Chapter 6
Keš and Opis must have been closely associated with both Erech and Šuruppak, and of traditional veneration in Sumer. Keš is mentioned in a list with Ur, Kullab (part of Erech) and Šuruppak, SMITH, _Miscellaneous Texts_ 26, 5. Gudea speaks of a part of the temple in Lagash which was pure as Keš and Aratta (i. e. Šuruppak).(421) The various mother goddesses of Eridu, Kullab, Kêši, Lagaš and Šuruppak are invoked in an incantation, CT. 16, 36, 1-9. The first melody of the Ashmolean Prism contains a reference to the horse of Šuruppak.
The textual history of this liturgy is interesting. The major text is written upon a four-sided prism now in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford. The object is eight inches high, four inches wide on each surface and is pierced from top to bottom at the center by a small hole, so that the liturgy could be turned on a spindle. The writer published a copy of this prism or prayer wheel in his _Babylonian Liturgies_. The elucidation of this exceedingly difficult text was lightened somewhat by the discovery of a four column tablet in Constantinople, which originally contained the entire text. It was afterwards published as No. 23 of my _Historical and Religious Texts_. Since the edition of these two sources, the Nippur Collection in Philadelphia has been found to contain several fragments of the same liturgy. A portion of the redaction on several single column tablets had been already published by RADAU in his _Miscellaneous Sumerian Texts_, No. 8 (=Ni. 11876), last tablet of the series containing melodies six, seven, and eight. I failed to detect the connection of RADAU’s tablet at the time of the first edition but referred to it with a rendering in my _Epic of Paradise_, p. 19. Another tablet, also from a single column tablet redaction at Nippur, has been recovered in Philadelphia, Ni. 8384.(422) This text utilized here in transcription contains a section marked number 4 on that tablet but all the other sources omit it. Hence this redaction probably contained nine melodies. The new melody has been inserted between melodies three and four of the standard text. If evidence did not point otherwise the editor would have supposed that Ni. 8384 and 11876 belonged to the same tablet. But Ni. 8384 has melodies four, five and six of its redaction with the catch-line of the next or its seventh melody which partly duplicates the Radau tablet. Moreover, these two tablets have not the same handwriting and differ in color and texture of the clay. Finally a small fragment, Ni. 14031, contains the end of the second melody and the beginning of the third on its obverse. The reverse contains the end of the sixth melody. This small tablet undoubtedly belongs to the four column tablet in Constantinople. The two fragments became separated by chance when the Nippur Collection was divided between Philadelphia and the Musée Imperial of Turkey. Ni. 14031 will be found in my _Sumerian Liturgical Texts_, No. 22.
Under ordinary circumstances a text for which so many duplicates exist should have yielded better results than I have been able to produce. But the contents are still obscure owing largely to the bad condition of the prism. My first rendering of the interesting refrain in which I saw a reference to the creation of man and woman was apparently erroneous. The refrain refers rather to the creation of the mother goddess of Keš and to her giving birth to her son Negun.(423)
COL. I (Lines 1-22 defaced)
...
23. _[é ke]š-(ki)-dug-ga dū-a_ 23. [Temple] in holy Keš builded.
24. _[é(?)] ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-dug-gu dū-a_ 24. [Temple(?)] in holy _EN-ḪAR_ builded.
25. _[é ...] nun-gim an-na dirig-ga_ 25. [Temple] like ... _nun_, like heaven exceeding all.(424)
26. _[é ...] azag-gim ? -si ri-a_ 26. [Temple] like the pure ... clothed in
27. _[é] an-na-gim mūš kur-kur-ra_ 27. [Temple] like heaven the illumination of the lands.
28. _[é ...] tūr-gim ki-a-ta sur-sur-ra_ 28. [Temple] like ... _tur_ in the earth _founded_.
29. _[é ...-]gim mur-du ninda_(_425_)_-gim gù-nun-di_(_426_) 29. [Temple] like ... roaring, like a _young bull_ bellowing.
30. _[é ...] bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma_ 30. [Temple] in whose ... the hearts of the creatures of the Land ...(427)
31. _[é ...] bi-ta zid Ki-en-gi-ra_ 31. [Temple] in whose ... the soul of life of Sumer ...
32. _[é ...] ib-gal an-e-ri_(_428_)_ uš-sa_ 32. [Temple], great ... _IB_, attaining unto heaven.
33. _[é ...]-da-gal an-e_(_429_)_ uš-sa_ 33. [Temple], great ... _da_, attaining unto heaven.
34. _[é ...] gal an-e uš-sa_ 34. [Temple], great ..., attaining unto heaven.
35. _[é ...] -na [an-e] uš-sa_ 35. [Temple ...], attaining unto heaven.
COL. II
1. _... an-ki ..._ 1. ... heaven and earth ...
2. _... abzu ..._ 2. ... of the nether-sea ...
3. _é an-ni(?) šu-[ ]_ 3. Temple which Anu ...
4. _d.__En-lil-li zag-šú ..._ 4. Enlil above all ...
5. _ama __d.__Nin-tud eš-[bar-kin ... ]_ 5. The mother, Nintud oracles ...
6. _é Keš-ki ... na ..._ 6. Temple in Keš ...
7. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)_(_430_)_-gim rib-ba_(_431_)_ galu ši-in-[ga-an-túm-mu]_ 7. Like _EN-ḪAR_ it has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.(432)
8. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba_ 8. Its hero like Ašširgi has been
9. _ama ši-in-ga-an_(_433_)_-ù-tud_ 9. made surpassing; the mother(434) verily has borne him.
10. _nin-bi __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba_(_435_)_ er-mu-ni-in-duģ_ 10. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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11. _gú 2 kam-[ma-ám]_ 11. It is the second song.
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12. _é an-šú ģud-da ki-šú ..._(_436_) 12. Temple, in heaven resplendent, in earth ...
13. _é an-šú ... ki-šú ..._ 13. Temple, in heaven ..., in earth ...
14. _é an-šú siḳḳa_(_437_)_ ki-šú udu-[gim ... ...]_ 14. Temple, in heaven (_like_) a wild goat, on earth like a sheep ...
15. _é an-šú ... ki-šú dár-[bar-gim ...]_ 15. Temple, in heaven (_like_) ..., in earth like a roe ...
16. _é an-šú ... gim ... ki-šú dár-bar-gim ..._ 16. Temple, in heaven like ..., in earth like a roe ...
17. _é an-šú muš-gim sîg-ga ki-šu babbar-gim za-e laģ-[laģ?]_ 17. Temple, in heaven like a dragon gleaming, on earth like the sunlight thou shinest.
18. _é an-šú babbar-gim è-a ki-šu __d.__Nannar-gim ..._ 18. Temple, in heaven like the sun arising, in earth like the new moon ...
19. _é an-šú kur-ra ki-šu idim-ma_ 19. Temple, in heaven shining,(438) on earth loud crying.(439)
20. _é an-ki 3 gu-ma-bi na-nam_ 20. Of the temple of heaven and earth three are its attendants.
21. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki) gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu_ 21. Like _EN-ḪAR_ it has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.
22. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-[ra]_ 22. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother
23. _[ama] ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud_ 23. verily has borne him.
24. _[nin-bi] __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ_ 24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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25. _[gú] 3-kam-ma-[ám]_ 25. It is the third section.
8384.
1. _[é- ...] ní-gal-ar an-ni mu-maģ sá_ 1. [Temple ...] in splendor blazing, which Anu with a far-famed name has named.
2. _[è ...]-gal __d.__En-lil-li nam-ma-ni gal tar-ri_ 2. [Temple ...] great, whose fate Enlil has grandly decreed.
3. _[é]á-nun-gál __d.__A-nun-ge-ne kalam sigi(?)_(_440_)_ lám(?)-mu_ 3. [Temple] ... of the Anunnaki, in the Land _starlike gleaming_.
4. _é ki-dúr im-dúb-bu_(_441_)_ dingir gal-gal-e-ne_ 4. Temple, peaceful dwelling place of the great gods.
5. _é an-ki-bi-da giš-ģar-bi ni-ģar me el šu-ba-e-tag_ 5. Oh temple whose design in heaven and earth has been planned, thou art possessed of pure decrees.
6. _é kalam ki-gar-ra zag-gar-ra uš-sa_ 6. Temple erected in the Land, where stand the chapels of the gods.
7. _é-kur ģe-gál ka-zal ud-zal-zal-li_ 7. Mountain house, radiant with abundance and festivity.
8. _é __d.__Nin-ģar-sag-gà zi-kalam-ma ki-bi-šú gar_ 8. Temple in whose place Ninharsag has instituted the breath of life of Sumer.
9. _é-ģar-sag-gal šu-luģ-ģa túm-ma nig-nam-ma-ni ni_(_442_)_-kúr_ 9. Great mountain house, made worthy of the rituals of purification, of its possessions nought changes.
10. _é ... da-nu ka-áš-bar nu-gà-gà_ 10. Temple ... ceases not to render decision.
11. _è ... kalam-dagal-šú lá-a_ 11. Temple ... unto the wide Land bearing.
12. _[é] kalam šár ù-tud numun giš-isimu tuk-tuk_ 12. [Temple] causing the multitudes of the Land to produce offspring, causing the seed to send forth sprouts.
13. _[é] lugal ù-tud nam kalam-ma tar-ri_ 13. Temple that gives birth to king, decreeing the fate of the Land.
14. _[é] bár-bár kar su-ḳin-dúr-bi ag-dé_ 14. ...
15. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu_ 15. Like _ÉN-ḪAR_ it has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.
16. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-ám-ù-tud_ 16. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.
17. _nin-bi __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ_ 17. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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18. [_gú_ 4]_-kam-ma-ám_ 18. It is the fourth section.
ASHMOLEAN PRISM, COL. II
26. _[uru]_(_443_)_-in-ga-ám uru-in-ga-ám šag-bi a-ba a-mu-un-zu_(_444_) 26. It is a city, it is a city! Its secrets who shall understand?
27. _é Keš-ki uru-in-ga-ám šag-bi a-ba a-mu-un-zu_ 27. The temple of Keš is a city! Its secrets who shall understand?
28. _šag-bi-a ur-sag ur-sag-e-ne si-mu-un-si-di-e-ne_ 28. Within it the heroic ones administrate.
29. _eš-bar-ḳin-dùg-ga šu-gal mu-un-dú-dú_(_445_) 29. The oracles proclaimed grandly it executes.
30. _é-e gud-udu_(_446_)_-dam gud-ám-ma-gur-ri_(?)_-en_ 30.
31. _?-e tum-ma-ám luģ-luģ-_ ... 31.
32. _é-e gud-šár-ra-ám_(_447_)_ al-dúg-[ga?]_ 32.
33. _è-e udu-šár-ra-ám al-dúg-[ga?]_ 33.
34. _giš-KU-LIL(?)-ne_(_448_)_ gú-LIL-ma-ám gál-li_ ... 34.
35. _giš-KU-da_(_449_)_ ... gùr_ ... 35.
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COL. III
2. _giš__A-TU-GAB-LIŠ-dam an-da-PI-PI-SAL(?)_ ... 2.
3. _ģar-sag-da mă-a_(_450_)_ an-da-sîg-sîg-[ga-ám?]_ 3.
4. _EN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-túm-mu_ 4. Like EN-HAR it has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.
5. ur-sag-bi d.Aš-šir-gi-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud 5. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.
6. _nin-bi __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er mu-ni-in-duģ_ 6. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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7. _[gú_(_451_)_ 4-kam-ma-ám_ 7. Section four(452) it is.
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8. ... 8. ...
9. _é_ [ ] 9.
10. _é_ [ ]_-la né_ [ ] _tu_(_453_)_ [ ] ur_ [ ] 10.
11. _šag-bi-a ur-sag ur-sag-e-ne si-mu-un-si-di-e-ne_ 11. Within it the heroic ones administrate.
12. _d.__Nin-ģar-sag-gà ušumgal-ám šag-ki im-_[ ] 12. Ninḫarsag _placed_ it in the bosom of the earth like a python.
13. _d.__Nin-tud ama-gal-la tud-tud mu-un_-[ ] 13. Nintud the great mother ...
14. _d.__Šul-pa-è-a pa-te-si-ge nam-en-na mu_ [ ] 14. Šulpae the priest king lordship ...
15. _d.__Áš-šir-gi_(_454_)_ ur-sag-gà AB_(_455_)_-mu_-[...] 15. Ašširgi, the champion, ...
16. _d.__Urumaš ligir-gal-ám_(_456_)_ edin-na-an_(_457_)_ mu-da-an_-[...] 16. Urumaš great prince in the (heavenly) plain has ...
17. _é-e siḳḳa lu-lim_(_458_)_ gú-ám-ma-gur-ri_(_459_) 17. The temple assembles the rams and bucks.
18. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu_ 18. Like EN-HAR it has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.
19. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gi_(_460_)_-gim rib-ba_ 19. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother
20. _ama ši-in-ga-a-an-ù-tud_ 20. verily has borne him.
21. _nin-bi __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra_(_461_)_ a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ_ 21. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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22. _é 5-kam-ma-ám_ 22. It is the fifth(462) section.
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23. _é ud-gim ki-gal-la gub-ba_ 23. The temple like the sun on the vast foundation stands.
24. _am-laģ-laģ-gim edin-na sūg-sūg-[gi]_ 24. Like a white bull on the landscape it reposes.
25. [ ] _e gar-ra é_ [ ] 25.
26. [ ]-_bi-ta_ [ ] 26.
27. [ -]_ta_ [ ] 27.
28-30. (28-30 illegible or lost on all the variants.(463))
31. [ ] _ra_ [ ] 31.
32. [ ] _gar nu_ [ ] 32.
33. [ ] _an-šár ki-šar_ 33.
34. [ ]_bi la-ģa-ma ki-uš-sa_ 34.
35. [ ] _na-ra-ab Uri-(ki)-ka keš-du_ 35.
36. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba_(_464_)_ galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu_ 36. Like ÉN-HAR it has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.
Col. IV
1. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-ra_ 1. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother
2. _ama-a_(_465_)_ ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud_ 2. verily has borne him.
3. nin-bi d.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ 3. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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4. _é_(_466_)_ 6-kam-ma ám_ 4. It is the sixth section.
5. _é-azag LU-bi é_(_467_).... 5. The sacred temple whose (?) is....
6. _é-Keš-(ki)-azag LU-bi é_(_468_) 6. The sacred temple of Keš whose ? is....
7. _é-a en-bi __d.__A-nun-na-me-eš_ 7. In the temple whose high priests are the Anunnaki,
8. _nu-éš-bi dim-é-an-na-me-eš_(_469_) 8. Whose sacrificial priests are the _dim_ of Eanna,
9. _kisal-e lugal-bur-ra-ám mu-un-gub_ 9. The aisle ... treads.
10. _en-dug šag túg-lal nam-mi-in-lal_ 10. (The temple) unto which a beneficent lord has shown solicitude....
11. _a-tu-e umun __d.__En-ki NE-GAB in-_[ ] 11. The libator(?), lord Enki....
12. _tu-e a-ŭr(?)_(_470_)_-a_(_471_)_ mu- e- gub_ 12. The baptizer ... treads thee.
13. _làl a-šag-ga ki-azag-ga-ám mi-_(_472_)... 13.
14. _en isimu-e_(_473_)_ abkal ubar-e-ne tù ki-ám-ma-gál-li-eš [ ]šeš-a-ni SU-mu-un-sīg-gi-ne_(_474_) 14. The lord Isimu, the councilor....
15. [ ] _RU URU RU mu-ni-ib-bi-ne_ 15.
16. [ ]_-ma-ge gig-ga_(_475_)_ mi-ni-ib-za [ ] á-lal-e gù-ģu mi-ni-ib-bi_ 16. ... in sorrow abounds. ... the _bound_ cry like birds (?)[7]
17. [ ]?_-ra-ge sūģ-sūģ mi-ni-ib-za [ ] dug-gi si-ģa-ba-ni-ib di_ 17. ... in desolation abounds. ... may direct aright.
18. [ ] _ka-zal-bi al-dug_ 18. Of ... its joy was sweet.
19. [ -]_dug ka-zal-bi al-dug_ 19. Of ... its joy was sweet.
20. [ ]-_zal-bi a-mu-un-KU_ 20.
21. [ ]-_ģar-sag-gà nin-bi[?-] bi ám-mu-un-KU(?)_ 21.
22. _ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu_ 22. Like EN-HAR it has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.
23. _ur-sag-bi __d.__Áš-šir-gi-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud_ 23. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; verily the mother has borne him.
24. _nin-bi __d.__Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ṛa a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ_ 24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.
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25. _[é(?)_(_476_)_] 7-kam-ma-ám_ 25. It is the seventh section.
THIRD TABLET OF THE SERIES “THE EXALTED ONE WHO WALKETH” (_E-LUM DIDARA_) (NO. 13)
The series _elum didara_ is entered in the Assyrian liturgical catalogue, IV Raw. 53_a_ 8, and the first tablet of this Enlil liturgy has been found in the Berlin collection and published by REISNER, SBH. No. 25.(477) The Berlin tablet belongs to a great Babylonian temple library of the Greek period redacted by a family of liturgists descendants of Sin-ibni. A fragment of the same first tablet of another Babylonian copy has been found, BM. 81-7-27, 203.(478) The catch line of tablet two is lost on SBH. 25 and no part of tablet two has been identified. In 1914 I copied BM. 78239 (=88-5-12, 94) the upper half of a large tablet carrying according to the colophon ninety-six Sumerian lines. The number of lines provided with an interlinear translation on this fragment is only two, which increases the actual number of lines to ninety-eight. Probably a few more should be added for Semitic lines on the lost portion. This tablet, also from a Babylonian redaction, belongs to an edition made by another school of liturgists and contains tablet three of _elum didara_.
The third tablet of _elum didara_ began with a melody _nin-ri nin-ri gû-am-me_ to the mother goddess Bau (I. 2), who in line 7 is identified with Nanâ. Lines 3-6 introduce by interpolation other local forms of the mother goddess, as a concession to cities whose liturgists succeeded in inserting these lines before the canon of sacred songs were closed in the Isin period. Hence Babylon is favored by a reference to Zarpanit in line 3; Barsippa by a reference to Tašmet in lines 4-6. Bau or Gula wails for Nippur whose destruction is here attributed to the moon-god, Sin. The introduction of a long passage to the moon-god in the weeping mother melody of an Enlil liturgy is unusual. The entire passage reflects the phraseology and ideas of the well-known Sumerian hymn to the moon-god _magur azag anna_.(479) The composer desiring to utilize these fine lines makes a setting for them by describing Sin as the god who visited Nippur with wrath, regardless of the inconsistency of placing such a passage in an Enlil song service which attributed the sorrows of Nippur to Enlil himself.
According to the catch line of tablet two of the Ninurta liturgy _gud-nim kurra_ the third tablet of that series began by the same melody as tablet three of the _elum didara_.(480) It is probable that the first melody of tablet three of both series was identical. Melodies are always identified by their first lines and when these agree we assume that the entire melodies are identical. Since the musicians referred to all melodies by their first lines it was manifestly impossible to begin two different melodies with the same line. But tablet three of the weeping mother liturgy _muten nu-nunuz-gim_ begins its first melody(481) _nin-ri nin-ri gù-ám_, etc., otherwise both melodies differ completely. This is the first known of example of two different melodies bearing the same title. It is curious indeed that an Enlil, a Ninurta and a _mater dolorosa_ series all begin their third tablets in the same manner.
The obverse of BM. 78239 breaks away before the end of the melody _nin-ri ninri gú-ám-me_. Here forty-five Sumerian lines are lost; one or two melodies at least stood in this break. For the last passage on tablet three, the scribe borrows the first melody of the Ninurta series _gud-nim kurra_.(482) The litanies which begin these melodies or series of addresses to Ninurta differ greatly in the two redactions. Since SBH. No. 18 belongs to a Ninurta series the addresses therein are much more extensive. The composer of the Enlil series _elum didara_ obviously introduced this irrelevant melody to obtain the fine passage to the weeping mother, Rev. 10-21 on BM. 78239. These lines are lost on the Berlin text SBH. No. 18. On the whole the liturgy _elum didara_ is more inconsistent in the development of ideas than any song service of which extensive portions are known. Only tablets one and three are as yet identified and neither of these is much more than half complete.
_ru-ba-tum (rubatum) ši-si-it âli i-šes-si ina lal-la-ra-ti_ The princess, the princess, in misery shouts the wailing of the city.(483)
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1. _nin-ri nin-ri gú-ám-me úru in-ga-ám-me ù-li-li_ 1.
2. _a gašan-mu nu-nunuz-šág-ga ù_ 2. How long my queen, the pious woman, in misery?(484)
3. _é-gí-a é-sag-il-la_(_485_)_ ù_ 3. The bride of Esagila in misery?
4. _dumu-sag __d.__Uraša-a ù_ 4. First born daughter of Urasha in misery?
5. _dumu-sag é-i-be- __d.__A-nu-um ù_ 5. First born daughter of the temple Ibe-Anum in misery?
6. _gašan-gù-ur-a-sĭg ud-lal-a-ge ù_ 6. The obedient queen, she the ..., in misery?
7. _gašan-mu __d.__Na-na-a ù_ 7. My queen Nana in misery?
8. _é-zu é-zu-šú ù_ 8. (How long) shall thy temple for thy temple in misery be?
9. _uru-zu uru-zu-šú ù_ 9. Thy city for thy city in misery be?
10. _dam-zu dam-zu-šú ù_ 10. Thy wives for thy wives in misery be?
11. _dumu-zu dumu-zu-šú ù_ 11. Thy sons for thy sons in misery be?
12. _še-ib-šú še-ib-gí-gí ù_ 12. (How long) for the brick walls shall the brick walls restored wail?
13. _saģar-šú saģar-gí-gí_(_486_)_ ù_ 13. For the dust shall the restored dust wail?
14. _si-mă_(_487_)_ azag an-na še-ir-ma-al-la ní-te-na dirig-ga-zu-dé za-e dirig-ga-zu-dé_ 14. Bright horned light of heaven mighty of itself, in thy excellence, yea thou in thy excellence,
15. _na-an-na-ru el-lu ša ša-me-e e-ṭil ra-ma-ni-šu ina šu-tu-ru-ti-ka at-tam_ 15.
16. _a-a __d.__Nannar si-mă azag an-na še-ir-ma-al- a ní-te-na_ 16. O father Nannar bright horned light of heaven, mighty of itself, (in thy excellence, yea thou in thy excellence),
17. _a-a __d.__Nannar umun-e an-šár_ 17. Father Nannar, lord of all the heavens,
18. _umun __d.__Nannar umun __d.__Aš-ìm-ür-ra_(_488_) 18. Lord Nannar, lord of the rising light,
19. _umun gu-la galu nin-ģul-ma-al-la uru-zu ní-te-en-na še-ir-ma-al-la ní-te-en-na_ 19. Great lord, who himself has wrought evil to thy city,(489) mighty of himself,
20. _uru-zu Nippur-(ki) galu nin-ģul-ma-al-la uru-zu_ 20. As for thy city Nippur, he who has wrought evil to thy city,
21. _nigin kalam-ma-zu á-si ma-ni-ib-bi_ 21. All thy Land....
22. _[uru?] kalam-ma-da-zu gig-ga-an-na-ag-eš_ 22. _Thy city_ and land are afflicted with woe.
23. [ ] _zu-gà_(_490_)_ (galu) a-ba an-lăģ_(_491_)_-eš_ 23. _In_ thy ... and thy ... the scribes are driven away.
24. [ ] _zu-gà pag-da_(_492_)_ ma-an-lá-lal-la-aģ(?)_(_493_)_-eš_ 24. In thy ... and thy ... the augurers are exiled.
25. ... _zu ba-ni-ib-gul_ 25. Thy ... is destroyed.
26. ... _zu ba-ni-ib-sĭg-sĭg_ 26.
27. ... _ḪUL-AŠ-A_ (gloss) _e-ga ib_ ... 27.
28. ... _A-AN ḪUL ... e-ga ib_ ... 28.
29. ... 29. ...
REVERSE
1. _[gū-ud nim] kur-ra [mu-lu ta-zu mu-un-zu]_ 1. Exalted hero of the world, doth any one comprehend thy form?(494)
2. _[kar-ra-]du ša-ku-u ša ma-a-tim kat-tuk [man-nu i-lam-mad]_ 2.
3. _alim-ma umun ur-sag-gal_ 3. Honored one, lord, great champion.
4. _ur-sag-gal umun si __d.__Mu-ul-lil-lá-ge_ 4. Great champion, lord, light of Enlil.
5. _alim-ma abil é-kur-ra_ 5. Honored one, son of Ekur.(495)
6. _ur-sag-gal umun é-šu-me-DU_(_496_) 6. Great champion, lord of Ešume-_du_.
7. _umun é-šag-maģ-a umun-e é-i-be-šu-gúd_ 7. Lord of Ešamaḫ, lord of E-ibe-šugud.(497)
8. _umun sukkal-maģ-di_(_498_)_ gal-ukkin __d.__Nusku-ge_ 8. Lord, great messenger, the herald Nusku.
9. _d.__Maš-tab-ba __d.__Lugal-gĭr-ra_ 9. The twin god, Lugalgirra.
10. _dúg-ga-zu mu-lu ta-zu mu-un-zu_ 10. As to thy commands, who comprehends thy form?
11. _taģ-a-zu mu-lu_ 11. As to thy succor, who comprehends thy form?
12. _e-ne-em-zu mu-lu_ 12. As to thy word, who comprehends thy form?
13. _edin-na di-di edin-na še-ám-du_ 13. She wanders on the plain, on the plain she wails.
14. _ama gašan tin-dib-ba edin-na_ 14. The mother, queen who gives life to the dead, on the plain wails.
15. _nin gašan nigín-gar-ra edin-na_ 15. The queen, lady Nigingar, on the plain wails.
16. _nin gašan Lara-ak-(ki)-ge_(_499_)_ edin-na_ 16. The queen, lady of Larak, on the plain wails.
17. _nin gašan I-si-in-na-(ki) edin-na_ 17. The queen, lady of Isin, on the plain wails.
18. _nin ama é-dúr_(_500_)_-azag-ga edin-na_ 18. The queen, mother of the holy city, on the plain wails.
19. _nin ama ŠU-ḪAL-BI_(_501_)_ edin-na_ 19. The queen, the ... mother, on the plain wails.