Guichard 2014, 12ff. (Zimrī-līm Epic)

^{(i 1)} Let me praise [Zimrī-L]īm, the wild bull of combats,

⁽²⁾ The h[ero] – let me retell his praises forever!

⁽³⁾ [Zimrī-L]īm, the first-born of Yaḫdun-Līm who walks at the head of the Ḫana,

⁽⁴⁾ [The destroyer] the enemy’s cita[del],

⁽⁵⁾ Let me extol [the hero of (the god) Itūr]-Mēr; listen!

⁽⁶⁾ [Pay heed] to my words as he who keeps pursuing the foe!

⁽⁷⁾ [The subduer] of his enemies,

⁽⁸⁾ [The lad who laun]ches the lances, he who [. . .]

⁽⁹⁾ [Who gains control over land] after land,

⁽¹⁰⁾ Zimrī-Līm who launches the lances, he who [. . .]

⁽¹¹⁾ Who gains control over land after land!

⁽¹²⁾ In the most precious womb did the gods call his name:

⁽¹³⁾ “According to the word of An, may he excel, the wild bull of his land!”

⁽¹⁴⁾ “Zimrī-Līm!” did the gods call his name,

⁽¹⁵⁾ “According to the word of An, may he excel, the wild bull of his land!”

⁽¹⁶⁾ Let me glorify the illustrious king:

⁽¹⁷⁾ He set the enemies of Enlil as his foes.

⁽¹⁸⁾ Between the Khabur and the Euphrates,

⁽¹⁹⁾ Where Adad passes his judgement,

⁽²⁰⁾ There he burst out his cry and dispersed the (enemy’s) nests.

⁽²¹⁾ To the four corners of the world he spread his will.

⁽²²⁾ The Land carried booty, possessions belonging (to the enemy):

⁽²³⁾ Pure gold, in the town of Bisan. 

⁽²⁴⁾ He pierced the enemy as (cutting) a tied rope,

⁽²⁵⁾ The netherworld drank the heroes’ blood.

⁽²⁶⁾ Annunītum walking at his right,

⁽²⁷⁾ Roaring Adad burst out his cry,

⁽²⁸⁾ He burst out his cry – broke the enemy’s lances.

⁽²⁹⁾ He poured his venom on the (hostile) lands.

⁽³⁰⁾ Zimrī-Līm, the breaker of the enemy’s lances,

⁽³¹⁾ Poured his venom on his enemies.

⁽³²⁾ The blaze of battle scorched the firing line:

⁽³³⁾ Who but you can extinguish it?

⁽³⁴⁾ It is you who managed to open narrow (paths) in the mountains,

⁽³⁵⁾ Locked with bolts, with doors of stone-made plates,

⁽³⁶⁾ Zimrī-Līm, who got through the citadel’s doors,

⁽³⁷⁾ Locked with bolts, with a door of stone-made grid.

⁽³⁸⁾ [. . .] the entire land.

⁽³⁹⁾ You have established the glory [of your land],

⁽⁴⁰⁾ [. . .] over the dense population,

⁽⁴¹⁾ [. . .] you made an [ever]lasting renown.

⁽⁴²⁾ [. . .] exalted (fame).

⁽⁴³⁾ [. . .] you have established.

(About 10 lines missing)

^{(ii 1)} Zimrī-Līm [. . .]

⁽²⁾ Like a horse [. . .],

⁽³⁾ At the head of the squadrons, [. . .].

⁽⁴⁾ Rider of stallions(?) [. . .],

⁽⁵⁾ [There is] n[o] opponent (who can) face him,

⁽⁶⁾ So that the enemy disintegrates as [clay in water(?)],

⁽⁷⁾ And in the rear, no fugitive will e[scape].

⁽⁸⁾ Getting through the two [doors in the mountains],

⁽⁹⁾ The Deer killed his fo[es . . .].

⁽¹⁰⁾ Dust storms surrounded them.

⁽¹¹⁾ He did not fear the one walking on his right [or left],

⁽¹²⁾ (For) the first-born of Enlil, the god Lā-Gamāl, the prince,

⁽¹³⁾ And his auxiliary forces blocked the charge of (enemy’s) fighters,

⁽¹⁴⁾ He cut the (enemy’s) army like marsh reeds,

⁽¹⁵⁾ Like a tamarisk were the (enemy’s) heroes cut down,

⁽¹⁶⁾ The netherworld drank their blood.

⁽¹⁷⁾ Ever after Adad appeared majestically,

⁽¹⁸⁾ Zimrī-Līm, the panther of warfare,

⁽¹⁹⁾ The fierce, the queller of the wicked ones, the annihilator of the enemies,

⁽²⁰⁾ Opened his mouth and said,

⁽²¹⁾ Addressed his young warriors:

⁽²²⁾ “The (same) womb created you,

⁽²³⁾ The (same) mother, as yours, bore me!

⁽²⁴⁾ The war has become entangled and reached me,

⁽²⁵⁾ (And now) the four corners of the world are hostile against you!

⁽²⁶⁾ Indeed, the land is [adverse(?)] – liberate (it) for me!

⁽²⁷⁾ The enemy is gathered [. . .]

⁽²⁸⁾ To the fight [let us march!]”

⁽²⁹⁾ [The bull of k]ings, the just one, [in order to ob]tain his goal,

⁽³⁰⁾ Zimrī-Līm, the just one, [in order to obtain his] goal,

⁽³¹⁾ Commanded his counselor,

⁽³²⁾ Gave orders to the tribal leaders:

⁽³³⁾ “Let them summon my warriors, the people of Ḫana!

⁽³⁴⁾ May all the shepherds come in front of me!

⁽³⁵⁾ With the best of troops, the dwellers of the bank of the Euphrates –

⁽³⁶⁾ I will do as your resolution will be!”

⁽³⁷⁾ Having heard his words,

⁽³⁸⁾ Ašmaṭ, his chief-shepherd, said to him:

⁽³⁹⁾ “Why are you worried by the people of Subartu?”

⁽⁴⁰⁾ Your blaze of battle should not turn back!

⁽⁴¹⁾ Frost lies under the shade of the trees of the forest,

⁽⁴²⁾ For their trunks were not exposed to the luster of an axe’s blade.

⁽⁴³⁾ The land of Subartu is spread like pasturing sheep,

⁽⁴⁴⁾ Provision for (our) troops is to be found there.

⁽⁴⁵⁾ Oh Zimrī-Līm, let them experience your might!

⁽⁴⁶⁾ May [the people] praise your name forever!”

⁽⁴⁷⁾ [The king rejoic]ed at the words of his servant, the chief shepherd.

⁽⁴⁸⁾ [. . .] the reapers in the field.

(About 6 lines missing)

^{(iii 1)} With their auxiliary forces they have filled the plain,

⁽²⁾ But he, clad in armor, mercifulness is an abomination to him:

⁽³⁾ Whoever opposes him falls down.

⁽⁴⁾ All around are spread the slain (enemy’s) donkeys,

⁽⁵⁾ The heroes are thrown in all sides.

⁽⁶⁾ The valley is soaked with their blood.

⁽⁷⁾ Until he obtains his goal – the king –

⁽⁸⁾ And subjugates the land of Ida-maraṣ to his feet,

⁽⁹⁾ He keeps drinking (only) from waterskins,

⁽¹⁰⁾ Busy with his troops, sharing all (their) troubles,

⁽¹¹⁾ He goes out (to the ambush with) the great hunters.

⁽¹²⁾ As the onager in the field (is feeding) on chaff,

⁽¹³⁾ So his men were eating game –

⁽¹⁴⁾ (Thus) they were gaining ambition, gathering courage.

⁽¹⁵⁾ Zimrī-Līm is marching in the fore as a standard,

⁽¹⁶⁾ Turning back to support the weary:

⁽¹⁷⁾ “Get stronger! Keep entering (into the hostile land)!

⁽¹⁸⁾ The enemy will see your contingents!”

⁽¹⁹⁾ Their flash then set ablaze,

⁽²⁰⁾ And burning ignited in their guts.

⁽²¹⁾ Clad with daggers, swords and lances,

⁽²²⁾ Axes swinging at their sides.

⁽²³⁾ In order to get hold of the rest of the field,

⁽²⁴⁾ The [ing]enious Ištar [is walking at the front].

⁽²⁵⁾ When [. . .] for him,

⁽²⁶⁾ He stationed his officers on [the bank of] the river,

⁽²⁷⁾ [And turned with a query] to the gods who were still not asked, about marching (to battle).

⁽²⁸⁾ They answered the king at once: “Yes!”

⁽²⁹⁾ (And so,) battles broke out in the midst of the (hostile) land.

⁽³⁰⁾ The young warrior will not walk alone in the campaign.

⁽³¹⁾ The king, in accordance with the word of Dagān, being grand,

⁽³²⁾ Will be protected by the men of his clan.

⁽³³⁾ Zimrī-Līm, in accordance with the word of Dagān, being grand,

⁽³⁴⁾ Put his trust in Itūr-Mēr, the powerful god.

⁽³⁵⁾ When the prince of the land saw his oracular sign, (given) through the diviner,

⁽³⁶⁾ The king – his heart was increasing with bravery.

⁽³⁷⁾ Adad was walking at his left,

⁽³⁸⁾ Erra, the thrusting one, at his right.

⁽³⁹⁾ He positioned his squadrons at the bank of the Khabur,

⁽⁴⁰⁾ And by night, heading them, he crossed it.

⁽⁴¹⁾ He summoned the diviners, cleansed himself (saying):

⁽⁴²⁾ “Oh Šamaš, answer me:

⁽⁴³⁾ Will I quell my enemies today?”

⁽⁴⁴⁾ “Oh my young warriors, strive for courage!

⁽⁴⁵⁾ Consider your enemy as [a trapped bird]!”

⁽⁴⁶⁾ His heroes heard his [words]

⁽⁴⁷⁾ And fell over [the enemy] as a bird-snare.

⁽⁴⁸⁾ He who hoped to escape [was trapped],

⁽⁴⁹⁾ He who wanted to flight was caught [. . .]

⁽⁵⁰⁾ Zimrī-Līm [. . .]

⁽⁵¹⁾ Half of the en]emy’s (army) . . .[

(About 3 lines missing)

^{(iv 1)} He broke the [. . .]

⁽²⁾ He ordered to install the [. . .]

⁽³⁾ He filled the land [with . . .]

⁽⁴⁾ Those who answered [Zimrī]-Līm with hostility

⁽⁵⁾ Did [no]t stay alive, they have perished.

⁽⁶⁾ Straight after the king obtained his goal,

⁽⁷⁾ He entered in front of the god Nunamnir,

⁽⁸⁾ And in the temple Ekisiqqa he presented his offerings.

⁽⁹⁾ In Terqa, the beloved (city) of Dagān,

⁽¹⁰⁾ Life, abundance and valor

⁽¹¹⁾ Did Zimrī-Līm ask of Dagān.