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

A.201
ka-aš bar si nam-e sa2-sa2-me-en
A.202
a2-tuku niĝ2 dirig nu-mu-ši-ib2-ak-e
A.203
kalag-ga si-ig-ga LU2-eš2!(TUG2) nu-mu-un-e
A.204
nir-ĝal2-e lu2 la-ba-an-ĝa2-ĝa2
A.205
DI ĜAR kug-a na-ma-an-ku4-ku4-da-ke4-eš
A.206
lu2 ḫu-nu niĝ2 teš2-a inim gaba-na bi2-ib-be2
A.207
lu2 [X] X [(X)] X arad iri-ĝa2-ke4
A.208
[…] X […] [{d}]⌈?⌉-lil2-la2-?
A.209
⌈?-?⌉-gi ki-! X […]
A.210
niĝ2 X RA šu tiĝ4-ĝe26 dug4 X X […]
A.211
ud ul-la-aš di kadra inim GIL-GIL-e […] GA [(X)] X
A.212
lu2 ḫa-lam-ma-da šu ḫe2-em-da-[an]-šub
A.213
nu-ĝar-ra lu2 niĝ2 kur2 di-da ki a-ba ḫe2-⌈mi-ib⌉-gul
A.214
ḫi-li-a usu-na gu2-bi ḫu-mu-gid2
A.215
niĝ2 bal lu2-lul niĝ2 ḫa-lam-ma e2-e ḫe2-em-mi-sag3
A.216
šu du3-a nu-siki nu-mu-su-a
A.217
i-{d}utu i-{d}nanna di-bi dug4-ge ḫe2-em-mi-gen6
A.218
ni2-zu ĝal2-la GA ? BI IZ-bi ḫu-mu-gul
A.219
lu2-sa-gaz-e edin im-sig9-sig9-ga niĝ2-gul-bi ḫu-mu-ak
A.220
si sa2-e us2 zid ḫe2-em-mi-⌈dab5⌉ ? dumu ?-bi ḫu-mu-us2
A.221
a-šag4-ga nir-ĝal2-bi lu2 ḫu-mu-un-DU
A.222
edin-na bar kug-ga ḫe2-ni-ĝar-ĝar
A.223
iri{ki} ni2-bi ud sud ki-šar2-ra ḫe2-bi2-du3
A.224
kur-kur-re [a]-a tud-da-bi-gin7
The foreign lands gaze at me, Išme-Dagan, as if at their father who engendered them. When like Utu I decide a just verdict, the people bring their prayers to the holy shrines (?). As I establish and realise my powerful statements, advise the people and strengthen the palace, who is to challenge my powerful statements? …… the foreign lands, their people ……. I snatch men from the jaws of destruction. (1 line unclear) death and abomination ……. For all these reasons Enlil my master has prolonged my days.
A.225
{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan-me-en igi-bi ḫu-mu-ši-ĝal2
A.226
{d}utu-gin7 di si sa2 ku5-ru-ĝu10-uš
A.227
uĝ3-e bar kug-ga šudu3 im-mi-ib2-ša4
A.228
inim kalag-ga ĝar-ra du3-dam
A.229
uĝ3-e na de5-de5 e2-gal gen6-ne2-dam
A.230
inim kalag-ga-ĝu10 a-ba sa2-da
A.231
kur-kur šu ri uĝ3-bi ba-da-zu-a
A.232
ka garaš2-a-ta lu2 ba-ra-zi-zi
A.233
ki nam-tag-ga inim nam-uš2 a-ba X […]
A.234
nam-uš niĝ2-gig-ga A X X BI NU X X X
A.235
mu ur5-še3-am3 {d}en-lil2 lugal-ĝu10 ud-ĝu10 mu-un-sud-su3-ud
A.236
{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan an-še3 tud-da šag4-ge pad3-da
Išme-Dagan, born for heaven, chosen by the heart -- I am kind like a father, attentive (?) like a mother. I am a lofty wall, the encouragement of the Land. I am a tall meš tree with thick roots, and broad shining branches. I am the canopy of Sumer, a pleasant shade; I am a place which even a tall person cannot reach. I am the helper of the troops, the focal point of the Land. I am a warrior on the way to battle, I am a powerful runner who goes like the north wind. I am wise …… superior in every respect. I am a belligerent wild bull, kicking up the dust everywhere; I am a battering ram, ……. I stand in the forefront of the shields. I am the hero of heroes, with the strength of a battle-mace, as I smite the rebel lands right and left.
A.237
a-a-gin7 dug3 ama-gin7 dib-ba-me-en
A.238
bad3 maḫ zi-šag4-ĝal2 kalam-ma-me-en
A.239
{ĝiš}meš3 maḫ ur2 gur-ra pa mul daĝal-la-me-en
A.240
an-dul3 ki-en-gi-ra ĝissu dug3-ga-me-en
A.241
ki saĝ sukux(SUKUD)-ra2 šu nu-teĝ3-ĝe26-me-en
A.242
a2-taḫ erin2-na-me-en igi tab kalam-ma-me-en
A.243
ur-saĝ me3-še3 du-du-me-en
A.244
dub3-tuku kaš4 di-me-en {tum9}mir DU-me-en
A.245
gal-an-⌈zu⌉ […] ⌈niĝ2⌉-nam-ta e3-a-me-en
A.246
am u3-na gub-ba saḫar kad4-kad4-e-me-en
A.247
gud-si-AŠ X la2-e-da X X-da-me-en
A.248
{kuš}gur21⌈ur3⌉-ra2 ka-ba gub-me-en
A.249
ur-saĝ ur-saĝ-e-ne-me-en lipiš {ĝiš}tukul-la-me-en
A.250
zid-da gab2-bu ki-bal dub2-dub2-bu-me-en
A.251
kug-sig17 saḫar-ba-me-en {na4}za-gin3 kur-ba-me-en
I am gold dust, I am lapis lazuli in its lode, I light the Land like a lamp. I am the good semen of kingship, the seed of rulership. I am the scion of a cedar, a forest of cypresses. I am boxwood decorated with …… attractiveness. I delight (?) the gods …….
A.252
su3-ra2-aĝ2-gin7 kalam-ma ĝir2-ĝir2-me-en
A.253
a zid nam-lugal-⌈la numun⌉ nam-barag-ga-me-en
A.254
{ĝiš}isimu2⌈{sar}⌉ {ĝiš}erin-na ⌈tir⌉ ḫa-šu-ur2-ra-me-en
A.255
{ĝiš}taškarin ḫi-li X [(X)] du8-a-me-en
A.256
su diĝir-re-e-ne X URU DA MAN X-me-en
A.257
nam gal tar-ra [a-a] {d}en-lil2-la2-ta
In accordance with the great destiny decided by Father Enlil, my battle-cry overspreads the remotest parts of the mountains. In the rebel cities no one approaches me or fixes their weapons against me. They bring (?) their tribute spontaneously at Enlil's command. …… to the mountains. …… nir-igi stone, cornelian, …… stone, …… their stones …… time-consuming labour, ……, labour for the king . For me the black-headed bring great timbers …… to the Land, while Dilmun bestows lavishly on me its linen, dates and date spadices. The Martu, who know no houses, who know no cities -- primitives who live in the hills -- bring me row upon row of woolly alum sheep. From the upland mountains, from the …… places, cedar, zabalum, cypress and boxwood were together brought to me. Enlil, my master, who batters the foreign lands into submission, kept the people on a single track, and made them unanimous for me, who am all for Enlil, who am the beloved of E-kur.
A.258
kur-ra kur-šag4-ba za-pa-aĝ2-ĝu10 i3-im-dul
A.259
iri-bal-a lu2 nu-um-me-te {ĝiš}tukul nu-um-ma-gub-ba
A.260
ni2-bi-ta inim {d}en-lil2-la2-ta gu2-un-bi ḫa-?-X X
A.261
kur-še3 ma2 X […] X ? […]
A.262
{na4}nir7-igi [{na4}]gug {na4}[…]
A.263
na4-na4-⌈bi⌉ […] ĜAR […]
A.263A
kiĝ2 da-ri2 [kiĝ2]-⌈?⌉ kiĝ2 lugal ? [(X)]
A.264
ĝiš maḫ šag4 gig2 X kalam-še3 ḫa-ma-ab-il2
A.265
dilmun{ki}-e gada zu2-lum a2-an-sur-bi šu ḫa-ma-da-ab-peš-e
A.266
mar-tu e2 nu-zu iri{ki} nu-zu
A.267
lu2 lil2-la2 ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 tuš-a
A.268
{udu}a-lum u8-u3 si ḫa-ma-da-ab-sa2-sa2
A.269
kur igi-nim-ma ki NA BAD A NA TA
A.270
{ĝiš}erin {ĝiš}za-ba-lum {ĝiš}šu-ur2-men2 {ĝiš}taškarin ni2-bi-a ḫa-ma-an-de6
A.271
{d}en-lil2 lugal-ĝu10 kur-kur-re gu2 ĝiš ra-a
A.272
uĝ3-e du-us2 dili-ka ḫa-ma-an-dab5 ka teš2-e ḫa-ma-an-ĝar
A.273
ĝe26-e-me-en {d}en-lil2-še3 ĝal2-la-me-en ki aĝ2 e2-kur-ra-me-en
A.274
ud ki-en-gi ki-uri sag2 ba-ab-dug4-ga-ta
Since the time when Sumer and Akkad had been dispersed, no king had introduced a statue into the shining E-kur of Enlil or into the E-ĝa-ĝiš-šua beside Ninlil. Enlil opened the E-namtila to me from his loving heart. In the E-kur I arranged the great treasures, and allocated durable treasuries. For Enlil my master, I erected a throne whose form was beyond form itself. I stood the throne of Ninlil in the E-ĝa-ĝiš-šua in the Ki-ur, the great place. The throne of Enlil is not to be removed from there. I, Išme-Dagan, son of Dagan, stood the throne for Enlil my master on a dais …… of seven storms, decorated in a masterly and highly skilled manner with nir-igi and šuba stones and translucent lapis lazuli, and I seated Enlil there with my lady Ninlil. I put them into a favourable mood, with happy hearts; I delighted Enlil greatly with those thrones. I measured (?) my gift (?) for him, and my heartfelt act (?) delighted Enlil.
A.275
e2-kur za-gin3 {d}en-lil2-la2-ka
A.276
e2-ĝa2-ĝiš-šu2-a zag {d}nin-lil2-la2-ka
A.277
lugal na-me alan ba-ra-ni-in-kur9
A.278
{d}en-lil2-le šag4 ki aĝ2-ĝa2-ni-ta
A.279
e2-nam-til3-la-ka ĝal2 ḫa-ma-ab-taka4
A.280
e2-kur-ra gi16-sa gal-gal-e si ḫa-ba-ni-sa2-sa2
A.281
? niĝ2 da-ri2 ḫe2-ni-ĝar-ĝar
A.282
{ĝiš}gu-za me-dim2-bi me-dim2-ma dirig-ga
A.283
{d}en-lil2 lugal-ĝu10-ra ḫu-mu-na-gub
A.284
e2-ĝa2-ĝiš-šu2-a ki-ur3 ki gal-la
A.285
{ĝiš}gu-za {d}nin-lil2-la2 ḫe2-gub-ba-am3
A.286
{ĝiš}gu-za {d}en-lil2-la2 ba-ra-an-ta-gub-ba-am3
A.287
{d}iš-me-{d}da-gan dumu {d}da-gan-na-me-en
A.288
{ĝiš}gu-za barag mir 7 ĝar-a za ? ?-a {na4}nir7-igi-bi [{na4}]⌈šuba⌉-?
A.289
{na4}za-gin3 su3-ra2-aĝ2-ĝa2 šu tag-ga
A.290
kiĝ2 gal-le-eš šu kug-zu maḫ
A.291
{d}en-lil2 lugal-ĝu10-ra ḫu-mu-na-gub
A.292
nin-ĝu10 {d}nin-lil2-da {d}en-lil2 ḫu-mu-un-da-tuš
A.293
ur5 sag9-ge šag4 ḫul2-la ḫe2-ni-ĝar
A.294
{ĝiš}gu-za-bi su {d}en-lil2-la2-ka gal-le-eš bi2-dug3
A.295
niĝ2 šu dug4-ga-ĝu10 i3-in-na-aĝ2
A.296
šag4-ga dug4-ga-ĝu10 {d}en-lil2-la2 su-a-ni ba-dug3
A.297
{urud}alan niĝ2 kalag-ga kuš3-kuš3-ta sig7-ga
I …… a sturdy copper statue, shaped in moulds, prayerful as myself, respectful in the E-kur, as a gift offering (?). Enlil, king of heaven and earth, …… the copper statue ……; muscles, sinews and body of a lion (2 lines fragmentary or unclear) I dedicated …… to my master, and brought in mighty timbers, objects of wonder. Then I brought in my great copper statues for Ninlil, lady of the gods, into her ……, her most holy place, the E-šenšena, full of life, and embellished them (?) before her. I dedicated …… to her for my life. It is I who am favourable to ……; I, Išme-Dagan, embellished my inscription (?).
A.298
ĝe26-gin7 giri17 šu ĝal2 e2-kur-da ni2-tuku
A.299
maš2 kadra-ka im-tur-tur-re

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.