My translation of the OERP

I take, in a few cases extreme, liberty with some of my translations. I am absolutely aware of this! I explain my reasons in each rune's chapter in my book.

f Wealth is a comfort to all, yet you must share it open-handedly if you would, before your Gods, be judged favorably to win good fortune.

u The aurochs is a well-known inhabitant of the moors. It is fierce-souled and large-horned, a terrifying and noble spirit that does battle with its horns.

T Þorns are brutally sharp for any person to grasp hold of; they are evil and grievously cruel to anyone who lies among them.

o Spirit is the source of all speech; it is discretion’s support and a comfort to the wise. To every enlightened person it is ecstasy and confidence.

r Riding, in the hall, seems easy—but for those who venture out over the open road on a journey-hardened horse, it is arduous.

c The torch is known to all the living by its bright, clear flame; it burns most often where princes rest within.

g Generosity, for all, is honorable and praiseworthy; it underpins respectability. For those who suffer, it offers hope; for those who have nothing, it offers a means of survival.

w Serenity is enjoyed when you know little of anguish and anxiety, and when you have for yourself fruitfulness, perfect happiness, and the security of an ample home.

(This is one of those "extreme liberty" translations; wen/wyn/wunjo is typically--and correctly--translated as "joy")

h Hail is the whitest seed; it circles down from Heaven’s height, tossed about on storm-winds—then later, it comes to be water once more.

n Need is a terrible oppression to the heart; nonetheless there is hope and healing for those that heed the warning-signs.

i  Ice is extremely cold and immensely slippery, yet it glistens, jewel-like, clear as glass, a floor made of frost, beautiful to behold.

ᛄ Harvest-time is the trust of men, when the Divine Sun, Heaven’s Holy Luminary, grants splendid bounty to Earth, for     both noblemen and peasants alike.

I The yew-tree has a course exterior; it is austere. Holding fast to the earth, held firm by its roots, it is a guardian of Fire that thrives on its homeland.

p Peorð is always good-sport and high-spirited laughter in the beer-hall, where warriors sit merrily together.

z  Elksedge most often makes its home on the fen, spreading along the waterway. It wounds grievously, biting and bloodying all who attempt to grasp onto it.

s  Sigel is always a trusted hope to seafarers who carry it across the sea, ere the brine-horse brings them to land. 

(The meaning of sigel is hotly debated; while many translate it as "sun", many others translate it as "sail"; a few translate it as "jewel" or "talisman". Depending on whether you translate it as "sun" or "sail" influences the translations of the phrasing of the rest of the verse.)

t Tir is one of the signs; it holds its troth well with nobles. Always is it on course overhead, showing the way through nights’ darkness. It never falls astray.

b Beorc is fruitful without flowers for even without seed, it nonetheless brings forth new life. It is lovely in its branches, high-crowned, and beautifully adorned with leaves that unfurl to touch the sky.

e  A war-horse is, for knights and nobles, a joy; it stands proud on its hooves when elite warriors exchange discourse together—and for the restless, a swift steed is ever invaluable.

m  All who rejoice in life are cherished by their kin. Yet every single one of us must betray our fellows when Debt decrees our poor flesh shall be entrusted to the earth.

(The name of this rune is "man" or "mannaz", but the meaning isn't "male human" but rather "all mankind"; I opt for gender-neutral translations wherever it seems appropriate).

l  The sea, to men, seems endless and unremitting, especially when one must venture boldly out on precarious ships, pitting courage against violent swells in a brine-horse not easily bridled.

(This wasn't one of those places where a gender-neutral rendering felt right).

N  Yngvi-Freyr was first seen among the East-Danes by warriors. After a time, he departed eastward on his journey, his wagon following after. Thus was the brave hero named by the heardingas.

(Usually the rune is simply given as Ing, but it is in reference to Yngvi-Freyr; heardingas is often translated as "hard men" or "warriors" but the word is in reference to a particular group or tribe, so I left the word untranslated.)

E  The homestead is much beloved of every person, if they may there—by right and rightly—enjoy with their kin regular prosperity.

(I take some liberties here, mostly after Stanfield's translation.)

d  Day, God’s sending, is beloved of mankind; Metod’s brilliant light, mirth and trusted hope for rich and poor, a benefit to all.

a The oak is on earth, to the children of men, food for livestock; often it journeys across the gannet’s bath, where rough waves test whether or not the wood holds its troth nobly.

A  The ash, exceedingly tall, is beloved of humankind. Secure on its foundation, its place it holds rightly. Yet nonetheless, it is attacked by many.

y  Yr is to every prince and earl happiness and a mark of prestige. A piece of war-gear, it looks fair upon a fine horse and is trusty to have upon a journey.

(Yr is generally translated as "bow" and while I believe this is correct--or as Mr. Page tells us, it's the best we're going to get--there is more than a little bit of ambiguity over the word, so I opted to leave it untranslated.)

j  The eel is a river-fish yet it always enjoys food on land. It has a beautiful home, covered by water, where it lives in happiness.

q The grave is frightful to every person, for it is inescapable that all flesh shall grow cold and the corpse, the pale one, shall accept earth as its lover. Fruits fall, pleasure departs, covenants come to an end.