Translation of the song Fylgija Ear (Live version) artist Heilung

Grab bleibt ekel jedem Edeling

[German] The grave is terrible to every earl,

Wenn faulendes Fleisch sich gärt

when the fixed flesh begins,

Grund klagt grausam kühlend

the corpse cooling, to choose the earth

Fahren die Gaben hin, verfaulen Garben

paleness as its bedmate. Fruits fail,

Freude bricht fort, Verträge brechen

joys depart, mankind ceases to be.

Ear byþ egle eorla gehwylcun

[Old English] The grave is terrible to every earl,

ðonne fæstlice flæsc onginneþ

when the fixed flesh begins,

hraw colian, hrusan ceosan

the corpse cooling, to choose the earth

blac to gebeddan; bleda gedreosaþ

paleness as its bedmate. Fruits fail,

wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ

joys depart, mankind ceases to be.

Feoh byþ frofur fira gehwylcum

ᚠ - Wealth is a comfort to every man,

sceal ðeah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dælan

although every man must share it out greatly

gif he wile for drihtne domes hleotan

if he would obtain a portion of the Lord’s glory.

Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned

ᚢ - The ox is single-minded and over-horned,

felafrecne deor, feohteþ mid hornum

most savage beast, fighting with his horns,

mære morstapa; þæt is modig wuht

well-known moor-stepper. That is a proud creature.

Ðorn byþ ðearle scearp; ðegna gehwylcum

ᚦ - Thorns are severely sharp. To any thane

anfeng ys yfyl, ungemetum reþe

seizing it is an evil, measurelessly cruel

manna gehwelcum, ðe him mid resteð

to every man who comes to rest upon it.

Os byþ ordfruma ælere spræce

ᚩ - The mouth is the beginning of all speech,

wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur

a support to wisdom and a comfort to the wise,

and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht

and a prosperity and trust to every earl.

Rad byþ on recyde rinca gehwylcum

ᚱ - Riding is a comfort to every warrior

sefte ond swiþhwæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan

in the hall, and very trying to those who sit upon

meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas

a powerful courser over the mile-paths.

Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre

ᚳ - A torch is known by every living being to be on fire,

blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust

white and bright, most often burning

ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ

where the nobles rest themselves within.

Hægl byþ hwitust corna; hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte

ᚻ - Hail is the whitest of grains. It comes down from heaven’s breeze,

wealcaþ hit windes scura; weorþeþ hit to wætere syððan

the wind’s showers rolls it down, and after it becomes water.

Nyd byþ nearu on breostan; weorþeþ hi þeah oft niþa bearnum

ᚾ - Need is a constraint on the breast, although it often comes to the sons of men

to helpe and to hæle gehwæþre, gif hi his hlystaþ æror

a help and a healing of every one, if they hearken to his demands before.

Is byþ ofereald, ungemetum slidor

ᛁ - Ice is really cold, measurelessly slippery

glisnaþ glæshluttur gimmum gelicust

glistening clear as glass, most like gemstones

flor forste geworuht, fæger ansyne

a floor created by frost, and a fair face.

Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treow

ᛖ - The new year is the hope of men, when God allows,

heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres

the Holy Heaven’s King, the earth to give

wyrtrumun underwreþyd, wyn on eþle

her bright fruits to rich and poor alike.

Sigel semannum symble biþ on hihte

ᛋ - The sun is ever a hope to seamen,

ðonne hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ

when they carry themselves over the fishes’ bath,

oþ hi brimhengest bringeþ to lande

until their brine-horses bring them to shore.

Tir biþ tacna sum, healdeð trywa wel

ᛏ - Tir is a certain token, it keeps its troth well

wiþ æþelingas; a biþ on færylde

with noble men. It is always on its journey

ofer nihta genipu, næfre swiceþ

over the clouds of night, never wandering.

Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah

ᛒ - Birch lacks fruit, even though it bears

tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig

shoots without seed. It is lovely in its branches,

heah on helme hrysted fægere

high in its crown and fairly adorned,

geloden leafum, lyfte getenge

laden with leaves, pressing into the breeze.

Man byþ on myrgþe his magan leof

ᛗ - Man is in mirth, dear to his brother;

sceal þeah anra gehwylc oðrum swican

though every one must depart to another place,

forðum drihten wyle dome sine

because the Lord wishes, through his own doom,

þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan

that our wretched flesh be commended to the earth.

Lagu byþ leodum langsum geþuht

ᛚ - The waters seem to men to be broad,

gif hi sculun neþan on nacan tealtum

if they should venture upon an unstable ship,

and hi sæyþa swyþe bregaþ

and the sea-waves terrify them so,

and se brimhengest bridles ne gymeð

and the brine-horse cares not for his bridle.

Ear byþ egle eorla gehwylcun

ᛠ - The grave is terrible to every earl,

ðonne fæstlice flæsc onginneþ

when the fixed flesh begins,

hraw colian, hrusan ceosan

the corpse cooling, to choose the earth

blac to gebeddan; bleda gedreosaþ

paleness as its bedmate. Fruits fail,

wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ

joys depart, mankind ceases to be.