Virtual A&S Display

First and last stanzas:

Clever craft-folk, he and I
Pen and forge are matched allies
Black iron tools to reach our goal
Mine, gall-ink and his, charcoal
...
A like pair, this scribe and smith,
With rocks and spite, make mischief.
Smelting, shaping, making pure,
Out of naught, something clever.

Hávamál literally translates as The High Ones Words.  In the mythology of the Nordic peoples the High One was the god Oðin, god of wisdom, poetry, magic and death. 

His entry includes his process to determine what each word means and then which are used to make the lines of the poem, then a literal translation, and a final translation.  Lastly, there is commentary following the poem giving his belief as to what the verse is trying to teach. A sample verse is included below. 

10.   Byrði betri

     ber-at maður brautu að

     en sé manvit mikið.

     Auði betra

     þykir það í ókunnum stað;

     slíkt er volaðs vera.

{load, burden} better

{berry; bear, naked, uncovered; clear, manifest} - against {man, person; faded} {road, path,

track} {that, though, although; towards, against, up to, to, at}

but {to be; this; to see} {human understanding} {great, large}.

{easily; destined; riches, wealth, fortune}{better, improve}

{thought to be, seem to be; although} {there; it, that} {in, into, during} {unknown,

unacquainted, strange, obscure}{place, spot, parts};

{such, such a thing}{who, that, which, whose; when; is; at} {misery; wail, whine, cry;  rumple, soil; wretched, miserable} {stay, sojourn; being, entity; purpose, intention, view; be,                        exist}

Load better

Bear not man road that

But this human understanding large.

Destined better

Seems it in strange places;

Such that misery sojourn.

A better load

Man cannot bear on the road

But this great wits.

Better intent

In strange places it seems;

Like when misery stays.

Having one’s wits about them makes for safer traveling.  By having and using one’s wits in strange places will prevent misery and that is the best fortune one can have.