BMS 22 (P393765)
Prayer, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
Open in the reader & map →See it among all tablets
| Designation | BMS 22 |
|---|---|
| ID | P393765 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE |
| Genre | Prayer |
| Find spot | Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) |
| Coordinates | 36.3582, 43.1621 |
English translation
By King, Leonard W. · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse [0:1] o 1o 1–o 1o 1 | Incantation: O foremost prince, son of Tutu, |
| Obverse [1:2] o 22–o 22 | Expert leader, offspring of Papnunnanki, |
| Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33 | O Nabu, who bears the tablet of destinies of the gods, who reviews Esagila, |
| Obverse [3:4] o 44–o 44 | O lord of Ezida, protection of Borsippa, |
| Obverse [4:5] o 55–o 55 | Beloved of Nudimmud, who gives life, |
| Obverse [5:6] o 66–o 66 | Foremost of Shuanna, who guards life, |
| Obverse [6:7] o 77–o 77 | The shelter of human habitations, who saves the people, lord of shrines, |
| Obverse [7:8] o 88–o 88 | Your name in the mouth of the people brings good fortune (lit. makes the divine guardian happy). |
| Obverse [8:9] o 99–o 99 | O son of the great prince Marduk, at your firm word, |
| Obverse [9:10] o 1010–o 1010 | At your noble utterance, at the command of your great divinity: |
| Obverse [10:11] o 1111–o 1111 | I, so-and-so, son of so-and-so, your sick, distressed servant, |
| Obverse [11:12] o 1212–o 1212 | Whom the hand of a ghost, witchcraft, (and/or) an oath has afflicted and constantly pursued, |
| Obverse [12:13] o 1313–o 1313 | Let me live; let me become well, and whatever I plan (to do), let me achieve (it). |
| Obverse [13:14] o 1414–o 1414 | Place truth in my mouth. |
| Obverse [14:15] o 1515–o 1515 | Put a [. . .] word in my heart. |
| Obverse [15:16] o 1616–o 1616 | [May] courtier and attendant [speak] favor. |
| Obverse [16:17] o 1717–o 1717 | May my (personal) god stand at my right (side). |
| Obverse [17:18] o 1818–o 1818 | May [my (personal) goddess] stand at my left (side). |
| Obverse [18:19] o 1919–o 1919 | May a favorable protective spirit [. . . be joi]ned to me. |
| Obverse [19:20] o 2020–o 2020 | Generously bestow on me [. . .] and accepting. |
| Obverse [20:21] o 2121–o 2121 | May the word that I spe[ak] be [effe]ctive. |
| Obverse [21:22] o 2222–o 2222 | O son of the great prince, [. . .], give me [li]fe! |
| Obverse [22:23] o 2323–o 2323 | Before you faithfully [. . .] may I fully enjoy! |
| Obverse [23:24] o 2424–o 2424 | May Shazu, rejoice over [you]; may [Nudim]mud be glad on your account. |
| Obverse [24:25] o 2525–o 2525 | May the gods of heaven [and earth] greet you. |
| Obverse [25:26] o 2626–o 2626 | May the heavens [. . .] celebrate you. |
| Obverse [26:27] o 2727–o 2727 | [. . .] the great gods [. . .] . |
| Obverse [27:28] o 2828–o 2828 | [. . .] Tashmetu [. . .] |
| Obverse [28:29] o 2929–o 2929 | In (temple [name) . . .] |
| Obverse [29:30] o 3030–o 3030 | It is the wording of [a lifted-hand prayer to Nabu]. |
| Obverse [30:31] o 3131–o 3131 | Its ritual: Two silas of flour . [. . .] |
| Obverse [31:32] o 3232–o 3232 | You mi[x] aromatic resin together with flour [. . .] |
| Obverse [32:33] o 3333–o 3333 | You libate first-rate beer; you mix (it) up, and [you recite] th[is] incantation . . .] . . |
| Obverse [33:34] o 3434–o 3434 | You set out his ration, and [. . .] is accepted. |
| Obverse [34:35] o 3535–o 3535 | Incantation-enuru: O [foremost] sa[ge, wise], knowledgeable one, |
| Obverse [35:36] o 3636–o 3636 | Exalted god, son of Shazu, |
| Obverse [36:37] o 3737–o 3737 | O Nabu, foremost sage, wise, knowledgeable one, |
| Obverse [37:38] o 3838–o 3838 | Exalted god, son of Shazu, |
| Obverse [38:39] o 3939–o 3939 | Who holds the bond of the heavens and earth, |
| Obverse [39:40] o 4040–o 4040 | Firstborn son of the Esagila, |
| Obverse [40:41] o 4141–o 4141 | Offspring of Marduk, king of the gods, |
| Obverse [41:42] o 4242–o 4242 | For whom the pure mountains (and) the wide sea are subject, |
| Obverse [42:43] o 4343–o 4343 | The I[gigi]-gods attend to his command. |
| Obverse [43:44] o 4444–o 4444 | Who provides abundance to Esagila [. . .] |
| Obverse [44:45] o 4545–o 4545 | Who holds the incense censer [. . .] |
| Obverse [45:46] o 4646–o 4646 | Who reveals vast intelligence, extra [. . .] |
| Reverse [0:1] r 1r 1–r 1r 1 | For whom [. . .] your name [. . .]. |
| Reverse [1:2] r 22–r 22 | For whom [. . .] your [. . .]. |
| Reverse [2:3] r 33–r 33 | Who saves the lives of a[ll the people . . .] |
| Reverse [3:4] r 44–r 44 | [. . .] with the anger of god and [king . . .] . [. . .]. |
| Reverse [4:5] r 55–r 55 | In his gate [. . .] . . . [. . .] |
| Reverse [5:6] r 66–r 66 | [.] . . . my [. . .] you subju[gated]. |
| Reverse [6:7] r 77–r 77 | The strong, the rebellious [you tur]n into clay. |
| Reverse [7:8] r 88–r 88 | Over the destitute . [. . .] you place a shelter. |
| Reverse [8:9] r 99–r 99 | You decide [the case of] the poor, the wronged. |
| Reverse [9:10] r 1010–r 1010 | I, so-and-so, son of so-and-so [. . . the servant, who re]veres you, |
| Reverse [10:11] r 1111–r 1111 | Sickness has confronted m[e. In your presence] I am bowed [down]. |
| Reverse [11:12] r 1212–r 1212 | With depression and lamen[tation . . .] (my) stature. |
| Reverse [12:13] r 1313–r 1313 | My [l]ife [has been cut short] on account of sorrow (lit. evil of the heart). |
| Reverse [13:14] r 1414–r 1414 | Mouth and tongue . . [. . .] my [. . .] |
| Reverse [14:15] r 1515–r 1515 | In these days, [. . . at your feet I b]ow down. |
| Reverse [15:16] r 1616–r 1616 | I stand before you. [I have turned to] your [divini]ty. |
| Reverse [16:17] r 1717–r 1717 | May your good protection, [your] forgive[ness . . . b]e over me. |
| Reverse [17:18] r 1818–r 1818 | May my path be favorable; may [my] w[ay] be straight. |
| Reverse [18:19] r 1919–r 1919 | Make (my) route straight with my feet. |
| Reverse [19:20] r 2020–r 2020 | O lord, my god, be at peace with me. |
| Reverse [20:21] r 2121–r 2121 | O Nabu, lord, my god, be at peace with me. |
| Reverse [21:22] r 2222–r 2222 | During the watch of the night, may my dreams be favorable. |
| Reverse [22:23] r 2323–r 2323 | Mercy, supplication, dignity, a divine guardian, |
| Reverse [23:24] r 2424–r 2424 | Speaking, hearing: Establish (these things) for me. |
| Reverse [24:25] r 2525–r 2525 | By order of your gre[at] divinity, may I live; may I be at peace, that |
| Reverse [25:26] r 2626–r 2626 | I may praise you to the [far-flun]g people[e]. |
| Reverse [26:27] r 2727–r 2727 | It is the wording of a [lifted-hand prayer] to Nabu. |
| Reverse [27:28] r 2828–r 2828 | Its ritual: You do (the ritual) [with either a ritual assemblage or with a cen]ser. |
| Reverse [28:29] r 2929–r 2929 | Incantation: O [Nabu, foremost one, son of] Tutu. |
| Reverse [29:30] r 3030–r 3030 | Palace of [. . .] of Ashur, |
| Reverse [30:31] r 3131–r 3131 | who trusts [. . .], |
| Reverse [31:32] r 3232–r 3232 | to whom [. . .] gave [. . .], |
| Reverse [32:33] r 3333–r 3333 | (who) has ac[hieved . . . scriba]l art, |
| Reverse [33:34] r 3434–r 3434 | which [. . . befo]re me [. . . ], |
| Reverse [34:35] r 3535–r 3535 | which [. . . had not lea]rned, |
| Reverse [35:36] r 3636–r 3636 | the wisd[om . . . as many as ther]e are. |
| Reverse [36:37] r 3737–r 3737 | [I . . . checked] . . . on tablet[s]. |
| Reverse [37:38] r 3838–r 3838 | [I dep]osited (it) [. . .] for [my] readi[ng . . .]. |
| Reverse [38:39] r 3939–r 3939 | The one who trusts [. . .], Ashur. |
| Reverse [39:40] r 4040–r 4040 | Whoever carries (this tablet) off [. . . w]rites [. . .], |
| Reverse [40:41] r 4141–r 4141 | may Ashur and [Ninlil] overthrow him in fierce [rage]. |
| Reverse [41:42] r 4242–r 4242 | May his name (and) his seed disappear from the land. |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| 1 | EN₂ NUN SAG.KAL bu-kur₂ {d}TU.TU | |
| 2 | MAS.SU₃{u} i-te-ep-šu₂ i-lit-ti {d}PAP.NUN.NA.AN.KI | |
| 3 | {d}AG na-aš₂ ṭup-ši-mat DINGIR-MEŠ a-šir E₂.SAG.ILA₂ | |
| 4 | EN E₂.ZI.DA ṣu-lul BAD₃.SI.AB.BA{ki} | |
| 5 | na-ram {d}nu-dim₂-mud qa-i-šu₂ TI.LA | |
| 6 | SAG.KAL ŠU.AN.NA na-ṣi-ru na-piš-ti | |
| 7 | an-du-ul da-ad₂-mi KAR UN-MEŠ EN eš-re-ti | |
| 8 | zi-kir-ka ina KA UN-MEŠ šu-ṭub₂-ba {d}LAMA₃ | |
| 9 | DUMU NUN GAL {d}AMAR.UTU ina INIM-ka kit-ti | |
| 10 | ina si₃-ik-ri-ka DUGUD ina qi₂-bit DINGIR{ti}ka GAL{ti} | |
| 11 | ana-ku NENNI A NENNI mar-ṣu šum-ru-ṣu IR₃-ka | |
| 12 | ša₂ ŠU.GIDIM₃.MA UŠ₁₁.BUR₂.RU.DA NAM.RIM DAB{ni}ma UŠ.UŠ{ni} | |
| 13 | lu-ub₂-luṭ lu-uš-lim-ma ⸢e-ma⸣ a-kap-pu-du KUR{ud} | |
| 14 | šu-uš-kin₂ kit-[tu] ina KA-MU | |
| 15 | šub-ši ⸢INIM⸣ [...] ina ŠA₃-MU | |
| 16 | ti-i-ru u man-⸢za⸣-[zu liq-bu-u] ⸢SIG₅⸣{ti} | |
| 17 | li-iz-ziz ⸢DINGIR⸣-[MU] ⸢ina ZAG⸣-MU | |
| 18 | li-iz-ziz {[d}1(u) 5(diš)-MU] ⸢ina⸣ GUB₃-MU | |
| 19 | {d}ALAD SIG₅{⸢ti⸣} [... li-ra]-⸢kis⸣ KI-MU | |
| 20 | šu-ut-li-ma-am [...] ⸢u⸣ ma-ga-⸢ra⸣ | |
| 21 | si₃-kir a-ta-[mu-u₂ qi₂-bi]-ti liš-⸢lim⸣ | |
| 22 | DUMU NUN GAL{i} [... TI].LA qi₂-⸢šam⸣ | |
| 23 | IGI-ka ki-niš [...] lu-uš-bi | |
| 24 | {d}ŠA₃.ZU HE₂.⸢HUL₂⸣-[ka {d}nu-dim₂]-⸢mud⸣ HE₂.SUD-⸢ka⸣ | |
| 25 | DINGIR-MEŠ ⸢ša₂ AN{e⸣} [u KI{ti₃]} ⸢lik⸣-ru-bu-⸢ka⸣ | |
| 26 | AN{⸢u₂⸣} [...] ⸢li-ša₂-li-lu-ka⸣ | |
| 27 | DINGIR-⸢MEŠ⸣ [...]-⸢x⸣ | |
| 28 | {d}taš-⸢me-tu₄⸣ [...] | |
| 29 | ina E₂-⸢x⸣-[...] | |
| 30 | KA-⸢INIM⸣-[MA ŠU-IL₂-LA₂ {d}AG]-⸢KAM⸣ | |
| 31 | DU₃.DU₃-BI 2(diš) ⸢SILA₃ ZI₃.DA x⸣ [...] | |
| 32 | ŠIM.GIG KI ZI₃.DA 1(diš){eš} HE.[HE ...] | |
| 33 | KAŠ SAG BAL{qi₂} HE.HE-ma EN₂ ⸢an⸣-[ni-tu₄ 3(diš)-šu₂ ŠID{nu}ma ...]-⸢x⸣-me | |
| 34 | ŠUK-su GAR-ma mah-rat ⸢x⸣ [...]-i | |
| 35 | EN₂ E₂.NU.RU ap-kal-[lu SAG.KAL er-šu] ⸢ZU⸣{u₂} | |
| 36 | DINGIR MAH ⸢a-pil {d⸣}ŠA₃.ZU | |
| 37 | {d}AG ABGAL SAG.⸢KAL⸣ er-⸢šu⸣ ZU{u₂} | |
| 38 | ⸢DINGIR MAH⸣ a-pil {d}ŠA₃.ZU | |
| 39 | ⸢mu-kil⸣ mar-kas AN{e} u KI{ti₃} | |
| 40 | IBILA ⸢reš-tu⸣-u₂ ša₂ E₂.SAG.ILA₂ | |
| 41 | i-lit-ti {d}AMAR.UTU LUGAL DINGIR-MEŠ | |
| 42 | ša a-na qa-tuš-šu₂ DU-⸢ku⸣ hur-ša₂-nu KU₃-MEŠ A.AB.BA-MEŠ DAGAL-MEŠ | |
| 43 | i-na qi₂-bi-tuš-šu₂ u₂-taq-qu-⸢u {d}i₂⸣-[gi₃-gi₃] | |
| 44 | za-nin HE₂.NUN a-na ⸢E₂.SAG.ILA₂⸣ [...] | |
| 45 | mu-kil zi-bi₂ qut-rin-ni [...] | |
| 46 | pe-tu-u₂ GEŠTU₂ DAGAL{tu₄} at-⸢ru⸣ [...] | |
| r | ||
| 1 | ša MU-ka i-[...] | |
| 2 | ša SI-ka id-⸢x⸣-[...] | |
| 3 | KAR{ir} nap-šat ⸢ka⸣-[la UN-MEŠ ...] | |
| 4 | ina uz-zi DINGIR u [LUGAL ...] ⸢x⸣ [x x (x)] | |
| 5 | ⸢ina⸣ KA₂-šu [...] ki di [x (x)] | |
| 6 | [x] ⸢x x x x⸣ [...]-ʾ-a tu-⸢šak⸣-[niš] | |
| 7 | ⸢dan⸣-na ek-ṣa [tu-ta-a]-⸢ar⸣ ana ṭi-di-⸢iš⸣ | |
| 8 | UGU ma-ke-e ⸢x⸣ [...] ta-ša₂-kan AN.DUL₃ | |
| 9 | ša en-ši hab-li₃ [di-in-šu] ta-⸢da⸣-an | |
| 10 | ana-ku NENNI A NENNI [... IR₃ pa]-lih-ka | |
| 11 | NIG₂.GIG im-⸢hur-an⸣-[ni-ma IGI-ka kam]-sa-ku | |
| 12 | ina ku-u₂-ru u ni-[is-sa-ti ...] ⸢la⸣-a-ni | |
| 13 | ina lu-mun ⸢lib₃⸣-[bi ik-tu-ru na]-⸢piš⸣-ti | |
| 14 | KA u EME ka ⸢x⸣ [...]-MU | |
| 15 | ⸢ina⸣ u₄-mi₃ an-ne₂-⸢e⸣ [... ša-pal-ka ak]-mis | |
| 16 | ⸢az⸣-ziz ma-har-⸢ka⸣ [as-sa-hur DINGIR]-⸢ut⸣-ka | |
| 17 | ⸢ṣu⸣-lul-ka DU₁₀.GA ta-a-[a-ra-tu-ka ... lib-ša₂]-a UGU-MU | |
| 18 | ⸢ur⸣-hi lid-mi₃-iq pa-[da-ni] ⸢li⸣-šir | |
| 19 | ⸢kib⸣-sa i-ša₂-ra ⸢šu-kun ina⸣ GIR₃.MIN-MU | |
| 20 | EN DINGIR-MU si-lim it-ti-ia₅ | |
| 21 | {d}AG EN DINGIR-MU si-lim it-ti-ia₅ | |
| 22 | ina šat mu-ši lid-mi₃-qa MAŠ₂.GE₆-MEŠ{u}a | |
| 23 | re-e-ma un-ni-na bal-ta {d}LAMA₃ | |
| 24 | qa-ba-a še-ma-a šuk-ni ia-⸢ši⸣ | |
| 25 | ina qi₂-bit DINGIR{ti}ka ⸢GAL⸣{[ti]} ⸢lu⸣-ub₂-luṭ lu-SILIM-ma | |
| 26 | KA.TAR-MEŠ-ka ana UN-[MEŠ DAGAL]-⸢MEŠ⸣ lud-lul | |
| 27 | KA-INIM-⸢MA⸣ [ŠU-IL₂-LA₂] {⸢d⸣}AG-KAM | |
| 28 | DU₃.DU₃-BI [lu ina KEŠDA lu ina NIG₂].⸢NA⸣ DU₃{uš} | |
| 29 | EN₂ {d}[AG a-ša₂-ri-du bu-kur₂] {d}TU.TU | |
| 30 | E₂.⸢GAL⸣ [...] ⸢AN⸣.ŠAR₂{ki} | |
| 31 | ša [...] ⸢tak⸣-lu₄ | |
| 32 | ša [... iš]-⸢ru⸣-ku-uš | |
| 33 | i-[hu-zu ... ṭup-šar]-ru-ti | |
| 34 | ⸢ša⸣ [... mah]-⸢ri⸣-ia | |
| 35 | mim-⸢ma⸣ [... la i-hu]-zu | |
| 36 | ne₂-me-[eq ... ma-la ba]-⸢aš₂⸣-mu | |
| 37 | ina ṭup-⸢pa⸣-[a-ni ... ab-re-e]-ma | |
| 38 | a-na ta-⸢mar⸣-[ti ... u₂]-⸢kin⸣ | |
| 39 | NIR.GAL₂.ZU [...] ⸢AN⸣.ŠAR₂ | |
| 40 | man-nu ša TUM₃ [... i]-⸢šaṭ⸣-ṭa-ru | |
| 41 | AN.ŠAR₂ u₃ {⸢d⸣}[nin-lil₂ ag-giš ez-zi]-⸢iš⸣ lis-ki-pu-šu₂-ma | |
| 42 | MU-šu₂ NUMUN-šu₂ ⸢ina KUR li⸣-hal-li-qu | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
- electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich · MIT (eBL Zenodo dataset); platform terms unverified · electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich, https://www.ebl.lmu.de/ ; Zenodo dataset (MIT)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.