A man must not be boastful
in his mind,
but wary in disposition;
when he, wise and silent,
comes to the homestead,
misfortune rarely befalls the wary,
because man can never have
a more reliable guide
than great common sense.

He is blessed
who has within himself
praise and esteem;
it is harder to deal with that
which a man must own
in the breast of another.

A ruler's son must be
silent and thoughtful
and brave in battle;
each man must be
happy and cheerful
until he suffers death.

The foolish man
thinks he will live forever
if he avoids battle;
but old age gives
him no peace,
though spears might spare him.

The unwise man
thinks he knows everything
if he has refuge for himself in a corner.
but he does not know
what he must say in reply,
if men test him.

Each man must be
moderately wise,
but never too wise;
no-one should know beforehand his fate;
for that one is the mind most free from care.

Often a man gets a repayment
for the words
which he says to another.

Cattle die,
kinsmen die,
the self dies likewise;
but the renown
for the one who gets good fame
never dies.

Fairly must he speak
and offer gifts,
he who wants to win a woman's love;
praise the figure
of the fair maiden;
he wins who flatters.

No man must
ever mock
another's love.
often ravishingly fair looks
capture the wise man
when they do not capture the fool.

A man must
in no way mock another,
for what happens to many a man;
love the mighty
makes fools of the wise
among the sons of men.

Only the mind knows
what lives near the heart;
a man is alone with his own spirit.
There is no sickness worse
for any wise man
than to have nothing to love.

I advise you, Loðfafnir,
to take advice;
you would benefit, it you took it,
good will come to you, if you accept it:
never allow
a bad man
to know of your misfortune,
because from a bad man
you will never get
a good return for your good will.

I saw a man
deeply bitten
by the word of a bad woman;
her deceit-crafty tongue
was the death of him,
and yet the charge was not true.

I advise you, Loðfafnir,
to take advice;
you would benefit, it you took it,
good will come to you, if you accept it:
never be
the first to make a breach
with your friend.
Sorrow eats the heart
if you cannot tell
someone your whole mind.

I advise you, Lodðfafnir,
to take advice;
you would benefit, it you took it,
good will come to you, if you accept it:
you must not dispute even three words
with a man less worthy than you:
often the better man is defeated
when the worser attacks.

Often they don't precisely know,
those who sit first in a house,
whose kinsmen they are who come (later):
no man is so good
that no fault follows him,
nor so bad that he is of no use.

I know the songs
that no ruler's wife knows,
nor anyone's son:
the first is called "Help",
and it will help you
with disputes and griefs
and absolutely all sorrows.