery she knew, with sorcery she played with minds; she was ever the "sweet scent" of evil women. *a wand or other magical object; a wolf or monster.
28. Þa g^engv regin oll a rok stola ginⁿheilvg goð ok v^m þ^at giettvz huart skylldv æsir afraað giallda eðr skylldv guðin oll gilldi eiga.	28. Then all the powers went to their judgment-seats, the high-holy gods And thereon held counsel; whether the Æsir should pay a fine, or all the gods pay tribute.
29. Fleygði oðinⁿ ok i folk vm skaut þ^at var enⁿ folkuig fyR i heimi brotinⁿ v^ar borð ueggr b^orgar aasa knaattv van^ir uig spa uollu sporna.	29. Odin cast (his spear), and shot into the people that was the folk-war [first?] in the world. Broken was the board wall of the Æsir´s burgh. The Vanir, prophetic in war, tramp the plains.
30. Þa kna vala vigbond snua helldr v^oru harðgior hoft or þormu^m þar sitr sigyn þeygi v^m sinu^m ver uel glyiut vitu þer enⁿ eða huat.	30. Then from Vali’s war-bonds most rigid, bonds from entrails made. There sits Sigyn, for her consort’s sake, not right glad. Know ye yet, or what?
31. Geyr garmr miok f^yri gnupa helli festr man slitna enⁿ freki renⁿa fram^m se ek lengra fiolð kanⁿ ek segia um ragna rok rom^m sigtiva.	31. Loud bays Garm before the Gnupa-cave, his bonds break and the wolf runs. Further forward I see, much can I say of Ragnarök and the gods´conflict.
32. Sat þar aa haugi ok slo horpu gygiar hirð^ir glaðr egð^ir gol yf^ir igalguiði fagr rauðr hani enⁿ sa fialaR heit^ir.	32. Sat there on a mound, striking a harp, the giantess’s herder, joyous Egdir; crows o'er, in the gallows-wood, the fair red cock, which Fialar hight.
33. Gol yf^ir aasum gullin kambi sa uekr holda at h^eria foðrs enⁿ anⁿaR gelr fyr^ir iorð neðan sot rauðr hani at solum heliar.	33. Crows over the Æsir Gullinkambi, which wakens heroes at the father of hosts’; but another crows down below the earth, a soot-red cock, in the halls of Hel.
34. Sal sier hon standa solu fiaRi nastrondu^m aa norðr horfa dyR falla eitrdropar inⁿ vm liora saa er undinⁿ salr orma hryggiu^m.	34. She saw a hall standing, far from the sun, in Náströnd (Corpse-beach); its doors face northward, venom-drops fall in through its apertures: so that hall is woven of serpent’s backs.
35. Ser hon þar vaða þunga strauma m^enn meinsvara ok mordvarga ok þanz anⁿars glepr eyrna runa þar savg nið hoggr nai framgengna sleit vargr v^era vitv þ^er enⁿ eða hvat.	35. There she saw wade sluggish streams bloodthirsty men and perjurers, and him who begiles the ear of another’s wife. There Nidhögg sucks the corpses of the dead; the wolf tears men. Know ye yet, or what?
36. Geyr nu garmr miok f^yri gn. h. f. man. sl. enⁿ	36. Loud bays Garm before the Gn.-c. his b. br. and…
37. Bræðr munu beriaz ok at bonu^m verðaz munu systrungar sifiu^m spilla hart er i heimi hordomr mikill skeggoll skaalmolld skilld^ir klofn^ir. Uind olld varg olld aaðr v^erolld steypiz grund^ir gialla gifr fliugandi man eingi m^aðr oðru^m þyrma.	37. Brothers shall fight, and slay each other; sisters’ children shall violate kinship; Hard is the world much whoredom an axe age, a sword age Shields are cloven. A wind age, a wolf age, ere the world sinks. The ground resounds gifr [troll-women] fly no man will another spare.
38. Leika mims syn^ir en miotvðr kyndiz at hínu gamla giallar horni haatt blæss heimdallr horn er aa lopti meler oðinⁿ við mims hofut.	38. Mim’s sons play, but the central tree takes fire, at the ancient Gjallar-horn. Loud blows Heimdall, his horn is raised; Odin speaks with Mim’s head.
39. Skelfr yggdrasils askr standandi ymr hið alldna tre enⁿ iotunⁿ losnar hræðaz allir a helvegv^m aaðr surtar þanⁿ sevi of gleyp^ir.	39. Shivers Yggdrasil’s ash yet standing; groans that aged tree, and the jötun is loosed. all men will be panic-stricken on the paths of Hel, before Surt’s kinsmen swallows that one.
40. Hvat er með aasu^m hvat er með aalfu^m gnyr allr iotun heimr æsir eru aa þⁱⁿgi stynia dv^ergar f^yri steindyrv^m vegb^ergs uisir. uitv þ^er enⁿ eða hvat.	40. How is it with the Æsir? How with the Alfar? All Jötunheim resounds; the Æsir are in council. The dwarfs groan before their stony doors, the sages of the rocky walls. Know ye yet, or what?
41. Geyr nu garmr miok f^yri gnipa helli f. m.	41. Loud bays Garm before the Gnipa-cave h. b.
42. Hrymr ekr austan hefiz lind fyr^ir snyz iormungandr i iotvnmoði ormr knyr unn^ir enⁿ ari hlakkar slitr nai niðfolr naglfar losnar.	42. Hrym steers from the east, the waters rise, Jormungandr is coiled in jötun-rage. The worm beats the waves, and the eagle screams: pale-beak tears carcasses; Naglfar is loosed.
43. Kioll f^err austan koma mvnu mvspellz vm logh lyðer enⁿ loki styrer farar fiflmeg^ir með freka aller þ^eim er broð^ir byleistz i f^erð.	43. That ship fares from the east: come will Muspell’s people o’er the sea, and Loki steers. The monster’s kin goes all with the wolf; with them the brother is of Byleist on their course.
44. Surtr f^err sunⁿan með suiga levi skinⁿ af sv^erðe sol valtifa griotbiorg gnata enⁿ gifr hrata troða haler helveg enⁿ himinⁿ klofnar.	44. Surt comes from the south with the bane of branches; shines from his sword the Val-god’s sun. The stony hills are dashed together, the giantesses totter; men tread the Hel-way, and heaven is cloven.
45. Þa kemr hlinar harmr annaR fram^m enⁿ oðinⁿ f^err við vlf uega enⁿ bani belia biartr at surti þar man friggiar falla anganⁿ.	45. Then comes Hlin´s second grief, when Odin goes to fight with the wolf, and the bright slayer of Beli with Surt. Then will Frigg´s 'sweet scent' fall.
46. Geyr nu garmr miok f^yri gnipa helli f. m.	46. Loud bays Garm before the Gnipa-cave, h.b.
47. Ginⁿ loft yfer lindi iarðar gapa ygs kiaptar orms iheðv^m mvⁿ oðins son ormi meta vargs at da · · · uiðars niðia..	47. In the air above the girdle of the earth gape the jaws of the terrible worm; Odin's son will meet the worm after the wolf's death (and) Vidar's kinsman [Odin]. usually emended to úlfs (wolf's) i.e. Fenrir's.
48. · · · [fet niu] · [ior] · · · · · · [nepr fra] naðr · · · · · · · · · · · munv halir [al] · · · · · · · · · ydia [er] · · · · · · mið · · · · · ·	48. … [nine steps] .[jör]…… bowed by the serpent · · · · · · · · · · all men will · · · · · · · · ·'bandon [he] · · · · · · Mid- · · · · · · ,
49. · · · ter sortna sigr folld imar hu^erfa af himni heiðar stiornur · · isar eimi ok alldrnari leikr haar hiti v^ið himin sialfan.	49. …darkens, earth in ocean sinks, fall from heaven the bright stars, fire´s breath assails the all-nourishing tree, towering fire plays against heaven itself.
50. Geyr · · garmr miok f^yri gnipa helli festr man slitna enⁿ freki r.	50. Bays ...Garm much before the Gnipa-cave, his bonds he rends asunder; and Freki runs.
51. · · r hon vp^p koma oðru sinⁿi iorð or ægi iðia græna falla forsar flygr orn yf^ir saa er aá fialli fiska veið^ir.	51. She sees arise, a second time, earth from ocean, beauteously green, waterfalls descending; the eagle flying over, which in the fell captures fish.
52. Hittaz æser a iða uelli ok um molld þinur matkan dema ok minⁿaz þar a megin doma ok a fimbultys fornar runar.	52. The Æsir meet on Ida´s plain, and of the mighty earth-encircler speak, and there to memory call their mighty deeds, and the great-god’s ancient runes.
53. Þa munu æser undrsa^mlegar gullnar toflur i grasi finⁿa þærs i aardaga ááttar hofðv.	53. Then the Aesir shall the wondrous golden tables find in the grass; those they had owned in early days.
54. Munu osaan^ir akrar uaxa bols man allz batna man balldr koma bua þ^eir hoðr ok balldr hroptz sigtoft^ir vel uelltifar uitu þ^er enⁿ eðr hvat.	54. Unsown shall fields produce, bale may all be better; Baldr shall come; They inhabit, Hödr and Baldr, Hropt´s victory-walls the sanctuaries of the gods of the slain Know ye yet, or what?
55. Þa kna hen^ir hlut viþ kiosa er bur^ir byggia bræðra tueggia vind heim viðan vitv þ^er enⁿ eðr huat.	55. Then can Hoenir choose his lot, and the two brother´s sons inhabit the spacious Vindheim. Know ye yet, or what?
56. Sal ser hon standa solu fegra gulli þaktan a gimle. þar sk^olo dyggvar drott^ir byggia ok vm alldr daga yndis niota.	56. She a hall sees standing brighter than the sun, bedecked with gold, on Gimle: there shall the righteous people dwell, and forever more enjoy happiness.
57. Þa kemr hinⁿ riki at regin domi oflugr ofan sa er ollv ræðr.	57. Then comes the mighty one to the great judgment, the powerful from above, who rules o’er all.
58. Kemr hinⁿ dimi dreki fliugandi naðr fraanⁿ neðan f^ra niða b^err sier i fioðrum flygr uoll yf^ir niðhoggr nai nv man hon sokkvaz.	58. Comes hence the dark dragon flying the snake from below, from Nida-fells. Bearing on his wings flying over the plain, Nidhögg, a corpse. Now she will sink.

The Manuscript Texts of Völuspá II. Hauksbók : Hawk's Book

The Manuscript Texts of Völuspá
II. Hauksbók : Hawk's Book