A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi B)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 385 sections

201
kur-kur {ĝiš}kab-gin7 a-ba-da-ab-ĝal2-en-na
202
ni2 me-lem4 {ĝiš}kar2 sig10-sig10 šu-ĝa2
203
{ĝiš}rab3-gin7 kalam-ma a-ba-da-ĝal2-le-na
204
nam-tag-ga sag3-ge du8-u3-bi mu-zu
205
inim-ma gal-gal-la silim-zu ⌈ĝal2⌉-[la-me-en]
206
a e3-a-gin7 gu3 gal ud gal ud a [X X]
When I …… like a torrent with the roar of a great storm, in the capture of a citadel in Elam ……, I can understand what their spokesman answers. By origin I am a son of Sumer; I am a warrior, a warrior of Sumer. Thirdly, I can conduct a conversation with a man from the black mountains. Fourthly, I can do service as a translator with a man of Martu, a man of the mountains ……. I myself can correct his confused words in his own language. Fifthly, when a man of Subir yells ……, I can even distinguish the words in his language, although I am not a fellow-citizen of his. When I provide justice in the legal cases of Sumer, I give answers in all five languages. In my palace no one in conversation switches to another language as quickly as I do.
207
ḫi-il-zum{ki} dab5-be2 elam um-ši-[X]
208
a2-ĝal2 inim-ma-bi-ir gaba-ri-ni mu-zu
209
dumu ki-en-gi{ki}-ra numun-ba ĝe26-e-me-en
210
ur-saĝ ki-en-gi{ki}-ra ur-saĝ ĝe26-e-me-en
211
3-kam-ma-aš [lu2] kur ku10-ku10-ga-ke4
212
ĝe26-e-me-en [gu3 mu-na]-⌈de2⌉-e
213
4-kam-ma-aš [mar-tu] lu2 kur-ra A [X (X)]
214
eme bal-e mu-un-da-an-gub-be2
215
ĝe26-e eme-ni-ta inim-inim kilib-ba-ni si mu-un-na-ab-sa2-e
216
5-kam-ma-aš su-bir4{ki}-a U.NAM.KUR gu3 ra
217
eme-na dumu iri-na nu-me-en-na inim ba-an-di-ni-ib-kar-re
218
di ki-en-gi{ki}-ke4 si sa2-da-ĝu10-ne
219
5-bi eme-bi ba-ni-ib-gi4-gi4-in
220
e2-gal-ĝa2 kaš4 inim bal-e eme-e li-bi2-du3-e
221
di-til-la-ĝa2 šag4 uš im-gu7
When I pronounce a completed verdict, it is heartily welcomed, since I am wise and exalted in kingship. So that my consultative assemblies, sitting together to care for the people, inspire respect in their hearts when the chief herald sounds the horn, they should deliberate and debate; and so that the council should decide policy properly, I have taught my governors to deliberate and to debate. While the words at their dining tables flow like a river, I tackle crime, so that the foundations are securely established for my wide dominions. I vanquish a city with words as weapons, and my wisdom keeps it subjected just as violence with burning torches would. I have taught them the meaning of the words I have no mother. My words can be words smooth as the finest quality oil; I know how to cool hearts which are hot as fire, and I know how to extinguish a mouth set on fire like a reedbed. I weigh my words against those of the braggart. I am a man of the very highest standards of value. The importance of the humble is of particular value to me, and they cannot be counter-productive to any of my activities. By command of An and by command of Enlil, prayers are said for the life of the Land and for the life of the foreign lands, and I neither neglect them nor allow them to be interrupted.
222
gal-zu nam-lugal an-ta-ĝal2-bi-me-en
223
unken ĝar-ra-ĝu10 uĝ3 saĝ sig10-ga-gin7
224
niĝir gal si gu3 SA gu3-bi-a ni2 šag4-ga šub-bu-de3
225
ad gi4-gi4-da inim šar2-šar2-dam
226
pu-uḫ2-ru-um{ki} nam tar-tar-re-de3
227
šagina-ĝu10-ne-er ad gi4-gi4 mu-un-zu inim šar2-šar2 mu-zu
228
inim id2-gin7 unu2-ba suḫ-ra-ba
229
šer7-da saĝ i3-tum2-tum2-ĝa2 ma-da gal-gal-ĝa2 suḫuš ma-ab-ge-en-ge-en
230
inim-ta {ĝiš}tukul-gin7 iri laḫ5-me-en
231
nam-kug-zu-ĝu10 gam-gam-da-bi-gin7
232
nam-kalag-ga saĝ-izi [bar7]-a-gin7
233
ama tuku nu-me-en šag4 inim-[ma] mu-zu
234
inim-ĝu10 saĝ i3 li inim-ma-kam
235
šag4 izi-gin7 bar7-a sed4-bi mu-zu
236
ka ĝiš-gi-gin7 izi-ba šum2-ma te-en-te-en-bi mu-zu
237
inim-ĝu10 lu2-inim-ma dirig-ga ki mu-un-ši-ib-la2-e
238
niĝ2 kal-kal-la ĝe26-e lu2-bi-me-en
239
sun5-na dugud-bi saĝ-bi ma-kal
240
niĝ2 na-me-ĝa2 la-ba-da-kar2-kar2-re-de3
241
inim an-na inim {d}en-lil2-la2-ta
242
zi kalam-ma zi kur-kur-ra-ka giri17 šu ša-ba-ĝal2
243
ĝa2-la nu-dag-ge muš3 nu-tum2-mu-bi-me-en
244
diĝir-re-e-ne gub-bu in-ga-zu
I also know how to serve the gods, and I can cool the hearts of the Anuna gods. I am Šulgi, whose thick neck becomes fat (?) in majesty. Grand achievements that I have accomplished which bring joy to my heart I do not cast negligently aside; therefore I give pride of place to progress. I give no orders concerning the development of waste ground, but devote my energies to extensive building plots. I have planted trees in fields and in agricultural land; I devote my powers to dams, ……, ditches and canals. I try to ensure a surplus of oil and wool. Thanks to my efforts flax and barley are of the highest quality. The thirst and hunger of the gods are a cause of the greatest anxiety to me; I, Šulgi, am the life of Sumer.
245
{d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne šag4 sed4-de3 mu-zu
246
{d}šul-gi nam-nun-na gu2 gal peš11-a-me-en
247
niĝ2 gal-gal-la a-ba-da-ĝal2-le-en-na
248
šag4-ĝa2 ḫul2-la a-ba-da-ĝal2-la
249
niĝ2 ĝa2-la dag-dag-ge bar-še3 nu-šub-be2-me-en
250
ur5-gin7 gid2-gid2 saĝ ĝal2-a-me-en
251
a2 ki-lul-la nu-mu-ši-⌈aĝ2⌉-[ĝa2]
252
a-gar3 gal-gal-e gu2 ⌈mu⌉-[un-šum2]
253
gan2-ne2 gana2 zid-de3 ĝiš ⌈mu⌉-[ni-in-du3]
254
du6 saĝ eg2 pa5-re a2 šum2-⌈mu⌉-[me-en]
255
i3 gal-gal-me-en siki gal-[gal]-me-en
256
gu nam-ĝu10 maḫ še ⌈nam⌉-[ĝu10] maḫ
257
enmen2 šag4-ĝar diĝir-re-e-ne-⌈ka⌉ šag4-zaraḫ ma-ab-⌈gu-ul⌉-gu-ul
258
{d}šul-gi-me-en zi ki-en-gi-ra-me-en
259
lugal bad-ba9-ra2 gaba-ri nu-tuku-me-en
I have no equal among even the most distant rulers, and I can also state that my deeds are great deeds. Everything is achievable by me, the king. Since the time when Enlil gave me the direction of his numerous people in view of my wisdom, my extraordinary power and my justice, in view of my resolute and unforgettable words, and in view of my expertise, comparable to that of Ištaran, in verdicts, my heart has never committed violence against even one other king, be he an Akkadian or a son of Sumer, or even a brute from Gutium.
260
in-ga-ab-be2-en niĝ2-ĝu10 niĝ2 gal-am3
261
lugal-me-en a-na-ĝu10 šu ba-ab-teĝ3-ĝe26-e
262
ĝeštug2 a2 dirig nam-si-sa2-ĝu10-uš
263
inim gen6-na niĝ2 nu-ḫa-lam-e-ĝu10-uš
264
{d}ištaran-gin7 di ku5-ru gal-zu-ĝu10-uš
265
{d}en-lil2-le a2 uĝ3 lu-a-na mu-da-an-aĝ2-ĝa2-ta
266
uri ḫe2-em dumu ki-en-gi-ra ḫe2-em
267
ki gu-ti-um{ki} lu2 i-{d}utu ḫe2-em
268
lugal ud ul-le-a 1-ra
269
šag4-ĝu10 niĝ2-a2-zig3 ba-ra-mu-un-na-ta-ab-de6
270
nam-lu2-ulu3 us2-a an-ta sig10-ga-ta
I am no fool as regards the knowledge acquired since the time that mankind was, from heaven above, set on its path: when I have discovered tigi and zamzam hymns from past days, old ones from ancient times, I have never declared them to be false, and have never contradicted their contents. I have conserved these antiquities, never abandoning them to oblivion. Wherever the tigi and the zamzam sounded, I have recovered all that knowledge, and I have had those šir-gida songs brilliantly performed in my own good house. So that they should never fall into disuse, I have added them to the singers' repertoire, and thereby I have set the heart of the Land on fire and aflame.
271
ĝeštug2 dab5-ba-ba na-ĝa2-aḫ-bi nu-me-en-na
272
en3-du ud-bi-ta libir-ra ul-le2-a
273
tigi za-am-za-am šu ši-tum2-mu-de3
274
ud na-me lul-še3 ba-ra-bi2-pad3 ka-ge ba-ra-bi2-gi4
275
niĝ2 libir-ra-bi en ḫe2-bi-tar-tar šub-bu-de3 ba-ra-bi2-šum2
276
tigi za-am-za-am ki di-bi niĝ2 ⌈na⌉-[me] ĝeštug2-ga ḫe2-ni-us2
277
šir3-gid2-da-bi e2 dug3-ga-ĝa2 pa e3 ḫa-ba-ni-ak
278
niĝ2 šu-ta ba-ra-šub-bu-da-[bi]
279
šu nam-nar-ra-ke4 ḫe2-bi2-la2-la2
280
šag4 kalam-ma-ke4 izi zal-gin7 ḫe2-bi2-ak
281
a-na ab-tuku ur5-re ib2-ḫul
Whatever is acquired is destined to be lost. What mortal has ever reached the heavens? At some time in the distant future, a man of Enlil may arise, and if he is a just king, like myself, then let my odes, prayers and learned songs about my heroic courage and expeditions follow that king in his good palace. He should take to heart the benefit that has been conferred on him; he should exalt the power of my odes, absorb the exuberance of my songs, and value highly my great wisdom. Just as a strong person can consider on an equal basis even those things which he has not brought about by his own efforts, let him applaud and welcome my achievements. Let him call upon my good name.
282
a-ba nam-til3 an-na ba-e-e3
283
ud me-da ud ul-le2-a-še3
284
lu2 {d}en-lil2-la2 mu-un-zi-[zi-i]
285
tukum-bi ĝe26-e-gin7-nam lugal si sa2-am3
286
mi2 šudu3 šir3 nam-kug-zu-ĝu10
287
a2 nam-ur-saĝ-ĝa2 ki-ĝiri3-ĝen-na-ĝu10
288
lugal-bi-ir e2-gal dug3-ga-na ḫe2-na-an-us2
289
niĝ2 in-na-dug3-ga šag4-še3 ḫe2-na-gid2
290
mi2-ĝa2 usu-bi ḫe2-en-zi-zi-[i]
291
šir3-ĝa2 a-la-bi ḫe2-en-tum2-tum2-mu
292
ĝeštug2 gal-gal-ĝu10 ur5-da ḫu-mu-na-ak
293
kalag-ga niĝ2 in-da-sig10-ge-da-gin7
294
ki a2-na la-ba-ni-ib-ĝal2-la-am3
295
niĝ2-nam-ĝu10-u8 šu ḫa-ba-an-sag3-sag3-ge me-teš2 ḫu-mu-i-i
296
mu dug3-ga-ĝu10 ḫe2-en-pad3-pad3-de3
297
tukum-bi šag4-ga-ni niĝ2-erim2 mu-e-ši-ib2-tum3
But if his heart devises treason against me, and he commits violence against anything of mine, may Nanna then adjudicate against this rebel, and let Utu the torch catch him. Wherever that king's path may lead, his word shall be wiped out. Until he has completed the days of his life, he shall do everything in his power to keep the hymns in their proper form. Through becoming familiar thereby with me, the king, he will speak of me in awed amazement. Because of my extraordinary wisdom and my ancient fame as a master, he should choose my hymns as examples, and himself beget heavenly writings.
298
niĝ2 na-me-ĝa2 saĝ ba-an-sag3
299
lu2 a2 zig3-ga-bi-ir {d}nanna di ḫe2-en-e
300
{d}utu saĝ-izi-e šu ḫe2-en-da-ab-ri-e

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.