Hávamál

A man should not cling to the cup,
but drink mead in moderation,
speak to the purpose or be silent;
of discourtesy
no man will accuse you
if you go early to sleep.

Fire is best
among the sons of men,
and the sight of the sun,
if his health
a man can have,
with a life free from vice.

At home let a man be cheerful,
and towards a guest liberal;
of wise conduct he should be,
of good memory and ready speech;
if much knowledge he desires,
he must often talk on good.
Fimbulfambi he is called
who little has to say:
such is the nature of the simple.

I know a seventeenth,
that the young maiden
will be slow to shun me.
These songs,
Loddfafnir,
you will long be without;
yet they would be good for you if you got them,
useful if you learned them,
needful if you received them.

He alone knows
who wanders wide,
and has much experienced,
by what disposition
each man is ruled,
who common sense possesses.

Something great
is not [always] to be given,
praise is often
for a trifle bought.
With half a loaf
and a tilted vessel
I got myself a comrade.

Of small sands,
of small seas,
small are the minds of men;
for all men
did not become equally wise;
half-wise is mankind everywhere.

A tree withers
that on a hill-top stands;
protects it neither
bark nor leaves:
such is the man
whom no one favours:
why should he live long?

To his friend
a man should be a friend,
and gifts with gifts requite.
Laughter with laughter
men should receive,
but leasing with lying.

But at the approach of morn,
when again I came,
the household all was sleeping;
the good damsel’s dog
alone I found
tied to the bed