Voluspa

The Oracle of the Prophetess Vala

The Voluspa is the first song in the Elder Edda. Modeled as a song of the prophetess Vala, it describes the creation of the world, the various natural and supernatural races, the gods, and the destiny of the universe.

One of its most famous passages is the prophecy of Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods. The below piece is a prophecy about Ragnarok, followed by a later passage on the rebrith of the world

Loud barks Garm
At Gnipa-cave;
The fetters are severed,
The wolf is set free,
Vala knows the future.
More does she see
Of the victorious gods,
Terrible fall.

From the east drives Hrym,
Bears his child before him;
Jormungander welters
In giant fierceness;
The waves thunder;
The eagle screams,
Rends the corpses with pale beak,
And Naglfar is launched.
A ship from the east nears,
The hosts of Muspel
Come o'er the main,
But Loke is pilot.
All grim and gaunt monsters
Conjoin with the wolf,
And before them all goes
The brother of Byleist.

From the south wends Surt
With seething fire;
The sun of the war-god
Shines in his sword;
Mountains together dash,
And frighten the giant-maids;
Heroes tread the paths to Hel,
And heaven in twain is rent.
The sun darkens,
The earth sinks into the ocean;
The lucid stars
From heaven vanish;
Fire and vapor
Rage toward heaven;
High flames
Involve the skies.

Loud barks Garm
At Gnipa-eave:
The fetters are severed,
The wolf is set free,--
Vala knows the future.
More does she see
Of the victorious gods,
Terrible fall.

[Oh but then…]
She sees arise,
The second time,
From the sea, the earth
Completely green:
Cascades do fall;
The eagle soars,
That on the hills
Pursues his prey.

The gods convene
On Ida's plains,
They call to mind
Their former might,
And the ancient runes
Of Fimbultyr.

A hall she sees
Outshine the sun,
Of gold its roof,
It stands in heaven:
The virtuous there
Shall always dwell,
And evermore
Delights enjoy.