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CDLI Literary 000333 (Enki and Ninmah) composite (P469515)
Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000333 (Enki and Ninmah) composite |
|---|---|
| ID | P469515 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| surface a | ||
| 1 | u4 re-a-ta u4 an ki-bi-ta ba-an-dim2-ma-ba | At that time, when heaven and earth had been fashioned |
| 2 | ge6 re-a-ta ge6 an ki-bi-ta ba-an-dim2-ma-ba | After the night had passed, when heaven and earth had been fashioned |
| 3 | mu re-a-ta mu nam ba-tar-ra-ba | From the beginning of the year, when the fates were determined |
| 4 | {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne ba-tu-u4-da-a-ba | When the Anuna gods were born |
| 5 | {d}ama-{d}inanna nam-|NIR.PA|-sze3 ba-tuku-a-ba | when Ama-Inanna had acquired for a scepter |
| 6 | {d}ama-{d}inanna an ki-a ba-hal-hal-la-a-ba | When Ama-Inanna was split apart in heaven and earth |
| 7 | {d}ama-{d}inanna [...] ba-a-pesz u3-tu-da-a-ba | When Ama-Inanna was born |
| 8 | dingir kurum6-ma-bi A x x unu2?-bi-sze3 ba-ab-kesz2-a-ba | When the god ... its food offerings to its dining hall |
| 9 | dingir szar2-szar2 kin-ga2 al-su8-ge-esz dingir tur-tur du2-lum im-il2-il2-e-ne | The numerous gods stand at my work, the small gods carry fruit. |
| 10 | dingir i7 im-dun-dun-u3-ne sahar-bi ha-ra-li im-dub-dub-be2-ne | The gods dug the river, they heaped up its dust for you. |
| 11 | dingir im-ar3-ar3-re-ne zi-bi inim am3-ma-gar-re-ne | The gods are shouting, they are uttering a word. |
| 12 | u4-ba gesztu2 dagal mud dingir szar2-szar2 gal2-gal2 | At that time, wisdom, broad understanding, numerous gods, |
| 13 | {d}en-ki-ke4 engur buru3 a-sur-ra ki dingir na-me sza3-bi u6 nu-um-me | Enki does not adorn its interior with the engur and buru offerings of the deep, the place of the god. |
| 14 | ki-nu2-ni i3-nu2 u3 ku nu-um-zi-zi | She lies down in her bed and does not rise up. |
| 15 | dingir er2-ra im-pad-pad-ne a-nir gal2 i3-ak im-me-ne | The gods were weeping, they were singing a lament. |
| 16 | lu2 ku-ra i3-nu2-a-ra ki-nu2-bi nu-um-zi-zi-ra | For the one who lies down in the shackles, its bed cannot be raised. |
| 17 | {d}namma-ke4 ama igi-du u3-tu dingir szar2-szar2-ra-ke4-ne | Namma, the mother who sees, the birth mother of all the gods |
| 18 | er2-ra dingir-re-e-ne dumu-ni-ir ba-szi-in-de6 | He brought the tears of the gods to his child. |
| 19 | x mu-un-szi-nu2-u3-nam u3 mu-un-szi-ku-ku-na-nam | She lies down ... and lies down. |
| 20 | x TE ba [...] nu-mu-un-zi-zi | ... did not rise. |
| 21 | dim3-me2-er szu dim2-dim2-ma-zu x gu2?-bi im-tu10-tu10-ne | (Sum) The gods, your creations, roar(?) (Akk) Your gods roar |
| 22 | du5-mu-gu10 ki-nu2-zu zi-ga i-bi2 ma-al-la-zu-ta na-ag2-ku3-zu u3-mu-e-kin-ga2 | My son, rise from your bed, when you have seen your face, set your fate for me! |
| 23 | kin-se3 dim3-me2-er-e-ne-ke4 u3-mu-e-dim2 du2-lum-bi ha-ba-tu-lu-ne | The work of the gods, the lords, may they multiply their wages. |
| 24 | {d}en-ki-ke4 inim ama-na {d}namma-ke4 ki-nu2-na ba-ta-zi | Enki raised the words of his mother and Namma in his bedroom. |
| 25 | hal-an-ku3 nigin2 sza3 kusz2-u3-da-na hasz im-mi-ni-ra | In his wailing heart he cries out a lament |
| 26 | gesztu2 gizzal en3 tar [...] nam-ku3-zu mud me-dim2 nig2-nam-ma SIG7-EN SIG7-HI im-ta-an-e3 | (Sum) The wisdom of the reed-bed, ... (Akk) Your wisdom and wisdom, the mud of the me-dim, everything, he brought forth(?) |
| 27 | {d}en-ki-ke4 a2-ni ba-szi-in-de6 gesztu2 i3-ni10-ni10-e | Enki brought his arms and he was listening. |
| 28 | {d}en-ki-ke4 mud me-dim2 ni2-te-a-na sza3-bi gesztu2-ta u3-mu-ni-de5-ge | Enki, the blood of his own creation, he has brought it to him by means of wisdom. |
| 29 | ama-ni {d}namma-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e | His mother called Namma |
| 30 | ama-gu10 mud mu-gar-ra-zu i3-gal2-la-am3 zub-sag3 dingir-re-e-ne kesz2-i3 | My mother, the blood that you put in your body is there, it is a šubbsaŋ of the gods. |
| 31 | sza3 im ugu abzu-ka u3-mu-e-ni-in-szar2 | You have made the heart of the water that flows over the Abzu surpassing. |
| 32 | SIG7-EN SIG7-HI im mu-e-kir3-kir3-re-ne za-e me-dim2 u3-mu-e-ni-gal2 | (Sum) ... they make clay ... (Akk) You, you are the one who makes clay .... |
| 33 | {d}nin-mah-e an-ta-zu he2-ak-e | Ninmaḫ may he act above you |
| 34 | {d}nin-imma3 {d}szu-zi-an-na {d}nin-ma-da {d}nin-bara2 | Ninimma Šuziana Ninmada Ninbara |
| 35 | {d}nin-mug {d}SAR-SAR-GAB {d}nin-gun3-na | Ninmug, SAR-SAR-GAB, Ninguna |
| 36 | tu-tu-a-zu ha-ra-gub-bu-ne | may they stand for you in your womb. |
| 37 | ama-gu10 za-e nam-bi u3-mu-e-tar {d}nin-mah zub-sag3-bi he2-kesz2 | My mother, you decreed this fate for me, may Ninmaḫ bind its seizure. |
| 38 | [...] i3-du3 nam-lu2-ulu3 [...] | ... built, humanity ... |
| 39 | [...]-ke4? nam-lu2-ulu3 am3-ma-[...] | ... humanity |
| 40 | [...] HA? sag-e sag am3-ma-[...] | ... the head ... |
| 41 | [...] dim2-zu unu6 RI-zu ga-a-am3 | ... I want to ... your design in the dining hall. |
| 42 | [...] SAR-e gesz-nu11 mi-ni-in-il2 nam-lu2?-ulu3 [...] | ... raised the bed, humanity |
| 43 | [...] sag2 numun2-e mi-ni-in-ri u3-tu na-bi mu-de5 | ... struck the seed and gave birth to a child. |
| 44 | {d}en-ki-ke4 kin ni10-ni10-da x mi-ni-in-la2 sza3-bi ba-hul2 | Enki has sat down and rejoiced over the work that he had done. |
| 45 | ama-ni {d}namma {d}nin-mah-sze3 geszbun na-am3-ma-ni-in-gar | His mother, Namma, placed a banquet for Ninmah. |
| 46 | gu2 SIG7-EN SIG7-HI nun-ne-ke4 nam-tar gi sag ninda i-im-gu7-e | (Sum) He eats reed, he drinks ... (Akk) The ... of the prince ... Namtar ... |
| 47 | an-e {d}en-lil2-bi en {d}nu-dim2-mud-e masz ku3 i-im-sze6-sze6 | An and Enlil the lord Nudimmud the pure goat brought. |
| 48 | dingir szar2-szar2-ra-ke4-e-ne ka tar i-im-si-il-le-ne | The multitude of gods ... |
| 49 | en gesztu2 dagal-la a-ba-a gesztu2 i3-de5-ge | Lord, who can know of you in depth? |
| 50 | en gal {d}en-ki-ke4 nig2 ak-ak-zu-sze3 a-ba-a i3-se3-ge | Great lord Enki, who will oppose your acts? |
| 51 | a-a tu-da-gin7 me nam tar-tar-ra me za-e al-me-en-na | Like a birth father who decrees fates, you are the divine powers. |
| 52 | {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-e kasz im-na8-na8-ne sza3-bi ul mu-un-te | Enki and Ninmah libate beer for him, and he soothes his heart. |
| 53 | {d}nin-mah-e {d}en-ki-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e | Ninmah spoke to Enki: |
| 54 | me-dim2 na-ag2-lu2-ulu3-ta sa6-ge hul ma-al-la-a-kam | It is the mold of humanity that destroys good and evil. |
| 55 | ki sza3 gi4-a-gu10 na-ag2-tar bi2-ib-se3-ge bi2-ib-hul-e | My place of rejoicing, he decreed fate and destroyed it. |
| 56 | {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-e mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 | Enki replied to Ninmah: |
| 57 | nam-tar sza3-ge de6-a-zu sa6-ge hul ma-al ga-am3-szi-ib2-la2 | I want to bring about the evil fate of your encircling heart. |
| 58 | {d}nin-mah-e im ugu abzu-a szu-ni mu-ni-in-ti | Ninmah took hold of the clay on the Abzu. |
| 59 | lu2 gi szu szu2-szu2 sa2-sa2-de3 nu-gam lu2-u3 am3-ma-ni-in-dim2 | A man who does not bring in the reed bundles, he fashioned it for him. |
| 60 | {d}en-ki-ke4 lu2 gi szu szu2-szu2 sa2-sa2-de3 nu-gam igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, the one whose reeds are torn out, is not able to bring them down, because of his being seen |
| 61 | nam-bi i-ni-in-tar sag lugal-la-ke4 am3-ma-ni-in-gub | Its fate has been decided, the head of the king has stood by it. |
| 62 | gi4-bi gesz-nu11 gi4-gi4 lu2 u6-e am3-ma-ni-in-dim2 | Its reedbeds, the bed, a man fashioned it for the uŋa bird |
| 63 | {d}en-ki-ke4 gesz-nu11 gi4-gi4 lu2 u6-e igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, turn back the darkness, the one who sees the light |
| 64 | nam-bi i-ni-in-tar nam-nar mi-ni-in-ba | He decreed its fate, he decreed the fate of the singer. |
| 65 | x gal uszumgal-la igi lugal-la-ke4 am3-ma-ni-in-gub | The great ..., the dragon, stands before the king. |
| 66 | pesz-bi giri3 2(disz) hum giri3 dab5-ba-a am3-ma-ni-in-dim2 | He fashioned its peš-tree with two feet and a foot that was seized. |
| 67 | {d}en-ki-ke4 giri3 2(disz) hum giri3 dab5-ba igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, with his two foot-stools and feet seized, |
| 68 | kin [...] ku3-babbar-dim2 me-lam2-ma-ni am3-ma-ni-in-x | The work ... the silversmith ... his radiance |
| 69 | pesz-gi lu2 a sur-sur-ra am3-ma-ni-dim2 | The pešgi-drum, a man fashioned a lapis lazuli vessel. |
| 70 | {d}en-ki-ke4 lu2 a sur-sur-ra igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, when he looked at the man in distress, |
| 71 | a mu7-mu7 mi-ni-in-tu5 nam-tar su-bi am3-ma-ni-in-zi | She bathed in water, she raised her body in fate. |
| 72 | pesz-pesz-gi munus nu-u3-tu am3-ma-ni-in-dim2 | She fashioned a woman who no longer lives. |
| 73 | {d}en-ki-ke4 munus nu-u3-tu igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, having looked at the woman who has not given birth, |
| 74 | nam-bi mi-ni-in-tar e2-mi2-a-ke4 am3-ma-ni-in-du3 | He decreed its fate and built the Emi. |
| 75 | pesz-bala-gi lu2 su-ba gesz3 nu-gar gal4-la nu-gar am3-ma-ni-dim2 | Peš-balaŋi, the one of the street, fashioned a scepter that cannot be altered and a galla-demon cannot be changed. |
| 76 | {d}en-ki-ke4 lu2 su-ba gesz3 nu-gar gal4-la nu-gar igi du8-a-ni-ta | Enki, the one who does not place a scepter, does not put a galla demon in front of him |
| 77 | {d}nibru{ki} tiru?-e mu-e mu-ni-in-sa4-a | Nippur named it “Tiru,' |
| 78 | igi lugal-la-ke4 gub-bu-de3 nam-bi a-ma-ni-in-tar | In order to stand before the king, he decreed its fate. |
| 79 | {d}nin-mah-e im nigin2 szu-na ki-a mu-un-szub lul-asz lib mu-un-gar | Ninmaḫ abandoned all the clay in her hands on earth, she abandoned it falsely. |
| 80 | en gal {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-a-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e | The great lord Enki spoke to Ninmah. |
| 81 | lu2 szu dim2-ma-zu-sze3 nam-bi i-ni-in-tar ninda i-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for the man who created you, he gave bread to him. |
| 82 | ge26-e ga-na ga-mu-ra-ab-dim2 za-e u3-tu-bi nam-bi tar-ra-ab | I want to make it perfect for you, but you, when you give birth, determine its fate. |
| 83 | {d}en-ki-ke4 me-dim2 sag-ga2 x-ga? ka sza3-ba a-ma-ni-dim2 | Enki has fashioned a head-rope, a ... mouth in its midst |
| 84 | {d}nin-mah-a-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e | He spoke to Ninmaḫ: |
| 85 | a gesz3 ak sza3 munus-a-ka ri-a | “Woe, you did the work in the heart of a woman! |
| 86 | {d}nin-mah [...] u3-tu-bi-sze3 am3-mi-ni-gub | Ninmah stood at its birth. |
| 87 | munus-bi u4-bi [...] ga asz x KA sza3-ba i-in-szub | Its woman, its storm ... ... abandoned its inside. |
| 87a | {d}nin-mah [...] i3-si-ig | Ninmah screamed |
| 88 | gi4-bi u4-mu-ul a-za-ad-bi gig-ga ki nam-x-bi gig-ga igi-bi gig-ga gu2-bi gig-ga | Its young woman, the storm, its wails are bitter, its ... is bitter. Its eyes are painful, its neck is painful. |
| 89 | zi til-til ti sur-sur mur gig-ga sza3 gig-ga lipisz gig-ga | Finished life, shattered lung, sick heart, sick liver, |
| 90 | szu-bi a-za-ad la2-la2 ka-bi-sze3 ninda nu-gar murgu2 sag-du ze2-re | (Sum) Its hand is a lamentation song, its mouth is not a bread offering, its head is sweet. (Akk) (Its) hand is an azud song, the lala song. |
| 91 | za3-sze sur giri3 sur-sur a-gar3 nu-DU am3-ma-ni-in-dim2 | He fashioned a šēdu-tree, a rope, and a net for no irrigation ditch. |
| 92 | {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e | Enki spoke to Ninmah: |
| 93 | lu2 szu dim2-ma-zu nam i-ni-in-tar ninda mi-ni-szum2 | He decreed a fate for the one who created you, and gave you bread. |
| 94 | za-e lu2 szu dim2-gu10-usz nam-bi tar-ra-ab ninda he2-[...]-szum2 | You, the one who has sworn my name, may he give food to you. |
| 95 | {d}nin-mah-e u4-mu-ul igi du8-a-ni-ta e-ne-sze3 ba-e-gi4 | Ninmaḫ turned away from the storm that had seen her. |
| 96 | u4-mu-ul mu-na-te en3 mu-na-tar-tar-re du11-ga nu-zu-e | The storm approached him, he inquired after him, but did not know what he said. |
| 97 | ninda gu7-a-ni-sze3 mu-na-ab-de6 szu nu-mu-na-da-gid2-de3 | She brought her food for her, but she did not give her a hand to hold her. |
| 98 | {gesz}gur8-u6 sza3? nu-mu-na-nu2 nu-mu-da-an-gal2-gal2 | The guru tree did not lay down for him, it did not exist for him |
| 99 | gub nu-mu-da-tusz nu-mu-da-nu2 e2 nu-mu-da-x ninda nu-mu-da-gu7 | She does not sit with me, she does not lie with me. She no longer ... the house, she did not eat bread. |
| 100 | {d}nin-mah-e {d}en-ki-ra inim-ma mu-[...]-gi4-gi4 | Ninmah replied to Enki: |
| 101 | lu2 szu dim2-ma-zu lu2 ti-la in-nu lu2 ug5-ga in-nu il2-bi nu-mu-da | (Sum) The one who is fashioned by you, the one who lives, lies down (Akk) The man who is made to lie down, the person who is dead lies down Its lifting is not known |
| 102 | {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-e mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 | Enki replied to Ninmah: |
| 103 | lu2 gi szu sig-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for a man with thin hands, he gave bread to him. |
| 104 | lu2 gesz-nu11 gi4-gi4-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for the man who is to return the bed, he gave him bread. |
| 105 | lu2 giri3 hum dab5-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for the man who was seized by foot and gave him bread. |
| 106 | lu2 a sur-sur-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for the man of the reedbed, he gave bread to him. |
| 107 | munus nu-u3-tu-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for a woman who has not given birth, he gave her bread. |
| 108 | lu2 su-ba gesz3 nu-gar gal4-la nu-gar-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-szum2 | He decreed a fate for a man who has no scepter, no vagina, and gave him bread. |
| 109 | nin9-gu10 [...] | My sister |
| 110 | [...] | |
| 111 | A [...] | son of |
| 112 | {d}nin-mah-e {d}en-ki-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e | Ninmah spoke to Enki: |
| 113 | ag2-ga2 [...] | What ... |
| 114 | ag2-ga2 [...] | What ... |
| 115 | ma A [...] | ... ... |
| 116 | ag2-ga2 [...] | What ... |
| 117 | ag2-ga2 [...] | What ... |
| 118 | ag2-ga2 x [...] | What ... |
| 119 | [...] | |
| 120 | [...] | |
| 121 | [...] x x DU [...] | ... ... |
| 122 | [...] NI DU ag2 TAG-sze3 mu-ni-in-ku4-re | ... brought in ... for him. |
| 123 | a2-sze3 an nu-mu-e-tusz ki nu-mu-e-tusz i-bi2 il2-la-zu ka-na-ag2-ga2 nu-e3-en | You do not dwell on earth, you do not sit on earth. Your raised eye does not leave the land. |
| 124 | ki za-e nu-tusz-en e2-gu10 du3-a inim-zu mu nu-tuku | Where you do not dwell, my house built, your words have no name. |
| 125 | ki za-e nu-ti-en iri-gu10 du3-a nig2-gu10 lib ba-si-ge-en | (Sum) You do not dwell in the place where you live (Akk) You did not dwell (in) my built-up city, my possessions have been destroyed |
| 126 | iri-gu10 gel-le-eg3-ga2 e2-gu10 gul-la du5-mu-gu10 | My city that has been destroyed, my destroyed house, my child! |
| 127 | lu2-kar-ra-gen e2-kur-ta e3-gen | I am the fugitive, I go out from the Ekur. |
| 128 | u4 me-e nig2-gu10 szu-zu-ta szu la-ba-ra-e3 | When I did not release my possessions from your hands, |
| 129 | {d}en-ki-ke4 {d}nin-mah-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 | Enki replied to Ninmah: |
| 130 | inim ka-zu e3-a a-ba-a i3-kur2-re | Who will change the word that you speak? |
| 131 | u4-mu-ul x TU dab5-ba ur2-zu-ta szu gal2-ab-ta | The storm that seized ... from your lap ... |
| 132 | {d}nin-mah? kin-ga2-zu he2-bi2-la2-la2 szu nu-du7 ma-dab5 a-ba-am3 sag mu-un-ga2-ga2 | Ninmaḫ, may your work be carried off. Who seized me? Who placed my head there? |
| 133 | lu2 me?-dim2?-gu10 egir-zu-sze3 tuku-a ka-bi szu he2-bi2-gal2 | My one who has fashioned me, may its mouth be open behind you. |
| 134 | u4-da gesz3-gu10 me-tesz2 ha-ba-i-i gesztu2 de5-ge-zu he2-gal2 | “At that time, may my mind be attentive, may there be wisdom for you. |
| 135 | enkum ninkum | enkum ninkum |
| 136 | u4 x giri3 szub-szub gu2 nam-bi-[...] ka tar-zu he2-si-il-le-ne | When ... fell, their necks and necks ..., they shall raise your mouth. |
| 137 | nin9-gu10 a2 nam-ur-sag-ga2 [...] DU | My sister, the strength of heroism ... |
| 138 | szir3 [...] nam-dub? [...] | Song of ..., the scribal art |
| 139 | dingir gesz tuku-a-bi u4-mu-ul du3? [...] e2-gu10 he2-ak-e | May the one who listens to the deity(?) build my house today(?) |
| 140 | {d}nin-mah-e en gal {d}en-ki-ke4 za3 nu-mu-ni-in-sza4 | Ninmaḫ, the great lord of Enki, did not raise a hand. |
| 141 | a-a {d}en-ki za3-mi2-zu du10-ga | Father Enki, your praise is sweet |
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
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-18.