Sumerian tablet (Old Babylonian, Literary)

Transliteration:


...a nam ba-tar-ra-a-ba
...ŋal₂ an u₃-tu-da
...e u₂-šim-gin₇ ki in-dar-ra-a-ba
...abzu lugal {d}en-ki-ke₄
...en-ki en nam tar-tar-re-de₃
...a-ni kug {na₄}za-gin₃-na teš₂-bi ba-ni-in-du₃
...{na₄}za-gin₃-bi ud kar₂-kar₂-a-ka
...abzu ul im-ma-ni-in-du₃
...galam dug₄-ga abzu-ta e₃-a
...dim₂-mud-ra mu-un-na-sug₂-sug₂-ge-eš
...ga-am₃ i-ni-in-du₃
...za-gin₃-na-am₃ i-ni-in-gun₃
...le-eš kug-sig₁₇-ga šu tag ba-ni-in-dug₄
...{ki}ga e₂ gu₂-a bi₂-in-du₃
...bi inim dug₄-dug₄ ad gi₄-gi₄
...bi gud-gin₇ murum...ša₄
...gu₃ nun...dam
...im-ma-an <unk> dug₃-bi-eš₂ mu-na-ŋa₂-ŋa₂
...sukkal {d}<unk> de₃ im...
...gu₃ mu-un...
...gu₃ im-ma-ab-šum₂...
...
...mi₂ dug₄-ga
...<unk> na me mah...a
...gaba...
...gur₃-ru
...dug₄-ga
{gi}kid za-gin₃-na...gušur...gun₃-a
nir-gam-ma-zu am si gur₃-ru
kan₄-zu ur-mah lu₂ šu teŋ₄-a
...zu ug₂ lu₂-ra ed₂-de₃
abzu ki sikil me-te ŋal₂

e₂-engur-ra lugal-zu ŋiri₃ im-ma-ri-gub
{d}en-ki lugal abzu-ke₄
temen-zu {na₄}gug im-ma-da-an-si-ig
mu₇-mu₇ za-gin₃-na mi₂ im-ma-ri-in-dug₄
e₂ {d}en-ki-ke₄ lal₃-hur-ra kug gurum₂ ak
gud lugal-bi-ir us₂-a sig₁₀-ga
ni₂-bi-še₃ murum ša₄ teš₂-bi ad gi₄-gi₄
e₂-engur-ra {d}en-ki-ke₄ {gi}dub-ba-an kug la₂-a
šag₄-zu-ta barag mah ki ŋar-ra
za₃-du₈-zu aškud₂ kug an-na
en ŋeštug₂ lugal {d}en-ki-ke₄
{d}nu-dim₂-mud en eridu{ki}ga...
šag₄ šeg₉-bar-ra lu₂ igi nu-bar...de₃
abgal-zu siki bar-ra bi₂-in-duh
eridu{ki} {d}en-ki-ke₄...aŋ₂-ŋa₂...
e₂-engur-ra šag₄ he₂-ŋal₂...
abzu zi kalam-ma ki aŋ₂ {d}en...
e₂ zag-ga du₃-a me galam-ma tum₂...
eridu{ki} ŋissu-zu ab šag₄-ga la₂...
a-ab zig₃-ga gaba...nu...
id₂ mah ni₂ ŋal₂...
e₂-engur-ra u₁₈-ru mah...
e₂ da e₂-engur-ra piriŋ abzu...
e₂ mah {d}en-ki-ke₄ ŋeštug₂...
...zig₃-ga-gin₇
...en-ki-ra mu-un-na-du₁₂-am₃
e₂ kug-ga-ni-še₃ dug₃-bi-še₃ mu-un-na-ŋa₂-ŋa₂
{ŋeš}za₃-mi₂ {ŋeš}al-ŋar {kuš}balaŋ {ŋeš}sur₉-za
{ŋeš}har-har {ŋeš}sa-bi₂-tum {ŋeš}mi-riₓ(|URU×MIN|)-tum e₂ sig₉-ga-am₃
ad dug₃-ga nundum bur₂-re buluŋ₅-ŋe₂₆
šag₄ ni₂-ba-ke₄-eš ad ha-ba-ni-ib-ša₄
{ŋeš}al-ŋar kug {d}en-ki-ke₄ ni₂-bi-a mu-na-an-du₁₂
nar imin-e ad he₂-em-mi-ib-ša₄


dug₄-ga {d}en-ki-ke₄ šu nu-bal-e-de₃
<unk>...ki-bi-še₃ ŋal₂-la-am₃
šeg₁₂ e₂-engur-ra-ka šir₃ dug₃-ge-eš im-me
mu-un-du₃-a-ba mu-un-du₃-a-ba
eridu{ki} {d}en-ki-ke₄ im-ma-ni-in-il₂-a-ba
hur-saŋ galam gar₃-gin₇ a-e ba-diri
zag-ga-ni-a ŋeš-gi ba-an-tuš
{ŋeš}kiri₆ sig₇-ga gurun il₂-a-ba
mušen-e ŋiri₃-bi mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂
suhur{ku₆}e a-lal₃-e e-ne mu-un-ed₂-de₃
eštub{ku₆}e gi-zi di₄-di₄-la₂-aš kun mu...
{d}...
abzu-e u₆-e im...
e₂-engur hul₂-la-am₃ mu-ni...
a-ab-ba-gin₇ ni₂ mu-un-da...
id₂ mah-am₃ su-zi mu-un-da...
{id₂}buranun-na {tumu}u₁₈-lu sur₂ mu-da-an...
{ŋeš}gi-muš-a-ni muš {d}nirah-a-ni
{ŋeš}ŋisal-ni ki{mušen} tur-tur-ra-ni
{d}en-ki <unk> a-ni mu he₂-ŋal₂ sug₄-ga...
ma₂ ni₂-bi nam-duh eš₂ ni₂-bi nam-dab₅...
e₂ eridu{ki}ga-še₃...da-kar-ra...
id₂-da lugal-bi-ir ad im-mi-ib-gi₄-gi₄
gu₃-bi gu₃ amar-ra gu₃ ab₂ dug₃-ga-ke₄
{d}en-ki-ke₄ gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar₂-re
{kuš}a₂-la nu-ŋal₂-la ki-bi-še₃ bi₂-in-gi₄
šem₅{zabar} nu-ŋal₂-la ki-bi-še₃ im-mi-in-e₃
nibru{ki}še₃ ŋiri₃-ni dili mu-un-gub
gi-gun₄-na eš₃ nibru{ki}še₃ im-ma-da-an-kur₉-kur₉
{d}en-ki-ke₄ kaš-kaš-e ba-de₂ kurun₂-kurun₂-e ba-de₂
kurun₂ sig₁₇ zabar ba-ni-in-de₂
{kaš}ulušin₃ dili-am₃ ba-ni-in-sur
{dug}ku-kur-du₃ kaš dug₃-dug₃-ga duh-ba bi₂-in-sa₂-sa₂
ka-bi lal₃ zu₂-lum-ma niŋ₂ <unk> ba-ni-in-de₂
duh-bi niŋ₂ lu-lu-a-aš sed₄-e bi₂-in-duh

...en-ki-ke₄ eš₃-e nibru{ki}am₃
...a-ni {d}en-lil₂-ra ninda mu-un-gu₇-e
...ki mah-am₃...im-ma-an-tuš
...ra {d}en-lil₂ im-ma-ni-in-us₂
...nin-tur₅ zag...la im-ma-an-tuš
...us₂-bi im-mi-in-dur₂-ru-ne-eš
...naŋ-naŋ-e kurun₂ i-dug₃-dug₃-ge₄-eš
...im-gur₄-gur₄-e-ne
...da-min₃ im-di-e-ne
...<unk> <unk> e-ne
...dug₃-ga-ta
...ra-ŋar-ra-ta
...{ki}a mu-ni...
...na-ke₄-ne gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
...i₃-sug₂-ge-eš-za-na
...na-ka si bi₂-in-sa₂-de₃-en
...du₃ lugal {d}en-ki-ke₄
...ki-ta ba-ra-an-ri
...e₂ im-ma-an-du₃
...nu-kur₉-kur₉-de₃
...{na₄}za-gin₃-na gun₃-a
...sa₂-e nam-šub šum₂-ma
...e₂ ki al-dug₃-ga
...en-ki-ke₄ me galam-ma tum₂-ma
...e₂ kug-ga du₃-a...
...za₃-mi₂


Translation:
In those distant days when fate was determined
The year (of?) abundance engendered by An/The year in which abundance and heaven (alike) were born(?)
When the people split (through) the earth like vegetation
The lord of the Abzu, king Enki
...(?) Enki, the lord who is to determine fate
Built his temple (with) the combination of(?) silver and lapis
The silver and lapis was something that (lit. of) glowing sunlight
He made(?) rosette/star decorations(?) in shrine Abzu
In the pure cultic space/crown(?) that was artfully crafted/furnished with stairs(?), coming out from the Abzu
... stood for/served lord Nudimmud
It was silver that he built the temple with
It was lapis that he made it colorful with
He adorned it(!?) greatly in gold
In Eridu he built the temple on the riverbank
Its brickwork speaks words and gives advice
Its reed layers within the brick bellowed like a bull
The temple of Enki is to shout nobly
The temple brought praise at(?) night for the king while presenting it sweetly/bending its knee (to him)(?)
For Enki, the vizier Isimud was speaking(?)
He stood in the temple and was speaking
He stood in the brickwork and was giving voice/explicating
House that was founded in silver and lapis, its foundation set in the Abzu
Cared for by the prince in the Abzu
Who accepted (its) supreme me(?) and aura in/from(?) the Tigris and Euphrates
Your door lock has no rival
Your bolt is a lion bearing an aura
Your roof beam is the bull of heaven, a pure cultic space/crown(?) that was artfully crafted/furnished with stairs(?)
(Your) reed mat sparkles in lapis/blue? towards the roof beams(?)
Your vault is a wild bull raising its horns
Your gate is a lion seizing a man
Your threshold is an ug creature going out towards a man
The Abzu, a pure place, fitting
E'engura temple, your king has set foot (there) for you
Enki, the king of the Abzu
He has set(?) carnelian along(?) your foundation
With incantations/noise(?) he has taken care of (your) lapis(?)
Temple whose pure wax design(?) has been inspected by Enki
A bull that is set on track for its master
Roaring on behalf of its aura(?) and advising (on behalf of) its dignity(?)
E'engura temple, (whose) pure reed fence has been hung/bound (together) by Enki
In your midst a supreme dais is founded
Your door jamb is the pure aškud bolt(?) of heaven/An
The lord of wisdom, king Enki
Nudimmud, the lord of Eridu
(In?) the “heart of the fallow deer,” into which no one can see
He has made(?) your abgal priest loosen (his) hair upon the back
When Enki loves Eridu(!?)
The midst of the E'engura temple is(?) filled with abundance
Abzu, the life of the land, beloved by Enki
Temple build on the edge, suitable for the elaborate cosmic powers
Eridu, your shade extends into the midst of the sea
Risen sea that has no rival
Supreme river possessing an aura and giving the land gooseflesh
E'engur temple, great flood(?) that touches the ground
Temple adjoining the deep water(!?), pirig creature in/of the inner Abzu
Supreme temple of Enki giving wisdom in the land
Your shout, like a risen river
Is singing for king Enki
Towards the holy temple he presents sweetly/bends (his?) knee (to it)(?)
The lyre, the algar instrument, the balag drum, and the tamborine/rattle
The harhar instrument, the sabitum instrument, and the “Mari instrument” that silences the temple(?)
(The ones with) a sweet voice and “releasing and growing" lips
May they resound because of(?) their own hearts (i.e., their distinct sounds?)
The holy algar instrument of Enki has played itself for him
May the seven musicians sing/play(?)
The utterance of Enki, which is not to be changed
... is set towards its (proper) place
He is singing sweetly about(?) the brickwork of the E'engura temple
When/In that which he had built (the temple), in that he had built (the temple)
In that which Enki had raised in Eridu
Like/as a mountain range that is craftily knotted/equipped with stairs(?) it floats on the water
The reedbed dwells at its border(?)
In its verdant orchards that bear fruit
The bird sets foot/treads there(?)
The suhur carp plays(?) in the ulal plants(?)
The eštub carp flap their tails for him towards(!?) the tiny gizi reed grouth
When Enki rises, the fish rise as a wave
In the Abzu, he stands amid admiration
In the E'engura temple rejoicing ...
Like the sea, he can possess(?) an aura
He is a supreme river who can cast(?) a radiance
In the Euphrates river he can raise a furious southern wind
His boat pole (is) his serpent(?), Neraḫ
His oar(s) (are) his little kib birds
When Enki sails, the year is filled with abundance
The boat released itself and seized its own ropes(?)
After(?) he “fled” towards the temple of Eridu
In(?) the river ... was advising its king
(The one whose) voice (was) the voice of a calf, the voice of a sweet cow
Enki was slaughtering bulls and slaughtering sheep
He restored the ala drum that was not present to its (proper) place
He brought out the šem drum that was not present to its (proper) place
He set out alone towards Nibru
He was entering into the giguna terrace (of) shrine Nibru
Enki approached(!) the beer, he approached(!) the kurun liquor
He poured yellow(?) kurun liquor into a bronze (bowl?)
He filtered ulušin beer that was singular (in quality, frequency, or “he alone"?)
He made kukurdu containers settle(?) in/with(?) the residue(?) of the very good/sweetened beer(?)
In its (the vessel's?) mouth he poured(?) date syrup ...
He “released"(?) the residue by cooling it(?), (making it?) into “that which is mixed(!?)”
Enki, who was in shrine Nibru
For his father, Enlil, he was “making bread be eaten”
He seated ... An in what was the supreme place
For An, he made Enlil follow there
He seated Nintur in the “seat of honor” (lit. great(er) side)
He sat the Anuna gods in their “foundations"(?)
They (lit. the people) were drinking, they were making themselves sweet(!?)with kurun liquor
They were rolling around (i.e., knocking over?) the bronze vessels (like/filled with?) apples(!?)
(They were making?) the bronze (bowls) have a contest with Uraš (i.e. the earth, by knocking them onto the ground)(?)
They were ... the bowl (shaped like?) the holy barge (i.e., the crescent moon?)(?)
After beer was drunk and kurun liquor was “enjoyed”
After they set foot away from the temple
Enlil ... rejoicing in Nibru
Enlil was speaking to the Anuna
Great gods who are present
Anuna, you who (assemble) properly in the Ubšu'ukken
My son built the temple, king Enki
He made Eridu distant(?) from the ground like a mountain range
It was a good place that he built the temple (in)
(In) Eridu, the pure place which no one is to enter
The temple built in silver and made colorful in lapis
The temple that (plays) the seven tigi drums properly and produces incantations/namšub prayers(?)
The pure and dignified(!?) šir songs that make the temple site sweet(?)
Shrine Abzu, the goodness of Enki, suitable for the elaborate me
It is the building of temple of silver of (i.e., in) Eridu
Enki, praise