A balbale to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida A)
- 1
[ur]-saĝ en šag4-tum2 a-gar3 ur-maḫ kur sud-[da]
Hero, lord of field and meadow, lion of the distant mountains! Ninĝišzida, who brings together giant snakes and dragons! Great wild bull who, in the murderous battle, is a flood that ……! Beloved by his mother, he to whom Ningirida gave birth from her luxurious body, who drank the good milk at her holy breast, who sucked in lion's spittle, who grew up in the abzu! August išib priest who holds the holy ešda vessels, checker of tablets, who secures justice ……! King, wild bull with tall limbs (?), who directs speech aright, and who hates wickedness! Mighty power, whom no one dare stop when he spreads confusion! Mighty Ninĝišzida, whom no one dare stop when he spreads confusion!
- 2
{d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da muš-maḫ ušumgal-a-⌈da⌉ [tab-ba]
- 3
am gal šen-šen-na gaba guz-a-ba a-ĝi6 X […]
- 4
ama-ni ki aĝ2 {d}nin-girid2-<da>-a šag4 ḫi-⌈li⌉-[a tud-da]
- 5
[ubur] kug-ga-na ga zid gu7-a uš11 piriĝ sub-sub-ba
- 6
abzu-a buluĝ3-ĝa2 išib maḫ-am3 eš2-da kug šu du8
- 7
saĝ5-ĝa2 dub kalag-ga-ba niĝ2-zid zu2 keše2-da
- 8
lugal am ur5 un3 eme si sa2 niĝ2-erim2-e ḫul gig
- 9
uru2 idim ḫur nu-mu-un-gi4-gi4 šu suḫ3-a di-de3
- 10
{d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da idim ḫur nu-mu-un-gi4-gi4 šu suḫ3-a di-de3
- 11
erim-erim-ma šu-zu ma-ra-ši-ĝal2
The troops are constantly at your service. Shepherd, you understand how to keep a check on the black-headed. The sheep and lambs come to seek you out, and you understand how to wield the sceptre over the goats and kids, into the distant future. Ninĝišzida, you understand how to wield the sceptre, into the distant future.
- 12
sipad saĝ gig2-ga šid-bi mu-e-zu
- 13
u8 sila4-bi kiĝ2-kiĝ2-de3 ma-ra-ši-ĝen
- 14
ud5-de3 maš2-bi ĝidru ud su3-ra2 tum2-tum2-mu-bi mu-e-zu
- 15
{d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da ĝidru ud su3-ra2 tum2-tum2-mu-bi mu-e-zu
- 16
lugal šag4-la2 sug4 šag4-ta e3-a inim šudu3-zu šu-a ḫe2-eb-gi4
entrusted you from your birth with your words of prayer. He let you have life and creation. Prince endowed with attractiveness, Ninĝišzida, when taking your seat on the throne-dais in an elevated location, lord, god, youth, right arm -- clothed in your ……, with the shining sceptre grasped in your hands -- then …… performs a šir-namšub song to you, addressing you intimately: (1 line missing) You bring calming of the heart to …… who …… lies. You fall upon the many …… and you burn them like fire.
- 17
nam-til3 u3-tud za-da ša-mu-un-ĝal2
- 18
nun ḫi-li sud-sud {d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da
- 19
⌈barag⌉ ki-tuš maḫ-a tuš-a-ni en diĝir šul a2 zid-da
- 20
[X] X-zu-ur tug2 mur10 ĝidru za-gin3 šu u3-mu-e-ti
- 21
[šir3]-⌈nam⌉-šub ad mi-ri-ib-dug4 ni2-te-na mi-ni-⌈ib⌉-[be2]
- gap
(1 line missing)
- 23
[…]-⌈bi⌉ ka lul-la bal-bal-[am3 šag4] mu-na-te-en-[te-en]
- 24
[X] X šar2-šar2-ra ša-mu-šubub-be2-en izi-gin7 ba-ra-ma5-ma5-an
- 25
lugal en šag4 su3-ra2 barag maḫ-za nam dug3 mu-ri-in-tar
has determined a good destiny for you on your elevated throne-dais; has spoken these favourable words: Foremost one, leader of the assembly, glory of ……, king endowed with awesomeness, sun of the masses, advancing in front of them! Who can rival you in the highest heaven? What can equal you? Hero who, after surveying the battle, goes up to the high mountains! Ninĝišzida, who, after surveying the battle, goes up to the high mountains! King, you who carry out commands in the great underworld, you who carry out the underworld's business! Any youth who has a personal god is at your disposal, there where your commands are issued. O king, honeyed mouth of the gods! Praise be to Enki. Ninĝišzida, son of Ninazu! Praise be to Father Enki.
- 26
diĝir niĝ2-si-sa2-e ki aĝ2-e inim dug3-bi mu-un-e
- 27
palil gal-zu unken-na PA-PA-a ḫe2-du7
- 28
lugal ni2 ri-a ildum2 ud-bi saĝ-ba du-a
- 29
an-bar an-ta a-ba de-ĝen-ne2 a-na an-da-sa2-a
- 30
ur-saĝ me3 igi ĝal2 taka4-a kur un3-na i3-a-e3
- 31
{d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da me3 igi ĝal2 taka4-a kur un3-na i3-a-e3
- 32
lugal ki gu-la a2 aĝ2-ĝa2 tum2 ki DU-bi tum2-mu-de3
- 33
šul diĝir tuku ki a2 aĝ2-ĝa2-ni igi-bi ma-ra-ši-ĝal2
- 34
lugal ka lal3 diĝir-re-e-ne {d}en-ki za3-mi2
- 35
{d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da dumu {d}nin-a-zu
- 36
a-a {d}en-ki za3-mi2
- 37
bal-bal-e {d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da-kam
A balbale of Ninĝišzida.
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.