• ODIN: Advise me, Frigg, as I wish to journey Vaftrudnir, the riddler, (1) to seek in his hall! I crave to sound the ancient wisdom Of him, the all-wise titan. 
• FRIGG: At home would I rather see Hostfather tarry, in the courts of the gods; For no other giant I know has the equal Of Vaftrudnir's power.
• ODIN: Much have I traveled, much have I tested; Much from the various powers I learned. Now I will study in Vaftrudnir's hall. How that one is furnished.
• FRIGG: Fortune go with you, and then, in returning, may happiness be on the roads that you take! Nor fail you your wits, oh, Father of Ages, when you Vaftrudnir engage in debate. 
• Hence journeyed Odin to probe by a discourse. The wisdom and wit of the all-knowing titan: Arrived at the hall of the father of Im, forthwith the Thinker entered therein.
• ODIN: Hail thee, Vaftrudnir, here am I come in your own hall to see you. First would I know if it's wise you are or all-knowing, giant?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Who is this man, who in my hall hurls such words at me? Never shall you leave this place if you are not the wiser.
• ODIN: Gagnrad (2) is my name. I am come on foot and athirst to your hall; I have wandered afar and need a welcome and your hospitality, giant.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Why stand you, then, Gagnrad, and speak from the floor? Step forward and sit in the hall. Then shall we measure whether the stranger or this old bard is more knowing.
• GAGNRAD: A poor man who comes to a rich man's house should be silent or wisely speak; Idle talk serves him ill who comes to a cold-ribbed (3) host.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me then, Gagnrad, as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that steed that draws each day over the sons of the ages?
• GAGNRAD: Brightmane is he; the rose-colored one draws the day over the sons of ages;  Held the most excellent steed by the people; His mane ever radiates sunlight.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me, then, Gagnrad, as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that steed that draws from the east the night over useful powers?
• GAGNRAD: Frostmane is the steed that draws in space each night over useful powers; Each morning the froth falls from his bridle: Thence drops the dew in the dells.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me Gagnrad, as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that stream that is shared and divides the grounds of the gods and the titans?
• GAGNRAD: Doubt is the stream that is shared and divides the grounds of the gods and the titans; He shall run free and open forever; No ice ever forms on that river.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me, then, Gagnrad, as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that plain where the battle is fought between Surt and the beneficent gods?
• GAGNRAD: Vigrid is the plain where the battle is fought between Surt and the beneficent gods. One hundred days' journey on every side, that plain is created for them.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Wise are you, guest. Go to the bench and let us speak, seated together. Our heads we shall wager here in the hall on our wisdom and wit, Guest.

CAPITULUM 
• GAGNRAD: Tell me first, if your wit suffices, and, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came the earth or the heaven above it, first, thou knowing giant?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Of Ymer's flesh was the earth formed, the mountains were built of his bones; Of the frost-cold giant's brainpan heaven, and the billowing seas of his blood.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me second, if your wit suffices, and, Vaftrudnir, if you know it:  Whence came the moon that over men wanders, or likewise the sun?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Mundilfore is father of moon and equally so of the sun; Both are borne across heaven each day to measure the years for man.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me thirdly, as you are called knowing, Vaftrudnir if you know it: Whence comes the day that moves over men and the night with its dark of waning?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Dawn it is that fathers the Day, while Night is the daughter of Dusk.  Waxing and Waning the useful powers made for man's measure of ages.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me fourthly, as you are named forewise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came the winter or the warm summer first to the forewise powers.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Windcool is named the father of Winter  but Mild is the summer's sire; (4)
• GAGNRAD: Tell me fifthly, as you are named pastwise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Who first of the Aesir's or Ymer's kin arose in the times of old?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Unnumbered winters ere earth was formed was Bargalmer born; His father, it's said, was Trudgalmer; Orgalmer his father's sire.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me sixthly, as you are named knowing, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came Orgalmer first among giant-sons in the dawn of time, wise giant?
• VAFTRUDNIR: From Elivagor (5) sprang drops of venom, Until they became a giant; (6)
• GAGNRAD: Tell me seventhly, as you are named skillful, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: How begat offspring the bold giant, as he had known no giantess?
• VAFTRUDNIR: By degrees from the word of the frostgiant grew man and maid together; foot mated with foot and bore to the giant a many-headed son.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me eighthly, as you are named pastwise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: What is the first you remember or earliest know, thou all-wise giant?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Unnumbered winters ere earth was formed, Bargalmer was born; The first I remember, the forewise giant was laid in the flour-bin. (7)
• GAGNRAD: Tell me ninthly, as you are called clever, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence comes the wind that wafts on the wave, though himself unseen?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Rasvalg is perched at the end of the heavens, a giant in eagle guise; From his wings are wafted the wandering winds that howl o'er the human host.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me tenthly, as the gods' fates thou knowest, Vaftrudnir, to the full: Whence came Njord to the Asa-sons? He reigns over courts and sanctuaries, begotten of Asa-stock.
• VAFTRUDNIR: In the home of the Vaner wise powers created and sent him as hostage to the gods; In the fullness of ages he shall return home with the wisdom of woe.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me eleventhly, where the heroes each day slay one another:
• VAFTRUDNIR: They select the Chosen, ride from the battle, then sit reconciled together.
• GAGNRAD: Tell me twelfthly, Vaftrudnir, how the endless reach you know of the gods' destiny. Of eons' runes and of the gods' you say what is truest, allwise giant.
• VAFTRUDNIR: Of giants' runes as well as of gods' the truth I tell; For I have come into nine worlds, from hells below deepest Niflhel.
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What humans live when for man has expired the dread Fimbul-winter?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Life and Survivor, but they lie concealed in the memory-hoard of the sun. Morning dew is their food, and from them will be born ages to come.
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, Much from the various powers I learned: Whence will come the sun on a trackless sky when Fenris has overtaken this one?
• VAFTRUDNIR: One daughter only the Elf-wheel bears before Fenris o'ertakes her; The radiant maid shall ride her mother's roads when the gods are gone.
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: Who are the maids who, o'er watery waste unerringly find the way?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Three mighty rivers flow through the lands of the maids of the son-in-law seeker: (8) They are hamingjor in their own right though they were fostered by giants.
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: Which of the Aesir remain as gods when the flames of Surt have subsided?
• VAFTRUDNIR: Vidar and Vale shall dwell in the shrines of the gods when the flames of Surt have subsided. Mode and Magne shall then have Mjolnir and do Vingner's (9) work.
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What shall become of Odin the aged, when the rulers' reign is riven?
• VAFTRUDNIR: The wolf shall devour the Father of Ages, but Vidar shall come to avenge him; Vidar shall cleave the icy jaws with Vingner's sacred weapon. (10)
• GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled, much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What whispered Odin in the ear of his son, (11) as the latter was borne on the pyre?
• VAFTRUDNIR: None knows what you in the foretime spoke at the pyre in the ear of your son. With the lips of one dead have I told my tale, Runes of old and of Ragnarok.

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1. Vaftrudnir: weaver of the webs of illusion.
2. Gainful counsel.
3. Cunning.
4. The rest of the verse is missing in the Codex Regius.
5. Icicle waves.
6. The rest of the verse is missing in the Codex Regius.
7. Mill: dissolver and creator of matter.
8. Or kin-seeker.
9. Thor.
10. Mjolnir, Thor's Hammer.
11. Balder