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A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi C)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 260 sections

1. A.1

   lugal-me-en3 am a2 pad3-da-me-en3 piriĝ ka du8-ḫa-me-en3

   I am the king, a wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am Šulgi, a wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am a great storm let loose from heaven, sending its splendour far and wide! I am good stock, with brindled body, engendered by a breed-bull! I am a king born from a cow, resting amid butter and milk! I am the calf of a thick-necked white cow, reared in the cow-pen! Dressed in a …… royal robe and holding out a sceptre, I am perfect for ……. I am also the good shepherd who takes joy in justice, the scourge and stick of all evil! Strength of lions, hero of battle -- I have no rivals! Handsome of limb, ferocious lion, I am perfection in warfare! Grasping a lapis-lazuli mace and a battle-axe, with long fingers I sharpen a tin knife to untie knots. In the turbulent affray of battle, in the conflict, I shoot out my tongue, a mušḫuš darting out its tongue at the foreign lands, a dragon raging (?) at men.

2. A.2

   šul-gi-me-en3 am a2 pad3-da-me-en3 piriĝ ka du8-ḫa-me-en3

3. A.3

   ud gal an-ta šu ba-ra-gin7 me-lem4 sud-sud-me-en3

4. A.4

   a zid {gud}ninda2 a ru-a-gin7 saĝ bar gun3-gun3-me-en3

5. A.5

   lugal ab2-šilam-e tud-da i3 ga-a ne-ḫa-me-en3

6. A.6

   amar ab2 babbar2-ra gu2 peš-ša tur3-ra buluĝ3-ĝa2-me-en3

7. A.7

   tug2-ba13 kun2-kun2 mur10 u3-luḫ-ḫa sud-sud KA-KA-e du7-me-en3

8. A.8

   sipad zid niĝ2-si-sa2-da ḫul2-la

9. A.9

   niĝ2-erim2-ma usan3 bar-us2-bi ĝe26 in-ga-me-en3

10. A.10

    a2 piriĝ-piriĝ ur-saĝ me3-a gaba-ri nu-tuku-me-en3

11. A.11

    zag sag9-sag9 piriĝ šu zig3-ga {ĝiš}tukul-e ḫe2-du7-me-en3

12. A.12

    šita2 za-gin3 {ĝiš}silig-ga šu du8

13. A.13

    šu-si gid2-gid2 niĝ2-keše2 bad-bad ĝiri2 nagga u3-sar ak-me-en3

14. A.14

    ḫuš-ḫuš me3 gaba-ĝal2-bi

15. A.15

    šen-šen-na eme sud-sud-e-me-en3

16. A.16

    muš-ḫuš kur-re eme ed2-de3-me-en3

17. A.17

    ušumgal lu2-še3 gu2 kur2 di-me-en3

18. A.18

    ur-saĝ-me-en3 mu-ĝu10 zid-de3-eš2 ḫe2-em-pad3-pad3-de3-ne

    I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

19. A.19

    sipad-me-en3 šudu3-da mul-an-gin7 ḫu-mu-ni-gu2-un-gun2-ne

20. A.20

    za3-mi2 gal-gal dug4-ga du7-ĝu10 šir3-re-eš2 ḫe2-em-e-ne

21. A.21

    nam-lu2-a mu-ed3-de3-na-ta

    Since I first arose in human form, a bull-calf born in a year of plenty and announced at a time of prosperity, nourished on good milk, my head was refulgent with the crown. As I rose over my city like Utu, suspended in its midst, I filled the E-temen-ni-guru, founded with divine powers, with princely cornelian. I touched it and made it perfect with royal hand-washing rituals. I cleansed myself in water of purification from Eridug. Its seven wisdoms attended upon me, and they were not negligent of me, the radiant heart dressed in a robe.

22. A.22

    amar gud mu ḫe2-ĝal2-la-ka tud-da

23. A.23

    ud nam-ḫe2 dug4-ga ga zid gu7-a-me-en3

24. A.24

    saĝ-ĝu10 men-na dalla im-ma-ni-e3

25. A.25

    iri-ĝu10 {d}utu-gin7 ba-ta-e3-en3 šag4-ba ki bi2-la2

26. A.26

    e2-temen-ni2-guru3 me ki us2-sa

27. A.27

    gug-a nam-nun-ni mu-ni-ib2-si-nam

28. A.28

    saĝ mu-tag šu-luḫ nam-lugal-la2-ka šu gal mu-ni-du7

29. A.29

    eridug{ki}-ta a nam-išib-ba-ka ni2-ĝu10 mi-ni-dadag

30. A.30

    ĝeštug3 7-bi mu-da-sug2-sug2-ge-eš2

31. A.31

    šag4 tug2-ba13 la2 ḫi-li guru3-guru3-me-en3 ĝa2-la nu-mu-un-ta-dag-ge-ne

32. A.32

    ur-saĝ-me-en3 mu-ĝu10 zid-de3-eš2 ḫe2-em-pad3-pad3-de3-ne

    I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

33. A.33

    sipad-me-en3 šudu3-da mul-an-gin7 ḫu-mu-ni-gu2-un-gun2-ne

34. A.34

    za3-mi2 gal-gal dug4-ge du7-ĝu10 šir3-re-eš2 ḫe2-em-e-ne

35. A.35

    e2 ĝeštug3 igi-ĝal2 kalam-ma-ka

    In the house of wise knowledge of the Land, I, Šulgi, king of Sumer, set a good example. My hand guides the holy reed stylus correctly. (4 lines unclear) …… the fields in the holy …… and the holy agricultural land with a lapis-lazuli measuring line, bringing in plentiful harvests, …… top-quality flax, top-quality barley. I am greatly expert in assigning work with the pickaxe and the brick-mould, in drawing plans, in laying foundations, and in writing cuneiform inscriptions on pedestals; I can make things absolutely clear on tablets of lapis lazuli. I also have a solidly based knowledge of the intelligent implementation of the counting, accounting and planning of the Land.

36. A.36

    šul-gi lugal ki-en-gi-ra-me-en3 umun2 zid ak-me-en3

37. A.37

    šu-ĝu10-u3 gi kug-ga si mi-ni-ib2-sa2

38. A.38

    IM ĜAR sig-a-da gu3 di-di

39. A.39

    kur2-kur2-ra ad ša ĝa2-ĝa2-ĝa2

40. A.40

    KA×X-KA×X DI ak gu-gin7 si-il-si-le2-bi

41. A.41

    [X (X)] niĝ2-gur11 an-ga-lam-ma-še3 dal-la-bi

42. A.42

    X kug gana2 kug-ga eš2 za-gin3 a-šag4-ge ra-ra-da

43. A.43

    buru14 ḫe2-ĝal2-la šu il2-il2-da

44. A.44

    gu saĝ še saĝ-ĝa2 GU7 DI-bi

45. A.45

    al {ĝiš}u3-šub a2-ba ĝiš ĝa2-ĝa2 ĝiš-ḫur uš ki tag

46. A.46

    maš-dara3 ki-gal-lum-ma saĝ tag-ga šu gal du7-a-me-en3

47. A.47

    dub za-gin3-na pa mu-ni-e3

48. A.48

    šudum niĝ2-šid ĝiš-ḫur kalam-ma-ka

49. A.49

    igi-ĝal2 šum2-mu-bi a2-bi-še3 in-ga-zu

50. A.50

    ur-saĝ-me-en3 mu-ĝu10 zid-de3-eš2 ḫe2-em-pad3-pad3-de3-ne

    I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

51. A.51

    sipad-me-en3 šudu3-da mul-an-gin7 ḫu-mu-ni-gu2-un-gun2-ne

52. A.52

    za3-mi2 gal-gal dug4-ge du7-ĝu10 šir3-re-eš2 ḫe2-em-e-ne

53. A.53

    ka sag9 nundum-ma-na til3-la-me-en3

    I am fair of mouth with well-formed lips. My heart ……. (1 line fragmentary) I also have a solidly based knowledge of ……. In my assembly where grand deliberation takes place, where the black-headed are gathered together, a minister pays attention to messages from foreign lands. Eloquent in the assembly and refined, he (2 lines fragmentary) He roared like a bull. (12 lines missing or fragmentary)

54. A.54

    šag4-ĝu10 dub gal-gal ĝiš-⌈ḫur⌉ [X X]

55. A.55

    inim-ma muš-bi du3 […]

56. A.56

    DI a2-ĝal2-la-ta lu2 [X X] a2-bi-še3 in-ga-zu

57. A.57

    pu-ḫu-ru-um ki ad maḫ gi4-gi4-da

58. A.58

    uĝ3 saĝ gig2 gu2 si-a-ĝa2

59. A.59

    sukkal-e inim kur-kur-ra ĝiš la-la-da-bi

60. A.60

    inim zu unken-ta igi saĝ-ĝa2

61. A.61

    gud saĝ ki X ka teš2-še3 tag-tag-⌈gin7⌉

62. A.62

    gaba-ri inim-ma i3-[…]

63. A.63

    gud-gin7 gu3 nun […-dug4]

64. A.64

    e-re-bu-um X […]

65. A.65

    KA-ta […]

66. gap

    (8 lines missing)

67. A.74

    […] X X-ĝu10-u

68. A.75

    […] X ḫe2-em-ga-am3-ši-in-ak-ak-eš2

69. A.76

    [ĝe26-e] sipad nam ku5-ra2-ne2-e [di] zid ĝa2-ĝa2-ĝa2 in-ga-me-na-ta

    I am a shepherd who, apart from being one who always makes the right decisions on what he has sworn, is also fully able to re-establish …… in the Land and to …… forcefully the house of the rebel lands; who grasps hold of the righteous as if they were great bulls, and who darts (?) out his tongue at the wicked like a snake in a terrifying place. I never frighten the just, and I never …… the evil.

70. A.77

    NI.SUM kalam gen6-ne2 e2 ki-bal tum3-tum3 a2-bi-še3 in-ga-zu

71. A.78

    niĝ2 gen6-gen6-na-aš gud gal-gal-gin7 a2 im-ši-ni-dab5-ba-am3

72. A.79

    niĝ2-erim2-še3 muš ki sumur-ra-gin7 eme im-ši-⌈e3⌉ [X (X)]

73. A.80

    lu2 si sa2-ra la-ba-ta-an-ul4-ul4

74. A.81

    lu2 a2 zig3-ga-ra la-ba-ta-⌈NIĜIN⌉ […]

75. A.82

    ur-saĝ-me-en3 mu-ĝu10 zid-de3-eš2 ḫe2-em-pad3-pad3-de3-ne

    I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

76. A.83

    sipad-me-en3 šudu3-da mul-an-gin7 ḫu-mu-ni-gu2-un-gun2-ne

77. A.84

    za3-mi2 gal-gal dug4-ge du7-ĝu10 šir3-re-eš2 ḫe2-em-e-ne

78. A.85

    mas-su ki-en-gi-ra til3-la-me-en3

    I am the leader living in Sumer! I am engaged in carrying out the planning! When I stand against the cities and territories of the hostile rebel lands, my battle is a hurricane that cannot be overwhelmed. When I surround their contingents from the south and cut the people off, (1 line fragmentary) In the great palace, where I take decisions, when I …… a pure lamb, on the right …… favourable ……, as I …… on my great throne. In my well-established dwelling, I can tell whether to strike with weapons or not to strike with weapons. Since from birth I am also a , wise in all matters, I can recognise the omens of that extispicy in a pure place. I keep a look-out that ……. I am a lord ……, as I range about in my anger. I also have a solidly based knowledge of omens from heaped high censers. My vision enables me to be the dream-interpreter of the Land; my heart enables me to be the of the foreign lands. I am Šulgi, good shepherd of Sumer. Like my brother and friend Gilgameš, I can recognise the virtuous and I can recognise the wicked. The virtuous gets justice in my presence, and the wicked and evil person will be carried off by ……. Who like me is able to interpret what is spoken in the heart or is articulated on the tongue?

79. A.86

    ĝiš-ḫur di ak-a kiĝ2-ĝa2-me-en3

80. A.87

    iri ma-da ki-bal gu2-erim2-ma mu-da-gub-ba-ĝu10-še3

81. A.88

    me3-ĝu10 a-ma-ru-kam sag2 nu-um-ši-ib2-en3

82. A.89

    zig3-zig3-ga sig-ta niĝin2-na-ĝu10 lu2-u3 um-ta-gi

83. A.90

    KA X X an-na ma-NE-NE

84. A.91

    e2-gal maḫ ki nam tar-re-ĝa2

85. A.92

    sila4 dadag-ga šu u3-ma-ni-gi

86. A.93

    zid-da DA-bi-e niĝ2 sag9-ga ma-ab-de6

87. A.94

    {ĝiš}gu-za maḫ-ĝu10-u3 a-ba-da-ab-niĝin2-ne2 [X X]

88. A.95

    {ĝiš}tukul sag3-ga {ĝiš}tukul nu-sag3-ga-ba

89. A.96

    e2 ki-tuš ki ĝa2-ra-ĝu10-ta mu-zu

90. A.97

    šag4-ta {d}nin-tur5 gal-zu niĝ2-nam-ma in-ga-me-na-ta

91. A.98

    uzu-ga ki dadag-ga-ba ĝiškim mu-ni-zu

92. A.99

    saĝ bul-e ki DI nu-sig10-ge-be2-e en-nu-uĝ3 im-ma-ak-e-en3

93. A.100

    en muš niĝ2-nam-ma PU-PU-re-me-en3

94. A.101

    šag4 dab-ba-ĝu10-ta ĝe26-e im-ta-DU.DU-u3

95. A.102

    i3-gid2 niĝ2-na de5-ga kur7-re a2-bi-še3 in-ga-zu

96. A.103

    igi-ĝu10-ta ensi kalam-ma-me-en3

97. A.104

    šag4-ĝu10 {d}ištaran kur-kur-ra-me-en3

98. A.105

    šul-gi sipad zid ki-en-gi-ra-me-en3

99. A.106

    šeš gu5-li-ĝu10 {d}gilgameš2-gin7

100. A.107

     zid-du mu-zu erim2-du mu-zu

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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.