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A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 2 - Royal praise poetry and compositions with a historical background · 477 sections

1. A.1

   [{d}en-lil2 dirig-še3 …]

   Enlil, by far …… (2 lines missing) He to whom the great gods pay attention; foundation deposit of the Anuna, living …… of the Enki deities; he whose great divine powers know no opponents, whose …… excel all others, whose …… is achieved by no one; whose …… return of their own accord, whose …… is very sweet in heaven and on earth, whose …… founds cities, whose …… establishes the Land; …… wisdom is perfect as time passes; …… wise in command, re-establishing justice ……, adviser who never tires of discussion; ……, giving verdicts, ……, judge of heaven and earth (1 line fragmentary) guiding the living ……, Father Enlil, shepherd of the black-headed, by his …… making the foreign countries bow low.

2. A.2

   […]

3. A.3

   X […]

4. A.4

   diĝir gal-gal-e-ne saĝ ⌈keše2⌉-[bi]

5. A.5

   {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne temen-bi

6. A.6

   {d}en-ki-{d}en-ki tug2 zi-ĝal2-bi

7. A.7

   me gal-gal-a-ni sag2 di nu-zu

8. A.8

   […]-⌈ni⌉ saĝ-bi-še3 e3-a

9. A.9

   […]-⌈ni⌉ na-me sa2 nu-di

10. A.10

    […]-me-ni ni2-ba gi4-gi4

11. A.11

    […]-ni an ki-bi dug3-dug3

12. A.12

    […]-ni iri ki du3-du3

13. A.13

    […]-ni kalam ki ĝa2-ĝa2

14. A.14

    […] X ĝeštug2 ud zal-la šu du7

15. A.15

    […] a2 aĝ2-e gal-zu

16. A.16

    […] A niĝ2-zid ki-bi-še3 ĝar

17. A.17

    [ad gi4]-⌈gi4⌉ inim-ma nu-kuš2-u3

18. A.18

    A […] eš-bar-e di-di

19. A.19

    X […]-ma di-kud an ki

20. A.20

    X […]-ni-še3 ĝal2-la

21. A.21

    niĝ2-[zi]-⌈ĝal2⌉ X [(X)] ⌈laḫ5⌉-laḫ5-e

22. A.22

    a-[a] [{d}]en-lil2 sipad saĝ gig2-ga

23. A.23

    X [X (X)]-ni-ta kur gam-e

24. A.24

    […]-⌈ni⌉ zag an ki gen6-ne2

    He whose …… strengthens the boundaries of heaven and earth, whose utterances unite them; lord whose ominous silence pervades the foreign lands, whose actions are spine-chilling, whose complex judgments cannot be revealed by anyone, whose knowledge is honoured by the foreign lands, whose strength is a great battle-net …… the foreign lands, a fine-mesh battle-net …… covering the disobedient; indefatigable …… in heaven, in possession of every one of the divine powers in their totality, linking together the ancient plans; south wind which covers the four quarters; Enlil, whose …… cannot be grasped, whose fame is enough to make people quake; Enlil, great in heaven, surpassing on earth, exceptional and wide-reaching in Sumer, Nunamnir, lord of princes, king of kings! He determined a good destiny in the holy city for me, Išme-Dagan, son of Dagan.

25. A.25

    [inim] dug4-ga-ni ka teš2-e ĝa2-ĝa2

26. A.26

    ⌈en⌉ li-ib-a-ni kur-ra du-du

27. A.27

    ⌈niĝ2⌉ ak-ni su zig3 ri-a

28. A.28

    di galam-ma-ni na-me nu-pad3-de3

29. A.29

    nam-zu-ni-še3 kur-re giri17 šu ĝal2

30. A.30

    a2 sa-par4 gal kur-re dub-ba

31. A.31

    sa-al-ḫub2 IGI ŠU GAN nu-še-ga šu2-a

32. A.32

    an-še3 DU ?-? ĝa2-la nu-dag-ge

33. A.33

    me niĝ2-nam-ma da-ga-an-ba šu ti-a

34. A.34

    ĝiš-ḫur niĝ2-ul-e zag keše2-ra2

35. A.35

    ub-da 4-ba u18-lu i3-dul4

36. A.36

    {d}en-lil2 dib-ba-ni šu tiĝ4-ĝe26-e nu-zu

37. A.37

    a-ar2-ni niĝ2 šu sag3-sag3-ge2-dam

38. A.38

    {d}en-lil2 an-še3 maḫ ki-še3 dib

39. A.39

    zag e3 ki-en-gi-ra daĝal tag-ga

40. A.40

    {d}nu-nam-nir en nun-nun-e-ne lugal-a lugal-be2-e

41. A.41

    {d}iš-me-{d}da-gan dumu {d}da-gan-na-me-en

42. A.42

    ⌈iri⌉ kug-ga nam dug3 ḫa-ma-ni-in-tar

43. A.43

    a šag4-ga ru-a-ĝa2 mu dug3 ḫa-ma-ni-in-sa4

    He named me with a favourable name even when my seed was inserted into the womb. Nintur stood by at my birth, and she established the office of en for me ……, even when my umbilical cord was cut. Enlil, my principal deity, bestowed on me the shepherdship of Sumer, and assigned to me a tireless protective goddess, adding also therewith a correct stature. (3 lines fragmentary)

44. A.44

    [{d}]nin-tur5 tud-tud-a ḫa-ma-ni-in-gub

45. A.45

    ⌈gi⌉-dur ku5-ra2-ĝa2 […] nam-en ḫa-ma-ni-in-ĝar

46. A.46

    [{d}]en-lil2 diĝir saĝ-du-ĝa2-ke4

47. A.47

    nam-sipad ki-en-gi-ra saĝ-e-eš ḫu-mu-rig7

48. A.48

    {d}lamma ĝa2-la nu-dag-ge ⌈saĝ⌉ ḫe2-mi-in-tuku

49. A.49

    alan niĝ2-gen6-na ḫe2-en-ga-⌈?⌉-taḫ

50. A.50

    […] KA bal-?

51. A.51

    X […] ḫa-ma-ni-in-kur9

52. A.52

    ? X […] X ḫu-mu-UD-MU

53. A.53

    me-lem4-[a-ni kur]-ra ḫe2-bi2-in-X

    His splendour …… the mountains, and his roar reaches beyond heaven and earth. He selected me from my people, and announced me to the Land. Enlil, king of the gods, gave me lordship over the south and over the uplands. At Nunamnir's instigation, An spoke encouragingly to me, and placed crook and staff in my hands. Uraš nursed me on her holy knees. In the Ki-ur, the great place, Ninlil in her radiant heart determined as my destiny that I should sit on an exalted dais until distant days, to enjoy in favour the reign which is my lot; that I should delight Enlil, and that I should daily attend to the E-kur. Enki, the great lord of Eridug, confirmed for me the good and great crown, …… everything, and richly conferred on me seven wisdoms. Suen, the firstborn son of Enlil, …… for me a royal throne that gathers together the divine powers, established an excellent lordly dais, and made my crown shine brilliantly until distant days.

54. A.54

    za-pa-aĝ2-[a-ni] an ki-a ḫe2-em-mi-in-dirig

55. A.55

    uĝ3-ĝa2 ⌈ḫu⌉-[mu]-ni-in-suḫ-en kalam ḫe2-ni-in-pad3-[en]

56. A.56

    {d}en-lil2 lugal diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4

57. A.57

    sig igi-nim-ma nam-en-bi ḫa-ma-an-šum2

58. A.58

    inim dug4-ga {d}nu-nam-nir-ra-ta

59. A.59

    an-ne2 gu3 zid-de3 ĝa2-a-ar ḫa-ma-an-de2

60. A.60

    šibir ešgiri2 šu-ĝu10 ḫa-ma-šum2

61. A.61

    {d}uraš-e dub3 kug-ga-ni-a mi2 zid ḫa-ma-ni-dug4

62. A.62

    {d}nin-lil2-le šag4 zalag-zalag-ga-ni

63. A.63

    barag maḫ ud su3-ra2-ka tuš-ĝa2

64. A.64

    ĝiš-šub-ba-ĝa2 bal-bi sag9-ge-da

65. A.65

    su {d}en-lil2-la2-ka dug3-ge-ĝa2

66. A.66

    e2-kur-re ud šu2-uš saĝ us2-ĝa2

67. A.67

    ki-ur3 ki gal-e nam-še3 ḫa-ma-ni-tar

68. A.68

    {d}en-ki en gal eridug{ki}-ga-ke4

69. A.69

    aga3 zid maḫ saĝ-ĝa2 ḫa-ma-ni-in-ge-en

70. A.70

    niĝ2 a-na mu sa4-a X X […]

71. A.71

    ĝeštug2 7-a šu gal ḫa-⌈ma⌉-[ni-du7]

72. A.72

    {d}suen dumu-saĝ {d}en-⌈lil2⌉-[la2-ke4]

73. A.73

    {ĝiš}gu-za lugal-la me ⌈ur4⌉-[ur4 …]

74. A.74

    barag nam-en-na saĝ-bi-še3 [e3]-a ⌈ḫe2-bi2⌉-in-[ĝar]

75. A.75

    ud su3-ra2-še3 aga-⌈ĝu10 dalla⌉ ḫe2-bi2-in-e3

76. A.76

    {d}nuska sukkal {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4

    Nuska, Enlil's minister, placed the royal sceptre in my hand, revealed the powers of E-kur to me, established there for me an awe-inspiring podium, and ensured that Enlil's heart was in a joyful mood. Ninurta, Enlil's mighty warrior, approached Nunamnir in speech on my behalf and secured (?) the favourable words of Enlil and Ninlil for me. He has made my reign of kingship excellent, has made me great in lordship, and is indeed my helper. In E-kur he prays continually on my behalf, and is indeed the constable of my kingship. He, who with mighty weapons makes all the foreign countries bow low, has put great power …… into my right hand.

77. A.77

    ĝidru nam-lugal-la šu-ĝa2 ḫa-ma-ni-ĝar

78. A.78

    e2-kur-ra a2-bi ḫa-ma-an-pad3-pad3

79. A.79

    ki-gub-bu ni2 teĝ3-ĝe26-e-bi ḫa-ma-an-ĝar

80. A.80

    šag4 {d}en-lil2-la2 ḫul2-la-am3-ta ḫe2-mi-ge-en6

81. A.81

    {d}nin-urta ur-saĝ kalag-ga {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4

82. A.82

    {d}nu-nam-nir inim-ma ḫa-ma-ni-in-DU

83. A.83

    inim sag9-ga {d}en-lil2 {d}nin-lil2-la2 ĝa2-a-ar ḫu-mu-na-aĝ2

84. A.84

    nam-lugal-la bal-ĝu10 ḫe2-bi2-in-dirig

85. A.85

    nam-en-na ĝe26-e ḫe2-em-mi-in-gal-e a2-taḫ-ĝu10 ḫe2-e

86. A.86

    e2-kur-ra šu ḫu-mu-da-ĝal2-ĝal2

87. A.87

    maškim nam-lugal-ĝa2 ḫe2-e

88. A.88

    {ĝiš}tukul kalag-ga kur-kur gam-gam-e

89. A.89

    a2 maḫ šu zid-da-ĝu10 NI ḫe2-bi2-in-si

90. A.90

    {d}utu niĝ2-si-sa2 inim gen6-na ka-ĝa2 ḫa-ma-ni-in-ĝar

    Utu put justice and reliable words in my mouth. To make judgments, to reach decisions, to lead the people aright, to excel in rectitude, to keep the righteous on the track and to destroy the wicked, so that each man should speak justice to his brother, should make obeisance to his father, should not speak contrary words to his elder sister, and should respect his mother; so that the weak should not be handed over to the strong, so that the feeble should ……; so that the strong should not do just what he pleases, and so that ; to destroy wickedness and violence, and to make righteousness flourish -- all this Utu, the son born to Ningal, made my apportioned share.

91. A.91

    di ku5-ru ka-aš bar uĝ3-e si sa2-e

92. A.92

    niĝ2-gen6-na saĝ-bi-še3 e3

93. A.93

    zid-du ?-us2 dab5-e erim2-du ḫa-lam-me

94. A.94

    šeš-e šeš-ra niĝ2-gen6-na di a-a-ra šu-kin dab5-be2

95. A.95

    nin9 gal-ra inim gaba-na nu-di ama-ra ni2 tuku2-de3

96. A.96

    si-ig-ga kalag-ga-ra nu-ĝa2-ĝa2 lu2 ḫu-nu ur2-ra tum2-mu

97. A.97

    a2-tuku niĝ2 šag4-ga-na nu-ak lu2 lu2-še3 nu-di

98. A.98

    niĝ2-erim2 niĝ2-a2-zig3-bi ḫa-lam-e niĝ2-si-sa2 mu2-mu2

99. A.99

    {d}utu dumu {d}nin-gal-e tud-da-a ḫa-la ba-ĝa2 ḫe2-ni-in-ĝar

100. A.100

     {d}inana nin an ki-ke4 A

     Inana, the lady of heaven and earth ……, chose me as her beloved spouse. She put attractiveness in my waist-belt (?), looking at me with her life-giving look, as she lifted her radiant forehead to me, to make me step onto the flowery bed. She has uttered her unalterable holy word for me to spend long, long days in the ĝipar, combining the priestly office of en with the kingship and caring unceasingly for E-ana, and for my neck to become thick like a wild bull's in Unug as my splendour covers Kulaba.

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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.