Ragnarök begins with Fimbulwinter, three winters without summer. The sun and moon are swallowed by the wolves Sköll and Hati. Jörmungandr rises from the sea. Naglfar sails with its doomed crew. Fenrir breaks free. Surtr leads the sons of Múspell. Heimdallr blows the Gjallarhorn. Odin consults the head of Mímir.
Fyrst mun koma vetr sá er kallaðr er Fimbulvetr. Þá drífr snær ór öllum áttum; frost eru þá mikil ok vindar hvassir. Ekki nýtr sólar. Þrír slíkir vetr fara saman ok ekki sumar á milli.
First will come the winter called Fimbulwinter. Then snow drives from all directions; the frosts are severe and the winds sharp. The sun gives no warmth. Three such winters follow one after another with no summer between.
Þá verða þat tíðindi at Fenrisúlfr mun slitna ór böndun. Jörmungandr mun upp stíga ór sjónum. Naglfar losnar. Surtr ferr sunnan með eld. Heimdallr rís ok blæss Gjallarhorn. Óðinn mun ráða við höfuð Mímis.
Then it shall come to pass that Fenrir the wolf breaks free from his bonds. Jörmungandr rises up from the sea. Naglfar breaks loose. Surtr comes from the south with fire. Heimdallr rises and blows the Gjallarhorn. Odin consults the head of Mímir.
Eddic quotations
Hrymr ekr austan, hefist lind fyrir, / snýst Jörmungandr í jötunmóði; / ormr knýr unnir, en ari hlakkar, / slítr nái Níðfölr, Naglfar losnar.
Hrymr drives from the east and raises his shield, Jörmungandr writhes in giant fury; the serpent lashes the waves and the eagle shrieks, the pale Níðhöggr tears at corpses, Naglfar breaks free.
Garm mjök mun geyja / fyr Gnipahelli, / festr mun slitna / en freki renna.
Garm will howl greatly before Gnipahellir, the fetter will snap and the fierce one run free.
Surtr ferr sunnan / með sviga lævi, / skínn af sverði / sól valtíva.
Surtr comes from the south with the scourge of branches, the sun shines from the swords of the slain gods.