A hymn to Nungal (Nungal A)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 4 - Hymns and cult songs · 121 sections

1
e2 ud ḫuš an ki uĝ3 erim2-še3 du7-du7
House, furious storm of heaven and earth, battering its enemies; prison, jail of the gods, august neck-stock of heaven and earth! Its interior is evening light, dusk spreading wide; its awesomeness is frightening. Raging sea which mounts high, no one knows where its rising waves flow. House, a pitfall waiting for the evil one; it makes the wicked tremble! House, a net whose fine meshes are skillfully woven, which gathers up people as its booty! House, which keeps an eye on the just and on evildoers; no one wicked can escape from its grasp. House, river of the ordeal which leaves the just ones alive, and chooses the evil ones! House, with a great name, nether world, mountain where Utu rises; no one can learn its interior! Big house, prison, house of capital offences, which imposes punishment! House, which chooses the righteous and the wicked; An has made its name great!
2
e2 kur e2-eš2 diĝir-re-e-ne {ĝiš}rab3 maḫ an ki-a
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šag4 u2-sa11-an ud-mud daĝal tag-ga ni2 su-a ru-ru-gu2
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ab sumur zig3-ga kur-ku il2-la a-ra2-bi lu2 nu-zu
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e2 {ĝiš}es2-ad erim2-du-še3 nu2-a ḫul-ĝal2-la su dub2-bu
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e2 sa-par4 igi-te-en-bi galam kad5 uĝ3 nam-re-eš ur4-ur4-u3
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e2 zid-du erim2-du igi ĝal2 ḫul šu-bi nu-e3
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e2 id2-lu2-ru-gu2 si sa2 nu-ug7-e erim2-e bar ak
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e2 mu maḫ irigal kur {d}utu e3-a šag4-bi lu2 nu-zu
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e2 gu-la en-nu-uĝ3 e2 šer7-da lu2 nam-tag-ga kiĝ2-kiĝ2
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e2 zid-du erim2-du bar im-ak-de3 an-ne2 mu-bi mu-maḫ
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e2 uš ki ĝar-ra-bi ni2 gal im-da-ri
House whose foundations are laden with great awesomeness! Its gate is the yellow evening light, exuding radiance. Its stairs are a great open-mouthed dragon, lying in wait for men. Its door jamb is a great dagger whose two edges …… the evil man. Its architrave is a scorpion which quickly dashes from the dust; it overpowers everything. Its projecting pilasters are lions; no one dare rush into their grasp. Its vault is the rainbow, imbued with terrible awe. Its hinges are an eagle whose claws grasp everything. Its door is a great mountain which does not open for the wicked, but does open for the righteous man who was not brought in through its power. Its bars are fierce lions locked in stalwart embrace. Its latch is a python, sticking out its tongue and hissing. Its bolt is a horned viper, slithering in a wild place. House, surveying heaven and earth, a net spread out! No evildoer can escape its grasp, as it drags the enemy around.
13
kan4-bi u2-sa11-an sig7-ga su zig3 il2-la-am3
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kun4-bi ušumgal ka du8-a lu2-še3 nu2-a
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zag-du8-bi ĝiri2 maḫ a2 2-bi lu2-erim2 sur-sur-ru-de3
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a-sal-bar-bi ĝiri2 saḫar-ta im2-ma ka ša-an-ša5-ša5-dam
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dub-la2 zag e3-bi piriĝ su-ba saĝ nu-ĝa2-ĝa2-dam
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nir-gam-ma-bi {d}tir-an-na-gin7 ni2 ḫuš im-da-an-ri
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{ĝiš}nu-kuš2-u3-bi ḫu-ri2-in{mušen} umbin-bi niĝ2 šu ti-a
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{ĝiš}ig-bi ḫur-saĝ gal lu2-erim2-ra ĝal2 nu-un-ta-da13-da13
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lu2 zid šu-ba la-ba-ni-in-ku4-ku4 ĝal2 mu-un-ta-da13-da13
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{ĝiš}saĝ-kul-bi piriĝ ḫuš nam-šul-ba gu2-da la2-a
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{ĝiš}suḫub4-bi muš-saĝ-kal eme ed2-de3 e-ne dag si-il-si-le-de3
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{ĝiš}si-ĝar-bi muš-šag4-tur3 ki sumur-ra ni2-bi ur3-ur3-ru-dam
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e2-e an ki-a igi mi-ni-in-ĝal2 sa-par4-ra al-la2
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a2-bi erim2-du la-ba-ra-e3 erim2 al-ur3-ur3-re
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nin-bi diĝir er9 an ki-a me-lem4-ma-ni dul-la
Nungal, its lady, the powerful goddess whose aura covers heaven and earth, resides on its great and lofty dais. Having taken a seat in the precinct of the house, she controls the Land from there. She listens to the king in the assembly and clamps down on his enemies; her vigilance never ends.
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{d}nun-gal barag gal maḫ-bi-a zag-ge mu-un-di-ni-ib-sig9
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e2-a muš3-bi dur2 im-mi-in-ĝar kalam im-ta-gen6-ne2
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lugal-ra šag4 unken-na-ka igi mu-na-ni-ĝal2
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erim2-ĝal2-la-ni {ĝiš}rab3 mi-ni-gen6-ne2 en-nu-uĝ3-ĝa2-ni nu-til-e
32
e2 gal ĝiš-bur2 erim2-še3 nu2-a kalam-e na de5 šum2-mu
Great house! For the enemy it is a trap laying in wait, but giving good advice to the Land; fearsome waves, onrush of a flood that overflows the river banks which never stops raging, huge and overflowing (?) . When an individual is brought in, he cannot resist its aura. The gods of heaven and earth bow down before its place where judgments are made. Ninegala takes her seat high on its lapis-lazuli dais. She keeps an eye on the judgments and decisions, distinguishing true and false. Her battle-net of fine mesh is indeed cast over the land for her; the evildoer who does not follow her path will not escape her arm.
33
i-zi ḫu-luḫ-ḫa a-ĝi6 gaba zig3-ga peš10 sumur nu-til-le gal ed2-de3-da
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saĝ um-de6 lu2-ulu3 me-lem4-ba saĝ nu-mu-un-de3-ĝa2-ĝa2
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ki di ku5-ru-bi-še3 diĝir an ki-a im-ši-gam-e-de3-eš
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{d}nin-e2-gal-la-ke4 barag za-gin3-ba dur2 an-še3 bi2-ib-ĝar
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di kud ka-aš bar-re-de3 igi mi-ni-in-ĝal2 lul zid-bi mu-zu
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sa-par4-ra-ni igi-te-en ḫe2-a kalam-ma mu-un-na-an-la2
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ḫul-du ĝiri3-ni nu-mu-un-dab5-be2 a2-ni la-ba-ra-e3
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kan4 e2 gal-la ud ḫuš saĝ zig3-ga lu2-ra su3-su3-da
When a man of whom his god disapproves (?) arrives at the gate of the great house, which is a furious storm, a flood which covers everybody, he is delivered into the august hands of Nungal, the warden of the prison; this man is held by a painful grip like a wild bull with spread (?) forelegs. He is led to a house of sorrow, his face is covered with a cloth, and he goes around naked. He …… the road with his foot, he …… in a wide street. His acquaintances do not address him, they keep away from him.
41
šul diĝir-ra-na li-bi2-in-dug4-ga sa2 um-ma-ni-dug4
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{d}nun-gal nin e2 kur-ra-ra šu maḫ-a-ni im-si
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lu2-ulu3-bi am šu si-il-la-gin7 šu gig-ge4 im-dab5
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ĝiri3 mu-un-dab5 e2 a-nir-ra-še3
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tug2 igi-na mu-un-si šag4-sug4-ga mu-un-ĝen
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kaskal ĝiri3-na im-ḫa-al-ḫa-al-e sila daĝal-la im-dab5
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lu2 zu-a-ni gu3 nu-mu-un-da-ab-be2 bar-ta im-da-gub
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{ĝiš}ig-bi ĝal2-lu maḫ nu-um-zu mu7-mu7 niĝ2-gig-bi
Even a powerful man cannot open up its door; incantations are ineffective (?). It opens to a city in ruins, whose layout is destroyed. Its inmates, like small birds escaped from the claws of an owl, look to its opening as to the rising of the sun. Brother counts for brother the days of misfortune, but their calculations get utterly confused. A man does not recognise his fellow men; they have become strangers. A man does not return the password of his fellow men, their looks are so changed.
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du6-du6-da ĝal2 mu-un-da13-da13 ĝiš-ḫur-bi i3-kur2
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lu2-be2-e-ne buru5{mušen} {d}nin-ninna2{mušen}-ta šu-ta šub-ba-gin7
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ĝal2 da13-da13-bi-še3 {d}utu e3-a-gin7 igi-bi im-ši-ĝal2
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šeš šeš-ra ud ḫa-lam mu-un-da-aĝ2-e ĝalga-bi i3-kur2-kur2
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šul-e šul-zu-ne nu-mu-un-zu-zu lu2-kur2 ĝen-na-me-eš
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lu2 lu2 zu-ne ĝiškim nu-mu-un-ni10-ni10 ulutim2-bi i3-kur2
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e2-a šag4-bi er2 a-nir-ra i-si-iš-bi im-gur3-ru
The interior of the temple gives rise to weeping, laments and cries. Its brick walls crush evil men and give rebirth to just men. Its angry heart causes one to pass the days in weeping and lamentation. When the time arrives, the prison is made up as for a public festival; the gods are present at the place of interrogation, at the divine river ordeal, to separate the just from the evildoers; a just man is given rebirth. Nungal clamps down on her enemy, so he will not escape her clutches.
56
šeg12-bi lu2 ḫul-ĝal2 ba-an-ma5-ma5 lu2 zid mu-un-u3-tud
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šag4 ib2-ba-bi er2 a-nir-ra ud mi-ni-ib-zal-zal-e
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ud um-ĝen e2 kur ezen-gin7 ni2-bi-a ba-an-du3
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ki en3 tar-re {d}id2-lu2-ru-gu2-da diĝir ba-sug2-ge-eš
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zid-du erim2-du bar im-ak-de3 si sa2 mu-un-u3-tud
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erim2-ĝal2-la-ni šu im-ri-ri-e a2-ni la-ba-ra-e3
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ud-bi-a nin-e ni2-te-a-ni mi2 zid iri in-ga-am3-me
Then the lady is exultant; the powerful goddess, holy Nungal, praises herself: An has determined a fate for me, the lady; I am the daughter of An. Enlil too has provided me with an eminent fate, for I am his daughter-in-law. The gods have given the divine powers of heaven and earth into my hands. My own mother, Ereškigala, has allotted to me her divine powers. I have set up my august dais in the nether world, the mountain where Utu rises. I am the goddess of the great house, the holy royal residence. I speak with grandeur to Inana, I am her heart's joy. I assist Nintur at the place of child-delivery (?); I know how to cut the umbilical cord and know the favourable words when determining fates. I am the lady, the true stewardess of Enlil; he has heaped up possessions for me. The storehouse which never becomes empty is mine; …….
63
diĝir ĝiri3 kug {d}nun-gal-la-ke4 ni2 silim-eš2 al-e
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nin-me-en an-ne2 nam mu-un-tar ĝe26-e dumu an-na-me-en
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{d}en-lil2-le nam gal ma-an-taḫ e2-gi4-a-ni-me-en
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diĝir-re-e-ne me an ki-a šu-ĝu10-še3 mu-un-ĝar-re-eš
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ama ugu-ĝu10 kug {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ke4 me-ni ma-ra-an-ba
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irigal kur {d}utu e3-a barag maḫ-ĝu10 mi-ni-ri
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e2-gal ki-tuš kug nam-lugal-la-ka ĝe26-e diĝir-bi-me-en
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{d}inana-ra gal mu-un-da-ab-be2 šag4 giri17-zal ĝal2-la-ni-me-en
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{d}nin-tur5-e ki nam-dumu-zid-ka mu-da-an-gub-be2
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gi-dur kud-da nam tar-re-da inim sag9-ge-bi mu-zu
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nin aĝrig zid {d}en-lil2-la2-me-en niĝ2-gur11 ma-ĝar-ĝar
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erim3 niĝ2 nu-silig-ge ĝa2-a-kam BAD ma-da-TAB
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arḫuš šag4-ne-ša4 ĝa2-a-kam lu2 la-ba-ra-an-ul4-le-de3-en
Mercy and compassion are mine. I frighten no one. I keep an eye upon the black-headed people: they are under my surveillance. I hold the tablet of life in my hand and I register the just ones on it. The evildoers cannot escape my arm; I learn their deeds. All countries look to me as to their divine mother. I temper severe punishments; I am a compassionate mother. I cool down even the angriest heart, sprinkling it with cool water. I calm down the wounded heart; I snatch men from the jaws of destruction.
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saĝ gig2-ga igi-ĝa2 mu-un-ĝal2 en-nu-uĝ3 im-ma-ak-e
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im nam-til3-la šu-ĝa2 mu-un-ĝal2 lu2 zid bi2-in-gub-be2-en
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erim2-du a2-ĝa2 la-ba-ra-e3 niĝ2 ak-bi mu-zu
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kur-kur-re ama diĝir-bi-gin7 igi-bi im-ši-ĝal2
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nam-tag dugud šu-ta im-sig-ge-en ama arḫuš-a-me-en
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šag4 mir-mir-ra im-sed4-sed4-de3 a sed4 im-su3-ud
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šag4 ḫul mu-sed4 ka !-ta lu2 ba-ra-an-zi-zi-i
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e2-ĝu10 šag4-ne-ša4 mu-un-du3 nin lu2 til3-til3-me-en
My house is built on compassion; I am a life-giving (?) lady. Its shadow is like that of a cypress tree growing in a pure place. Birtum the very strong, my spouse, resides there with me. Taking a seat on its great and lofty dais, he gives mighty orders. The guardians of my house and the fair-looking protective goddesses ……. My chief superintendent, Ig-alim, is the neck-stock of my hands. He has been promoted to take care of my house; ……. My messenger does not forget anything: he is the pride of the palace. In the city named after (?) Enlil, I recognise true and false. Ninḫarana brings the news and puts it before me. My chief barber sets up the bed for me in the house imbued with awesomeness. Nezila arranges joyous and valued (?) occasions (?).
84
ĝissu-bi {ĝiš}ḫa-šu-ur2-ra-gin7 ki sikil-la bi2-in-mu2
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nitalam-ĝu10 {d}bi-ir-tum lu2 ne3 gal zag-ge mu-un-di-ni-ib-sig9
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barag gal maḫ-bi-a dur2 im-mi-in-ĝar a2 gal mu-da-aĝ2-e
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{d}udug e2-ĝa2 {d}lamma igi sag9-me-eš lu2 ba-an-ul4-ul4-e-ne
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nu-banda3 maḫ-ĝu10 {d}ig-alim-ma {ĝiš}rab3 šu-ĝa2-kam
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e2-ĝu10 saĝ en3 tar-še3 ⌈mu-un⌉-il2 lu2 la-ba-an-ul4-le-ne
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ra-gaba-ĝu10 niĝ2-nam nu-ḫa-lam e2-gal me-te-bi
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iri {d}en-lil2-le mu sa4-a lul zid-bi mu-zu
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{d}nin-ḫar-ra-an-na inim-bi ba-da-de6 igi-ĝu10-še3 bi2-ib-dab5-be2
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kindagal-ĝu10 e2 ni2 gur3-ru ki-nu2-a ma-an-ĝa2-ĝa2
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{d}ne-zi-il-la2 niĝ2 kal šag4 ḫul2-la si ba-ab-sa2-e
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e2-gal lugal-la-ke4 saĝ um-de6 lu2 šer7-da ba-šum2-mu
When someone has been brought into the palace of the king and this man is accused of a capital offence, my chief prosecutor, Nindimgul, stretches out his arm in accusation (?). He sentences that person to death, but he will not be killed; he snatches the man from the jaws of destruction and brings him into my house of life and keeps him under guard. No one wears clean clothes in my dusty (?) house. My house falls upon the person like a drunken man. He will be listening for fanged (?) snakes in the darkness of the house. My house gives birth to a just person, but exterminates a false one. Since there are pity and tears within its brick walls, and it is built with compassion, it soothes the heart of that person, and refreshes his spirits.
96
gal5-la2 gal-ĝu10 {d}nin-dimgul-e a2-ni mu-un-sud-e
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ka šer7-da-ka lu2 bi2-in-šum2-?-e saĝ ĝiš la-ba-ab-ra-ra
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lu2-u18-lu-bi ka garaš2-ta im-ra-an-zi-zi
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e2 nam-til3-la-ĝa2 ba-ni-in-ku4-ku4 en-nu-uĝ3 im-ma-ak-e
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saḫar e2-ĝa2 tug2 dan4-dan4-na lu2 la-ba-an-si-si

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.