Prose Edda - Anderson Trans.
Chapter 3
Of the Highest God
3.
Ganglere then made the following question: Who is the highest and oldest
of all the gods? Made answer Har: Alfather he is called in our tongue,
but in Asgard of old he had twelve names. The first is Alfather, the second
is Herran or Herjan, the third Nikar or Hnikar, the fourth Nikuz or Hnikud,
the fifth Fjolner, the sixth Oske, the seventh Ome, the eighth Biflide
or Biflinde, the ninth Svidar, the tenth Svidrer, the eleventh Vidrer,
the twelfth Jalg or Jalk. Ganglere asks again: Where is this god? What
can he do? What mighty works has he accomplished? Answered Har: He lives
from everlasting to everlasting, rules over all his realm, and governs
all things, great and small. Then remarked Jafnhar: He made heaven and
earth, the air and all things in them. Thride added: What is most important,
he made man and gave him a spirit, which shall live, and never perish,
though the body may turn to dust or burn to ashes. All who live a life
of virtue shall dwell with him in Gimle or Vingolf. The wicked, on the
other hand, go to Hel, and from her to Niflhel, that is, down into the
ninth world. Then asked Ganglere: What was he doing before heaven and
earth were made? Har gave answer: Then was he with the frost-giants.
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