Stanza 165

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Nú era Háva mál kveðin Háva höllu í allþörf ýta sonum óþörf jötna sonum heill sá er kvað heill sá er kann njóti sá er nam heilir þeirs hlýddu	The Wise One has spoken words in the hall, Needful for men to know, Unneedful for trolls to know: Hail to the speaker, Hail to the knower, Joy to him who has understood, Delight to those who have listened.	----	164. Now the sayings of the High One are uttered in the hall for the weal of men, for the woe of Jötuns, Hail, thou who hast spoken! Hail, thou that knowest! Hail, ye that have hearkened! Use, thou who hast learned!
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
164. Now are Har’s sayings said, in Har’s hall needful for the sons of men unneeded by ettins’ sons. Hail the one who speaks them, hail the one who knows them useful to he who gets them hail they who heed them.	Now are Har's sayings spoken in Har's hall, of help to the sons of men, of harm to the sons of etins; hail to whoever spoke them, hail to whoever knows them! Gain they who grasp them, happy they who heed them!	The sayings of the High One heard in his hall are helpful to sons of men, harmful to giants. Hail to the speaker, hail the one he taught! They're lucky who have the lore, happy if they heed it!	166. Now are sung the High-one’s songs, in the High-one’s hall, to the sons of men all-useful, but useless to the Jötun’s sons. Hail to him who has sung them! Hail to him who knows them! May he profit who has learnt them! Hail to hose who have listened to them!
This is our final verse of the Havamal. I hope you have enjoyed reading through them with me each day, and have gleaned a little bit of information for yourself on your journey.

Stanzas 163 - 164

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it átjánda er ek æva kennik mey né manns konu alt er betra er einn um kann þat fylgir ljóða lokum nema þeiri einni er mik armi verr eða mín systir sé	To learn to sing them, Loddfafnir, Will take you a long time, Though helpful they are if you understand them, Useful if you use them, Needful if you need them.	164. Long these songs | thou shalt, Loddfafnir, Seek in vain to sing; Yet good it were | if thou mightest get them, Well, if thou wouldst them learn, Help, if thou hadst them.	162. These songs, Stray-Singer, which man's son knows not, long shalt thou lack in life, though thy weal if thou win'st them, thy boon if thou obey'st them thy good if haply thou gain'st them.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
-	In this lore wilt thou, Loddfafnir, be unversed forever and say: thy weal were it, if this wisdom thine-- 'tis helpful, if heeded, 'tis needful, if known.	But all this lore you, Loddfafnir, will long be lacking -- though it would help you to have it, do you good to get it, be needed if you knew it.	-
This stanza is almost certainly an interpolation, and seems to have been introduced after the list of charms and the Loddfafnismol (stanzas 111-138) were combined in a single poem, for there is no other apparent excuse for the reference to Loddfafnir at this point. The words "if thou mightest get them" are a conjectural emendation.
Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Nú era Háva mál kveðin Háva höllu í allþörf ýta sonum óþörf jötna sonum heill sá er kvað heill sá er kann njóti sá er nam heilir þeirs hlýddu	I know an eighteenth that I never tell To maiden or wife of man, A secret I hide from all Except the love who lies in my arms, Or else my own sister.	165. An eighteenth I know, | that ne'er will I tell To maiden or wife of man,-- The best is what none | but one's self doth know, So comes the end of the songs,-- Save only to her | in whose arms I lie, Or who else my sister is.	163. An eighteenth I know: which I ne'er shall tell to maiden or wife of man save alone to my sister, or haply to her who folds me fast in her arms; most safe are secrets known to but one- the songs are sung to an end.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
163. I know an eighteenth that none know, neither maid, nor man’s wife. It is always better kept secret, except to the one who lies in my arms, or my sister.	That eighteenth I know which to none I will tell, neither maid nor man's wife-- 'tis best warded I but one know it: this speak I last of my spells-- but only to her in whose arms I lie, or else to my sister also.	I know an eighteenth which I never tell a maiden or any man's wife -- the best of charms if you can chant it; this is the last of my lay -- unless to a lady who lies in my arms, or I'll sing it to my sister.	165. For the eighteenth I know that which I never teach to maid or wife of man, (all is better what one only knows. This is the closing of the songs) save her alone who clasps me in her arms, or is my sister.
Some translators insert Stanza 163 before 164, some do not. I've combined them both here to keep in line with the groupings.

Stanza 162

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sjautjánda at mik mun seint firrask it manunga man ljóða þessa mun þú Loddfáfnir lengi vanr vera þó sé þér góð ef þú getr nýt ef þú nemr þörf ef þú þiggr	I know a seventeenth: if I sing it, the young Girl will be slow to forsake me.	163. A seventeenth I know, | so that seldom shall go A maiden young from me;	161. A seventeenth I know: so that e'en the shy maiden is slow to shun my love.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a Seventeenth to keep her from shirking me for any other man. Mind this Loddfafnir, long will you lack it, but it will get you good, once you learn it, it will be useful to you when you understand it, and needful if known.	That seventeenth I know, (if the slender maid's love I have, and hold her to me: this I sing to her) that she hardly will leave me for other man's love.	I know a seventeenth, and with that spell no maiden will forsake me.	164. For the seventeenth I know, that that young maiden will reluctantly avoid me. These songs, Loddfafnir! thou wilt long have lacked; yet it may be good if thou understandest them, profitable if thou learnest them.
Some editors have combined these two lines with stanza 164. Others have assumed that the gap follows the first half-line, making "so that-from me" the end of the stanza.

Stanza 161

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sextánda ef ek vil ins svinna mans hafa geð alt ok gaman hugi ek hverfi hvítarmri konu ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa	I know a sixteenth: if I see a girl With whom it would please me to play, I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart Of any white armed woman.	162. A sixteenth I know, | if I seek delight To win from a maiden wise; The mind I turn | of the white-armed maid, And thus change all her thoughts.	160. A sixteenth I know: when all sweetness and love I would win from some artful wench, her heart I turn, and the whole mind change of that fair-armed lady I love.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a sixteenth. If I want the heart and pleasure of a winsome lass, I turn the mind of the white-armed lady to me, and wend to bed with her.	That sixteenth I know, if I seek me some maid, to work my will with her: the white-armed woman's heart I bewitch, and toward me I turn her thoughts.	I know a sixteenth: if I say that spell any girl soon grants my desires; I win the heart of the white-armed maiden, turn her thoughts where I will.	163. For the sixteenth I know, if a modest maiden’s favour and affection I desire to possess, the soul I change of the white-armed damsel, and wholly turn her mind.
We, uh, are gonna just cruise on by this one..

Stanza 160

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fimmtánda er gól Þjóðreyrir dvergr fyr Dellings durum afl gól hann ásum en álfum frama hyggju Hroptatý	I know a fifteenth, that first Thjodrerir Sang before Delling's doors, Giving power to gods, prowess to elves, Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn,	161. A fifteenth I know, | that before the doors Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf; Might he sang for the gods, | and glory for elves, And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise.	159. A fifteenth I know, which Folk-stirrer sang, the dwarf, at the gates of Dawn; he sang strength to the gods, and skill to the elves, and wisdom to Odin who utters.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fifteenth, which Thiodrorir the dwarf sang before Delling’s door. He sang might to the Aesir, power to the elves, and understanding to Odin.	That know I fifteenth which Thjothrærir sang, the dwarf, before Delling's door: gave to Æsir strength, to alfs victory by his song, and insight to Othin.	I know a fifteenth that the dwarf Thjodrorir chanted at Delling's door: power to the Æsir, triumph to the elves, understanding to Odin.	162. For the fifteenth I know what the dwarf Thiodreyrir sang before Delling’s doors. Strength he sang to the Æsir, and to the Alfar prosperity, wisdom to Hroptatýr.
This stanza, according to Müllenhoff, was the original conclusion of the poem, the phrase "a fifteenth" being inserted only after stanzas 162-165 had crept in. Delling: a seldom mentioned god who married Not (Night). Their son was Dag (Day). Thjothrörir: not mentioned elsewhere. Hroptatyr: Othin.

Stanza 159

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fjórtánda ef ek skal fyrða liði telja tíva fyrir ása ok álfa ek kann allra skil fár kann ósnotr svá	I know a fourteenth, that few know: If I tell a troop of warriors About the high ones, elves and gods, I can name them one by one. (Few can the nit-wit name.)	A fourteenth I know, | if fain I would name To men the mighty gods; All know I well | of the gods and elves, Few be the fools know this.	158. A fourteenth I know: if I needs must number the Powers to the people of men, I know all the nature of gods and of elves which none can know untaught.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fourteenth: If I talk of the gods before the folk, I can speak of Ases and elves. Few of the unlearned know these things.	That fourteenth I know, if to folk I shall sing and say of the Gods: Æsir and alfs know I altogether-- of unlearned few have that lore.	I know a fourteenth, as men will find when I tell them tales of the gods: I know all about the elves and the Æsir -- few fools can say as much.	161. For the fourteenth I know, if in the society of men I have to enumerate the gods, Æsir and Alfar, I know the distinctions of all. This few unskilled can do.
Our lore and history is an important thing to know. We have all seen the “bro-satru” out there, who insist they are going to Valhalla because they've watched the Marvel movies..

Stanza 158

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it þrettánda ef ek skal þegn ungan verpa vatni á munat hann falla þótt hann í fólk komi hnígra sá halr fyr hjörum	I know a thirteenth if I throw a cup Of water over a warrior, He shall not fall in the fiercest battle, Nor sink beneath the sword,	A thirteenth I know, | if a thane full young With water I sprinkle well; He shall not fall, | though he fares mid the host, Nor sink beneath the swords.	157. A thirteenth I know: if the new-born son of a warrior I sprinkle with water, that youth will not fail when he fares to war, never slain shall he bow before sword.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a thirteenth: If I sprinkle a young thane with water, he will not fall, though he goes to battle. He will not be cut down by swords.	That thirteenth I know if a thane's son I shall wet with holy water: never will he fall, though the fray be hot, nor sink down, wounded by sword.	I know a thirteenth: if I pour water over a youth, he will not fall in any fight, swords will not slay him.	160. For the thirteenth I know, if on a young man I sprinkle water, he shall not fall, though he into battle come: that man shall not sink before swords.
The sprinkling of a child with water was an established custom long before Christianity brought its conception of baptism.

Stanza 157

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it tólpta ef ek sé á tré uppi váfa virgilná svá ek ríst ok í rúnum fák at sá gengr gumi ok mælir við mik	I know a twelfth: If a tree bear A man hanged in a halter, I can carve and stain strong runes That will cause the corpse to speak, Reply to whatever I ask.	158. A twelfth I know, | if high on a tree I see a hanged man swing; So do I write | and color the runes That forth he fares, And to me talks.	156. A twelfth I know: if I see in a tree a corpse from a halter hanging, such spells I write, and paint in runes, that the being descends and speaks.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a twelfth: If I see a hanged man swinging high in a tree, I can carve and stain runes, so that the man walks and speaks with me.	That twelfth I know, if on tree I see a hanged one hoisted on high: thus I write and the runes I stain that down he drops and tells me his tale.	I know a twelfth: if up in a tree I see a corpse hanging high, the mighty runes I write and color Make the man come down to talk with me.	159. For the twelfth I know, if on a tree I see a corpse swinging from a halter, I can so grave and in runes depict, that the man shall walk, and with me converse.
Lines 4-5 are probably expanded from a single line.

Stanza 156

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it ellipta ef ek skal til orrostu leiða langvini undir randir ek gel en þeir með ríki fara heilir hildar til heilir hildi frá koma þeir heilir hvaðan	I know an eleventh: when I lead to battle Old comrades in-arms, I have only to chant it behind my shield, And unwounded they go to war, Unwounded they come from war, Unscathed wherever they are.	An eleventh I know, | if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, | and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home.	155. An eleventh I know: if haply I lead my old comrades out to war, I sing 'neath the shields, and they fare forth mightily safe into battle, safe out of battle, and safe return from the strife.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know an eleventh: If I lead old friends into the fray, I sing under the shield and they fare into battle mighty and whole, they fare from battle whole, they are whole, wherever they go	That eleventh I know, if I am to lead old friends to the fray: under buckler I chant that briskly they fare hale and whole to battle, hale and whole from battle: hale whereever they are.	I know an eleventh: if I lead to war good and faithful friends, under a shield I shout the spell that speeds them -- well they fare in the fight, well they fare from the fight, wherever they go they fare well.	158. For the eleventh I know, if I have to lead my ancient friends to battle, under their shields I sing, and with power they go safe to the fight, safe from the fight; safe on every side they go.
The last line looks like an unwarranted addition, and line 4 may likewise be spurious.

Stanza 155

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it tíunda ef ek sé túnriðir leika lopti á ek svá vinnk at þeir villir fara sinna heimhama sinna heimhuga	I know a tenth: if troublesome ghosts Ride the rafters aloft, I can work it so they wander astray, Unable to find their forms, Unable to find their homes.	156. A tenth I know, | what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work | that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their own homes.	154. A tenth I know: when at night the witches ride and sport in the air, such spells I weave that they wander home out of skins and wits bewildered.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a tenth. If I see ghost-riders sporting in the sky, I can work it that the wild ones fare away. So their shapes (ham) shall fare home, so their spirits fare home.	That tenth I know, if night-hags sporting I scan aloft in the sky: I scare them with spells so they scatter abroad, heedless of their hides, heedless of their haunts.	I know a tenth: any time I see witches sailing the sky the spell I sing sends them off their course; when they lose their skins they fail to find their homes.	157. For the tenth I know, if I see troll-wives sporting in air, I can so operate that they will forsake their own forms, and their own minds.
House-riders: witches, who ride by night on the roofs of houses, generally in the form of wild beasts. Possibly one of the last two lines is spurious.

Stanza 154

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it níunda ef mik nauðr um stendr at bjarga fari mínu á floti vind ek kyrri vági á ok svæfik allan sæ	I know a ninth: when need I have To shelter my ship on the flood, The wind it calms, the waves it smoothes And puts the sea to sleep,	155. A ninth I know, | if need there comes To shelter my ship on the flood; The wind I calm | upon the waves, And the sea I put to sleep.	153. A ninth I know: when need befalls me to save my vessel afloat, I hush the wind on the stormy wave, and soothe all the sea to rest.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a ninth. If need arises, to save my ship on the flood, I can still the wind, and calm the waves, put the entire sea to sleep.	That ninth I know: if need there be to guard a ship in a gale, the wind I can calm, and the waves also, and wholly soothe the sea.	I know a ninth: if I ever need to save my ship in a storm, it will quiet the wind and calm the waves, soothing the sea.	156. For the ninth I know, if I stand in need my bark on the water to save, I can the wind on the waves allay, and the sea lull.
How many lives could have been saved if we had this knowledge today?

stanza 153

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it átta er öllum er nytsamligt at nema hvars hatr vex með hildings sonum þat má ek bœta brátt	I know an eighth: that all are glad of, Most useful to men: If hate fester in the heart of a warrior, It will soon calm and cure him.	154. An eighth I know, | that is to all Of greatest good to learn; When hatred grows | among heroes' sons, I soon can set it right.	152. An eighth I know: which all can sing for their weal if they learn it well; where hate shall wax 'mid the warrior sons, I can calm it soon with that song.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know an eighth. It is useful for all who know it, Whenever hatred flares up among warriors’ sons, I am able to quell it.	That eighth I know which to all men is needful, and good to know: when hatred runs high, heroes among, their strife i can settle full soon.	I know an eighth which no one on earth could fail to find useful: when hatred waxes among warriors the spell will soothe them.	155. For the eighth I know, what to all is useful to learn: where hatred grows among the sons of men - that I can quickly assuage.
How many wars could we end with this power?

Stanza 152

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sjaunda ef ek sé hávan loga sal um sessmögum brennrat svá breitt at ek honum bjargigak þann kann ek galdr at gala	I know a seventh: If I see the hall Ablaze around my bench mates, Though hot the flames, they shall feel nothing, If I choose to chant the spell.	153. A seventh I know, | if I see in flames The hall o'er my comrades' heads; It burns not so wide | that I will not quench it, I know that song to sing.	151. A seventh I know: if I see a hall high o'er the bench-mates blazing, flame it ne'er so fiercely I still can save it, -- I know how to sing that song.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a seventh. If I see a fire high on the hall around my bench companions, I can help them by singing the spell.	That seventh I know, if o'er sleepers' heads I behold a hall on fire: however bright the blaze I can beat it down-- that mighty spell I can speak.	I know a seventh: if I see flames high around a hall, no matter how far the fire has spread my spell can stop it.	154. For the seventh I know, if a lofty house I see blaze o’er its inmates, so furiously it shall not burn that I cannot save it. That song I can sing.
In today's fire-wrought landscape that is America, how cool would this spell be?

Stanza 151

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sétta ef mik særir þegn á rótum rams viðar ok þann hal er mik heipta kveðr þann eta mein heldr en mik	I know a sixth: it will save me if a man Cut runes on a sapling' s Roots With intent to harm; it turns the spell; The hater is harmed, not me.	152. A sixth I know, | if harm one seeks With a sapling's roots to send me; The hero himself | who wreaks his hate Shall taste the ill ere I.	150. A sixth I know: when some thane would harm me in runes on a moist tree's root, on his head alone shall light the ills of the curse that he called upon mine.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a sixth. If some thane attacks me, with the wood of a young root, he who says he hates me will get hurt, but I will be unharmed.	that sixth I know, if me someone wounds with runes on gnarled root written, or rouses my wrath by reckless speech: him blights shall blast, not me.	I know a sixth: if someone would harm me by writing runes on a tree root, the man who wished I would come to woe will meet misfortune, not I.	153. For the sixth I know, if one wounds me with a green tree’s roots; also if a man declares hatred to me, harm shall consume them sooner than me.
The sending of a root with runes written thereon was an excellent way of causing death. So died the Icelandic hero Grettir the Strong.