Ludlul bēl nēmeqi

Tablet I

1I will praise the lord of wisdom, solicitous god,

2Furious in the night, growing calm in the day:

3Marduk! Lord of wisdom, solicitous god,

4Furious in the night, growing calm in the day:

5Whose anger, like a raging tempest, is a desolation,

6But whose breeze is sweet as the breath of morn.

7In his fury not to be withstood, his rage the deluge,

8Merciful in his feelings, his emotions relenting.

9The skies cannot sustain the weight of his hand,

10His palm 1s gentle to rescue the moribund.

11Marduk! The skies cannot sustain the weight of his hand,

12His palm 1s gentle to rescue the moribund.

13He it is, in the brunt of whose anger many graves are dug,

14At the same moment, he raises the fallen from annihilation.

15He glowers, protective spirits take flight,

16He regards, the one whose god forsook him returns to him.**

17His severe punishment is harsh and speedy,

18He stops short and quickly becomes like a mother.

19He is impetuous to cherish the one he loves(?),*

20Like a cow with a calf,

21he keeps turning around watchfully.?

22His scourge is barbed and punctures the body,

23His bandages are soothing, they heal the doomed.

24He speaks and makes one incur many sins,

25On the day of his justice liability and guilt are dispelled.

26He is the one who afflicts with demons of shaking-disease,

27Through his sacral spell chills and shivering are driven away.

28Who dwarfs(?) the flood of Adad, the blow of Erra,

29Who reconciles the wrathful god and [god]dess,

30The lord divines the gods' inmost thoughts,

31(But) no [god] understands his behavior! (30)

32Marduk divines the gods’ inmost thoughts,

33No [god] understands his mind.

34As heavy his hand, so compassionate his heart,

35As brutal his weapons, so life-sustaining his feelings.

36Without his consent, who could cure his blow?

37Against his will, which one could stay his hand?

38I, who touched bottom like a fish,*

39will proclaim his anger,

40He quickly granted me favor, as if he revived the dead.

41I will teach the people that his kindness is nigh,

422. A wordplay on "beloved"(?) and "wild bull" may be intended, resumed by “cow” in the following line. Variant: “love for me” (?).

43May his favorable thought take away their [guilt?]. (40) ?

44From the day the Lord punished me,

45And the warrior Marduk became furious with me, T god threw me over and disappeared, iB goddess broke rank and vanished. | ae

46The benevolent angel who (walked) beside me split off, (45) | My broa protecting spirit retreated, to seek out someone else. | iy vigor was taken away, | sto manly appearance became gloomy, dem dignity bolted* and leapt for cover. BU

47Terrifying signs beset me: len

48I was forced from my house, I wandered outside. (so) . Ld omens were confused, Lu they were contradictory every day, ES

49(Even) with diviner and dream interpreter | int course was undecided. | y fen

50What I overheard in the street portended ill for me, ~My com

51When I lay down at night, my dreams were terrifying. Volt

52The king, incarnation of the gods, sun of his peoples, (55) Wet

53His heart hardened against me, - My turning openness to ill-will.* Jf save

54Courtiers were plotting hostile action against me, ETT

55They mustered themselves to instigate base deeds: ~My fama

56If the first “I will make him end his life” Apitaw

57Says the second “I ousted (him) from his command!” (60) Theke

58So likewise the third “I will get my hands on his post!” One whe

59“PIL come into his property!” vows the fourth? — dui

60As the fifth subverts the mind of fifty,* File o

61Sixth and seventh follow on his heels? dea

62The clique of seven have massed their forces, (65) Teme

63Merciless as fiends, the likeness of demons. lli no

64So one is their body, (but seven) their mouths. Tyr

65Their hearts fulminate against me, ablaze like fire. The sour

66Slander and lies they try to lend credence against me. Tis ch eloquent mouth they checked, as with reins, (70) They lef

672. Wordplay on “come into” (erébu) and “fourth” (rebú). | ly

683. Literally: “like his protective spirit."

69lips, which used to discourse, became those of a deaf-mute.

70resounding calls died away to dumbness, proud head bent earth ward, stout heart was enfeebled by terror, broad breast brushed aside by a stripling,

71far-reaching arms clutched each other under my clothing.

72I, who walked proudly, learned slinking,

73I, so grand, became servile.

74To my vast family I became a loner,

75As I went through the streets, I was pointed at,

76I would enter the palace, eyes would squint at me, city was glowering at me like an enemy,

77Belligerent and hostile would seem my land!

78friend became malignant, a demon, comrade would denounce me savagely, colleague kept the taint to(?) his weapons for bloodshed, best friend made my life an aspersion.

79slave cursed me openly in the assembly (of gentlefolk), slave girl defamed me before the rabble.

80An acquaintance would see me and make himself scarce, family set me down as an outsider.

81A pit awaited anyone speaking well of me,

82While he who was uttering defamation of me forged ahead.

83who relayed base things about me had a god for his help,

84For the one who said “What a pity about him!”

85death came early,

86The one of no help, his life became charmed,

87I had no one to go at my side, nor saw I a champion.

88They parceled my possessions among the riffraff,

89The sources of my watercourses they blocked with muck,

90They chased the harvest song from my fields,

91They left my community deathly still, like that of a (ravaged) foe.

92They let another assume my duties,

93And appointed an outsider to my prerogatives.

94By day sighing, by night lamentation,

95Monthly, depression, despair the year.

96I moaned like a dove all my days,

97Like a singer, I wail my dirge aloud."

98eyes endure(?) constant crying,

99cheeks scald from tears, as if eroded(?).

100face is darkened from the apprehensions of my heart,

101Terror and panic have jaundiced my skin.

102The wellsprings of my heart quaked in unremitting anxiety,

103I was changeable(?) as a flickering fire,

104Prayer was disorder, like an exploding flame, entreaty was like the fracas of a brawl.

105My [sweet]-lipped discourse was murky, obscure,

106[When] I turned a biting comment, my gambit was stifled.

107"Surely in daylight good will come upon me!

108“The moon will set(?),* my sun will shine!”

Tablet II

109whole year to the next! The appointed time passed.’

110As I turned around, it was more and more terrible.

111luck was on the increase, I could find no good fortune.

112I called to my god, he did not show his face,

113I prayed to my goddess, she did not raise her head.

114The diviner with his inspection did not get to the bottom of it, did the dream interpreter with his incense clear up my case,

115I beseeched a dream spirit, but it did not enlighten me,

116The exorcist with his ritual did not appease divine wrath.

117What bizarre actions everywhere!

118I looked behind: persecution, harassment!

119Like one who had not made libations to his god, invoked his goddess with a food offering,

120Who was not wont to prostrate, nor seen to bow down,

121From whose mouth supplication and prayer were wanting,

122Who skipped holy days, despised festivals,

123Who was neglectful, omitted the gods’ rites,

124Who had not taught his people reverence and worship,

125Who did not invoke his god, but ate his food offering,

126Who snubbed his goddess, brought (her) no flour offering,

127Like one possessed(?), who forgot his lord,

128Who casually swore a solemn oath by his god:

129I, indeed, seemed (such a one)!

130I, for my part, was mindful of supplication and prayer,

131Prayer to me was the natural recourse, sacrifice my rule.

132The day for reverencing the gods

133was a source of satisfaction to me,

134The goddess’s procession day was my profit and return.

135Praying for the king, that was my joy,

136His fanfare was as if for (my own) good omen.

137I instructed my land to observe the god’s rites,

138The goddess’s name did I drill my people to esteem.

139I made my praises of the king like a god’s,

140And taught the populace reverence for the palace.

141I wish I knew that these things were pleasing to a god!

142What seems good to one’s self could be an offense to a god,

143What in one’s own heart seems abominable

144could be good to one’s god!

145Who could learn the reasoning of the gods in heaven?

146Who could grasp the intentions of the gods of the depths?

147Where might human beings have learned the way of a god?

148He who lived by (his) brawn died in confinement.

149Suddenly one is downcast, in a trice full of cheer, moment he sings in exaltation,

150In a trice he groans like a professional mourner.

151What the gods) intend for people changes in a twinkling:*

152Starving, they become like corpses,

153Full, they would rival their gods.

154In good times, they speak of scaling heaven,

155When it goes badly, they complain of going down to hell.

156I have ponde[red]* these things;

157I have made no sense of them.

158But as for me, in despair, a whirlwind is driving(?) me!

159Debihtating disease is let loose upon me:

160An evil vapor has blown against me

161[from the] ends of the earth,

162Head pain has surged up upon me from the breast of hell,

163A malignant spectre has come forth from its hidden depth,

164A relentless gho[st] came out of its dwelling place.

165A she-demon came down from the mountain,

166Ague set forth with the flood,

167Debility broke through the ground with the plants.

168[They assem]bled their host, together they came upon me:

169[They struck my he]ad, they closed around my pate,

170[My] features were gloomy, my eyes ran a flood,

171They wrenched my muscles, made my neck limp,

172They thwacked [my chest], pounded(?) my breast,

173They affected my flesh, threw (me) into convulsions,

174They kindled a fire in my epigastrium,

175They churned up my bowels, they tw[isted] my entrails(?),

176Coughing and hacking* infected my lungs,

177They incapacitated(?) my limbs, made my flesh pasty, lofty stature they toppled like a wall, robust figure they flattened like a bulrush,

178I was dropped like a dried fig, I was tossed on my face.

179A demon has clothed himself in my body for a garment,

180Drowsiness smothers me like a net, eyes stare, they cannot see, ears prick up, they cannot hear.

181Numbness has spread over my whole body,

182Paralysis has fallen upon my flesh.

183Stiffness has seized my arms,

184Debility has fallen upon my loins, feet forgot how to move.

185[A stroke] has overcome me, I choke like one fallen,

186Signs of death* have shrouded my face!

187[If someone th]inks of me, I can’t respond to the inquirer,

188"[Ala]s"" they weep, I have lost consciousness.

189A snare is laid on my mouth,

190And a bolt bars my lips.

191way in 1s barred, my point of slaking blocked, hunger is chronic, my gullet constricted.

192If 1t be of grain, I choke it down like stinkweed,

193Beer, the sustenance of humankind, 1s sickening to me.

194Indeed, the malady drags on!

195For lack of food my features are unrecognizable, flesh is waste, my blood has run dry, bones are loose, covered (only) with skin, tissues are inflamed, afflicted with gangrene(?).

196I took to bed, confined, going out was exhaustion, house turned into my prison.

197flesh was a shackle, my arms being useless, person was a fetter, my feet having given way.

198afflictions were grievous, the blow was severe!

199A scourge full of barbs thrashed me,

200A crop lacerated me, cruel with thorns.

201All day long tormentor would torment [me], night would he let me breathe freely a moment.

202From writhing, my joints were separated, limbs were splayed and thrust apart.

203I spent the night in my dung like an ox,

204I wallowed in my excrement like a sheep.

205The exorcist recoiled from my symptoms,

206While my omens have perplexed the diviner.

207The exorcist did not clarify the nature of my complaint,

208While the diviner put no time limit on my illness.

209No god came to the rescue, nor lent me a hand,

210No goddess took pity on me, nor went at my side.

211grave was open, my funerary goods ready,

212Before I had died, lamentation for me was done.

213All my country said, “How wretched he was!"

214When my ill-wisher heard, his face lit up,

215When the tidings reached her, my ill-wisher,

216her mood became radiant.

217The day grew dim for my whole family,

218For those who knew me, their sun grew dark.”

Tablet III

219Heavy was his hand upon me, I could not bear it!

220Dread of him was oppressive, it | me}.

221His fierce [pun]ishment* | ], the deluge,

222His stride was ..., it ... [ ]

223[Ha]rsh, severe illness does not ... [ ] my person,

224I lost sight of [aler]tness,* [ ]| make my mind stray.

225I gro[an] day and night alike,

226Dreaming and waking [I am] equally wretched.

227A remarkable young man of extraordinary physique,

228Magnificent in body, clothed in new garments,

229Because I was only half awake,* his features lacked form.

230He was clad in splendor, robed in dread —

231He came in upon me, he stood over me.

232[When I saw him, my] flesh grew numb.

233[ ] “The Lady(?) has sent [me],

234[ ] I tried to tell [my people],

235"I | sent [ for me]."

236They were silent and did not [speak],

237They heard me [in silence and did not answer].

238A second time [I saw a dream].

239In the dream I saw [at night],

240A remarkable purifier [ ],

241Holding in his hand a tamarisk rod of purification,

242“Laluralimma,” resident of Nippur,

243"Has sent me to cleanse you."

244He was carrying water, he po[ured it] over me,

245He pronounced the resuscitating incantation, he massaged [my] bo[dy].

246A third time I saw a dream.

247In my dream I saw at night:

248A remarkable young woman of shining countenance,

249Clothed like a person(?), being li[ke] a god,

2502. An academic Sumerian name, typical of Babylonia of the second half of the second millennium B.c. Compare Why Do You Curse Me? (IV.24).

251A queen among peoples [

252She entered upon me and [sat down] ... [

253She ordered my deliverance [

254"Fear not!” she said, “I [will

255"Whatever one sees(?) of a dream [

256She ordered my deliverance, “Most wre[tched] indeed i is he,

257"Whoever he might be, the one who saw the vision at night.

258In the dream (was) Ur-Nintinugga, a Babylonian(?) ...

259A bearded young man wearing a tiara,

260He was an exorcist, carrying a tablet,

261"Marduk has sent me!

262“To Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan* I have brought a sw[athe],

263"From his pure hands I have brought a sw[athe].”

264He has entru[sted] me into the hands of my ministrant.

265[In] waking hours he sent a message,

266He reve[aled] his favorable sign to my people.

267I was awake in my sickness, a (healing) serpent slithered by.?* illness was quickly over, [my fetters] were broken.

268After my lord's heart had quiet[ed],

269(And) the feelings of merciful Marduk were ap[peased],

270[And he had] accepted my prayers [ |,

271His sweet [relen]ting [ |,

272[He ordered] my deliverance!: “He is g[reatly trie]d!”

273[ ] to worship and [ ]

274He made the wind bear away my offenses.

275(The exact placement of the following lines is unknown.)

276I. These are oblique references to the sufferer, perhaps meaning something like "whoever has seen this vision should have pity taken upon him."

2773. The serpent, like the serpents of Aesculapius, was sometimes associated with the goddess of healing; see D. McDonald, “The Serpent as Healer: Theriac and Ancient Near Eastern Pottery,”

278[He applied] to me his spell that binds [debilitating disease],!

279[He drove] back the evil vapor to the ends of the earth, ;

280He bore off [the head pain] to the breast of hell, (5) i

281[He sent] down the malignant spectre to its hidden depth,

282The relentless ghost he returned [to] its dwelling,

283He overthrew the she-demon, sending if off to a mountain, |

284He replaced the ague in flood and sea. |

285He eradicated debility like a plant,

286Uneasy sleep, excessive drowsiness,

287He dissipated like smoke filling the sky.

288The turning toward people(?) with “Woe!” and "Alas!"* Ie he drove away like a cloud, earth... [ ]

289The tenacious disease in the head, which was [heavy] as a [mill]stone,* a

290and clogged like a deaf man’s,

291He removed their blockage, he opened my hearing.

292nose, whose bre[athing] was choked

293by symptoms of fever, (20°) |

294He soothed its affliction so I could breathe [freely]. j| babbling lips, which had taken on a h[ard crust?], E]

295He wiped away their distress(?)

296and und[id] their deformation.

297mouth, which was muffled,

298so that proper speech was diffi[cult],

299He scoured like copper and r[emoved] its filth. (25°) teeth, which were clenched

300and locked together firmly,

301[He op]ened their fastening, fre[ed?] the jaws(?).* s tongue, which was tied and [could] not converse, Nm

302[He] wiped off its coating and [its] speech became fluent(?). Pa

303He raised like dew of night, he removed it from me. (15^) which were wrapped in the shroud of death, "

304He drove (the cloud) a thousand leagues away, i] he brightened [my] vision. S ears, which were stopped i

305windpipe, which was tight and choking, as though on a gobbet, (30’)

306He made well and let it si[ng] its songs like a flute.

307My [gul]let, which was swollen so it could not take [food], swelling went down and he opened its blockage.

308[ | which] was darkened like [ |

309(three damaged lines, then gap)

310(The following lines are known only from the ancient commentary, but must go in the gap here, in sequence but not necessarily seriatim.)

311a. My intestine, which was ever empty for want, and was coiled (tight) like basketry,

312Accepts nourishment, holds drink.

313neck, which was limp and twisted at the base,

314He shored up, a hillock,* he planted upright like a tree(?).

315He made my body that of a perfect athlete.*

316He pared my nails as if to drive out a “vengeance.”

317He drove out their illness and made their upper parts well.

318knees, which were tied and b[ound] like a ... bird’s

319The shape of my bold]y [he made] remarkable(?)

320He wiped off the grime, he cleansed its filth

321k. My gloomy mien began to glow (7120?)*

3221. The image may be of piling up around the bottom of something to make it strong (differently

3232. Literally: "perfect in strength."

3243. Obscure word (naqqimtu). The frame of reference may be witchcraft and countermeasures;

325pares the nails carefully lest "vengeance" (= black magic?) use the discarded parings to assault the body? "Vengeance" is either male or female (as here). See also III.31 line 77.

Tablet IV*

326(Episode A)

327The Lord took hold of me,

328The Lord set me on my feet,

329The Lord revived me,

330He rescued me [from the plit, (5^)

331He summoned me [from destruc]tion,

332[ ] he pulled me from the river of death.

333[ ] he took my hand.

334[He who] smote me,

335Marduk, he restored me! (10’)

336He smote the hand of my smiter,

337It was Marduk who made him drop his weapon.

338[He — ] the attack of my foe,

339It was Marduk who [ |

340(Two fragmentary lines, then gap. Insert here, perhaps, two lines known only from the ancient commentary.)

341l. At the place of the river ordeal, where people’s fates are decided, m. I was struck on the forehead, my slave mark removed.

342[ | which in my prayers [ ]

343[With] prostration and supplication [ ] to Esagila [ |

344[I who went] down to the grave

345have returned to the “Gate of [Sunrise].”*

346I. The assignment of texts to this tablet remains uncertain. Various arrangements have been

347Reiner place Fragment A at the end rather than the beginning of the tablet (Fragment A = Lambert,

348[In the] “Gate of Prosperity" prosperity was [given me].

349[In the] “Gate of the Guardian Spirit"

350a guardian spirit [drew nigh to me].

351[In the] “Gate of Well-being” I beheld well-being.

352In the “Gate of Life" I was granted life.

353In the “Gate of Sunrise" I was reckoned among the living.

354In the “Gate of Splendid Wonderment"

355signs were plain to see.

356In the “Gate of Release from Guilt”

357I was released from my bond.

358In the “Gate of Praise"(?) my mouth made inquiry.

359In the “Gate of Release from Sighing" my sighs were released.

360In the "Gate of Pure Water"

361I was sprinkled with purifying water.

362In the “Gate of Conciliation” I appeared with Marduk,

363In the “Gate of Joy" I kissed the foot* of Sarpanitum.

364I was assiduous in supplication and prayer before them,

365I placed fragrant incense before them,

366An offering, a gift, sundry donations I presented,

367Many fatted oxen I slaughtered, butchered many ...,

368Honey-sweet beer and pure wine I repeatedly libated. (55°)

369The protecting genius, the guardian spirit, divine attendants of the fabric of Esagila,

370I made their feelings glow with libation,

371I made them exultant [with] lavish [meals].

372[To the threshold, the bolt] socket, the bolt, the doors

373[I offered] oil, butterfat, and choicest grain. (60’)

374[ ] the rites of the temple.

375(insert here?)

376I proceeded along Kunush-kadru Street in a state of redemption.

377He who has done wrong by Esagil, let him learn from me.

378It was Marduk who put a muzzle on the mouth of the lion that was devouring me.

379III, The Mature Period

380Marduk took away the sling of my pursuer and deflected his slingstone.

381[He?] anointed himself with sweet cedar perfume,

382A feast for the Babylonian(s?) [ ]

383His tomb he(?) had made [was set up] for a feast!

384The Babylonians saw how [Marduk] can restore to life, (5’)

385And all mouths proclaimed [his] greatness,

386“Who (would have) said he would see his sun?

387“Who (would have) imagined

388that he would pass through his street?

389“Who but Marduk revived him as was dying?

390which goddess bestowed his breath of life? (10’)

391“Marduk can restore to life from the grave,

392"Sarpanitum knows how to rescue from annihilation.

393“Wherever earth is founded, heavens are stretched wide,

394“Wherever sun shines, fire blazes,

395“Wherever water runs, wind blows,

396“Those whose bits of clay Aruru pinched off (to form them),

397“Those endowed with life, who walk upright,

398"[Tee]ming humankind, as many as they be,

399give praise to Marduk!

400] those who can speak,

401] may he rule all the peoples

402] shepherd of all habi[tations|

403floods from the deep the gods [ ] the extent of heaven and netherworld,

404] was getting darker and darker for him."*

405Unlike other translators, I read these lines throughout in the third person (elisu/bit qeberisu, épusu = Assyrianism?). This distancing is the result of attention now focusing on the Babylonians’ view of the sufferer and culminates in the Babylonians singing a hymn of praise to Marduk.

406Landsberger, Brief eines Bischofs von Esagila an Konig Asarhaddon, MKNAW NR 28/VI (1965), 72 note 134 (which I follow in essentials); Cooper, JCS 27 (1975), 248—249; Moran, JAOS 103