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Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Puzur-Šulgi hoping for Išbi-Erra's downfall

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 3 - Literary letters and letter-prayers · 75 sections

  1. head

    Version A

  2. v1.1

    puzur4-{d}šul-gi puzur4-{d}nu-muš-da ensi2 ka-zal-lu{ki}

    Say to Puzur-Šulgi Puzur-Numušda , the governor of Kazallu: this is what Ibbi-Suen, your lord, says:

  3. v1.2

    u3-na-a-dug4

  4. v1.3

    {d}i-bi2-{d}suen lugal-zu ⌈na⌉-ab-be2-a

  5. v1.4

    [(X)] X erin2-ta mu-ra-suḫ-a-gin7-nam ensi2 ka-zal-lu{ki}-še3 mu-ra-ĝal2

    When I had chosen for you …… from among the troops, they were at your disposal, as governor of Kazallu. But as in my own case, are not your troops your people proof (?) of your importance?

  6. v1.5

    ĝe26-e-gin7-nam erin2-zu uĝ3-zu dugud-da-zu in-nu-u3

  7. v1.6

    a-na-aš-am3 [X]-gin7 lu2 mu-e-ši-in-gi4

    Why have you sent me somebody saying: Išbi-Erra has got his eyes upon me -- so let me come to you when he falls upon me?

  8. v1.7

    {m}iš-bi-{d}er3-ra

  9. v1.8

    ugu-ĝu10-še3 igi-ni im-ma-ši-in-ĝar

  10. v1.9

    u3 ĝe26-e u3-mu-un-šub ga-am3-ĝen

  11. v1.10

    en-na iš-bi-{d}er3-ra kur-⌈re⌉ bi2-in-gi4-a a-gin7 nu-e-zu

    How come you did not know how long it would take to make Išbi-Erra return to the mountain lands? Why have you and Girbubu, the governor of Ĝirikal, not confronted him with the troops which you had at hand? How could you allow (?) him to restore (?) ……?

  12. v1.11

    za-e ⌈gir-bu⌉-bu ensi2 ĜIR2-kal{ki}-ke4

  13. v1.12

    a-na-aš-⌈am3⌉ erin2 šu-zu-še3 ⌈i3⌉-ĝal2-la igi-ni-še3 la-ba-an-sug2-ge-za-na

  14. v1.13

    X ⌈?⌉-bi gi4-gi4-da

  15. v1.14

    a-gin7 mi-ni-ib-šum2-za-na

  16. v1.15

    ⌈?-?⌉ {d}en-⌈lil2⌉-le ki-en-gi ḫul mu-⌈un⌉-gi4

    Today (?) Enlil loathes Sumer and has elevated to the shepherdship of the Land an ape which has descended come forth from those mountain lands. Now Enlil has given kingship to a dishonest man, a seller of who values asafoetida At this moment Enlil …… to somebody who sells asafoetida, a peripatetic criminal -- to Išbi-Erra, who is not of Sumerian origin.

  17. v1.16

    ugu2ugu4-bi kur-bi-ta ed3-de3 ed2-de3

  18. v1.17

    nam-sipad kalam-ma-še3 ⌈mu⌉-[X]-il2

  19. v1.18

    i3-ne-eš2 {d}en-lil2-le lu2-IM sa10-sa10 sag9-sag9 nu-luḫ-ḫa{sar} a-da-lam {d}en-lil2-la2 nu-luḫ-ḫa{sar} sa10-sa10-de3 lu2-IM niĝin2 […]

  20. v1.19

    {m}iš-bi-er3-ra numun ki-en-gi-ra nu-me-a nam-lugal-la mu-na-an-šum2

  21. v1.20

    ga-nam pu-uḫ2-rum ki diĝir-re-e-ne ki-en-gi sag2 ba-ab-dug4

    See, the assembly where the gods are and Sumer itself have been dispersed! Father Enlil, whose words prevail (?), said: Until the enemy has been expelled (?) from Urim, Išbi-Erra, the man from Mari, will tear out Urim's foundations. He will indeed measure out Sumer like grain. He has spoken just so.

  22. v1.21

    a-a {d}en-lil2 dug4-ga-dug4-ga-ni dib-be2-da-aš

  23. v1.22

    en-na urim5{ki}-ma lu2-erim2-ša mu-un-ri-a

  24. v1.23

    iš-bi-{d}er3-ra lu2 ma2-ri2{ki}-ke4 suḫuš-bi ba-bur12-re

  25. v1.24

    ki-en-gi ḫe2-aĝ2-e ur5-gin7-nam bi2-in-dug4

  26. v1.25

    u3 tukum-bi ensi2 URU×A dili-dili i3-ĝar-ĝar-re-en-ze2-en

    Even though you were installed as governors of the various …… the others will defect to Išbi-Erra, in accordance with Enlil's word. Should you hand over your city to the enemy like your companions, Išbi-Erra will not recognise you as his faithful and agreeable servant. will Išbi-Erra recognise you as his faithful and agreeable servant?

  27. v1.26

    inim {d}en-lil2-la2-ta iš-bi-er3-ra i3-bal-e-eš-a

  28. v1.27

    {lu2}tab-zu-gin7 iri erim2-ra ba-šum2-mu-na-ta

  29. v1.28

    u3 za-e arad gen6-na še-ni-gin7 iš-bi-er3-ra nu-mu-un-zu-a ⌈iš-bi⌉-er3-ra mu-un-zu

  30. v1.29

    i3-ne-eš2 inim dug3-ga gi4-gi4-de3

    May it now be brought about (?) that good words should be restored and treason extinguished. Let Išbi-Erra (?) participate in the harvest among the people there; but you yourself, do not turn back do not harvest , and do not come to me! His grasp should not get hold of the city! This man from Mari, with the understanding of a dog, should not exercise lordship!

  31. v1.30

    lul du8-du8-u3-da ḫe2-ni-ib-tum2-tum2-mu

  32. v1.31

    uĝ3-ba buru14-ba ḫe2-ak-e-de3

  33. v1.32

    za-e na-an-gur-ru na-an-gur10-un ugu-ĝu10-še3 nam-ma-ši-du-un

  34. v1.33

    šu-ni iri{ki}-a nam-bi2-ib-sa2-sa2

  35. v1.34

    lu2 ma2-ri2{ki}-ke4 ĝalga ur-re nam-en na-an-na-ak-e

  36. v1.35

    i3-ne-eš2 mar-tu kur-bi-ta {d}en-lil2 a2-taḫ-ĝu10 im-ma-zig3 [i3]-!-eš2 ti-da-nu-um […] {d}en-lil2 kur-bi-ta a2 […]

    Now Enlil, my helper, has made the Martu rise from their mountain lands Now Enlil has …… the Tidnum as …… from their mountain lands . They will repel Elam and seize Išbi-Erra. To regain the Land will indeed make our might known in all the foreign lands. It is urgent! Do not be neglectful Do not all give up !

  37. v1.36

    elam{ki} ki zag mu-un-tag-ge u3 {d}iš-bi-er3-ra mu-un-dab5-be2

  38. v1.37

    kalam ki-bi gi4-gi4-de3 nam-kalag-ga kur-kur-ra ḫe2-zu-zu

  39. v1.38

    a-ma-ru-kam za-e nam-ba-še-be2-en nam-ba-e-še-ba-e-de3-en-ze2-en

  40. head

    Version B

  41. gap

    (unknown no. of lines missing)

  42. v2.1

    […] ⌈gi4⌉

    …… sent ……: (1 line missing) …… come (?). …… they stood …….

  43. gap

    (1 line missing)

  44. v2.3

    […] X […] X X ⌈?⌉

  45. v2.4

    […] X E NE […] ba-e-sug2-ge-?-eš

  46. v2.5

    […] X kur šu ⌈bi2-gi4⌉-a a-gin7 nu-e-!

    How come you did not know …… to make …… return to the mountain lands? …… of Ĝirikal, they had ……, they have not confronted him. How could you allow him (?) to ……?

  47. v2.6

    […] X ĜIR2-kal{ki}-a-ke4

  48. v2.7

    […] in-ĝal2-le-eš igi-?-? la-ba-an-sug2-⌈?⌉-eš

  49. v2.8

    […] X-da a-gin7 mi-ni-ib2-šum2-mu-za-na

  50. v2.9

    […] ⌈gi⌉ ḫul ba-an-gig

    …… detests ……. After (?) he has elevated …… to the shepherdship of the Land. …… has given kingship to …… asafoetida ……, who is …….

  51. v2.10

    […]-⌈de3⌉

  52. v2.11

    nam-sipad kalam-ma <mu>-?-il2-la

  53. v2.12

    […] nu-ḫa-ra{sar}

  54. v2.13

    […]-me-a nam-lugal-la mu-na-šum2

  55. v2.14

    […] ⌈? sag2⌉ u3-bi2-in-⌈dug4⌉

    After …… has been dispersed, (3 lines missing) Enlil spoke thus: …… will …….

  56. gap

    (3 lines missing)

  57. v2.18

    […] X […] ⌈RI⌉

  58. v2.19

    […] ⌈bi2-in-?⌉

  59. v2.20

    […] X X X X E NE

    (1 line fragmentary) He (?) will defect to Išbi-Erra ……. So long as …… has indeed not been handed over to (?) the enemy, will Išbi-Erra himself (?) recognise ……?

  60. v2.21

    […] [X]-X-⌈er3-ra⌉ i3-bal-e

  61. v2.22

    […] X […] ⌈erim2-?⌉ ba-ra-an-šum2-ma-ta

  62. v2.23

    […] X […]-⌈er3⌉-ra ni2-bi mu-un-zu-a

  63. v2.24

    […]-?-me-en

    You ……. …… he (?) destroyed (?) for you. (1 line fragmentary) …… he (?) overturns (?) there. …… returning (?) ……. …… in my having ……. I (?) had in mind ……. …… was set there in prosperity. …… is supreme over ……, after I (?) have made …… there. I will seize him with my own hands ……. (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)

  64. v2.25

    […]-e-ši-ḫul

  65. v2.26

    […]-a-kam

  66. v2.27

    […] X-ur2 illu ba-ni-bal-e

  67. v2.28

    […] X-gi4-gi4

  68. v2.29

    […] KA ŠU ĝal2-la-ĝa2

  69. v2.30

    […] ĝeštug2-ga mu-de5

  70. v2.31

    […] X X X silim-ma im-ma-an-ĝar

  71. v2.32

    […] X ? X X BU ba-?-dirig u3-mu-ni-ak

  72. v2.33

    […]-⌈be2⌉-e šu-ĝa2 ba-ni-in-dab5-be2 KA ĜIŠ BI RA-RA

  73. v2.34

    […] BI KID UD ŠU ed2-de3 BA KI ba-nu2-de3

  74. v2.35

    […] X

  75. gap

    (unknown no. of lines missing)

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.