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CDLI Literary 000788 (Man and his God) composite (P478953)
Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000788 (Man and his God) composite |
|---|---|
| ID | P478953 |
| 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 | lu2-ulu3 nam-mah dingir-ra-na zi-de3-esz-sze3 he2-em-me | May the one who is worthy of the greatness of his god speak kindly. |
| 2 | gurusz-e inim dingir-ra-na ku3-ge-esz he2-em-i-i | May the young man swear by his god that he is pure. |
| 3 | kalam zi?-de-a ug3 dur2-ru-na-bi gu-gin7 ha-ba-si-il-e | May the people who dwell in the true land be made to bow down like a neck. |
| 4 | {gesz}balag di uszur gu5-li-ni ur5 hu-mu-un-na-bur2-e | May the balag drum, the judge, his friend, be released for him |
| 5 | sza3 x he2-eb-hun-e | may he pacify the heart |
| 6 | x he2-ni-in-e3 [...]-bi he2-ni-ib-be2 | May he bring forth ... may he say ... |
| 7 | x x x he2-ag2-e | may he give. |
| 8 | ka i-si-isz gal2-la-ni sza3 dingir-ra-na he2-em-hun-e | May the heart of his god be appeased by his open mouth. |
| 9 | lu2-ulu3 dingir-da nu-me-a u2-gu7 la-ba-ak-e | No one eats food with a god. |
| 10 | gurusz-e a2-ni ki-lul-la hul la-ba-e-ga2-ga2 | The young man will not put an evil arm against his evil arm. |
| 11 | a-nir a2-sag3 du-lum gig-ga u4 im-ma-ni-in-zal | He spent the day in lamentation and bitter wailing. |
| 12 | x x RA nam-tar-e? su-gu7-e x-ge mu-un-ni-ib-te | ... the fate(?) of the one who eats(?) ... approached(?) |
| 13 | x x gig-ga umusz?-bi mu-suh3 x x x-na mu-un-dul | The bitter ... covered its ... |
| 14 | a-ga-e szu hul mu-ni-ib-du11 x x-sze3 | He spoke evil words to me ... |
| 15 | szul-e igi dingir-ra-na | the youth before his god |
| 16 | gurusz-e a2 hul gar-ra-na er2 gig i3-sze8-sze8 | The young man weeps bitterly because of his wrongdoing. |
| 17 | ni2 mu-un-tuku szu-kin si bi2-in-sa2 | He possessed fear, he set up the righteous position. |
| 18 | [...] du-lum-ma-ni KA? A? mi-ni-ib-be2 | ... speaks his praise(?) |
| 19 | [...] sza3 kusz2 si-a-na | ... her furious heart |
| 20 | x x-ni er2 mu-ni-in-gar | ... she wept. |
| 21 | [...] kar-ra [...] | ... at the harbor |
| 22 | [...] er2 gig-ga? mu-un-ga2-ga2 | ... weeps bitterly |
| 23 | [...] mu-na-da-si | ... he filled for him. |
| 24 | [...] mu-na-an-DU mu-na-ab-be2 | ... spoke to him |
| 25 | [...] a-nir mu-ne-du3 | ... he built a stele for them |
| 26 | [...] ur5 usz2-a [...] x |DU.DU| | ... dying ... |
| 27 | [...] mi-ni-in-gar? | ... established(?) |
| 28 | gurusz-me-en zu-me-en nig2-zu-gu10 si nu-mu-da-sa2-e | I am a young man, I know how to make my things right, |
| 29 | zi du11-ga-gu10 lul-sze3 i3-ku4 | My uttered good deeds have turned into falsehood. |
| 30 | lu2-lul-la-ke4 u18-lu mu-un-dul szu-kin mu-un-na-dab5 | The liar covered the wind, he seized him. |
| 31 | a2 nu-zu-gu10 ma-ra-pe-la2-en | I will make it for you with my unceasing arms. |
| 32 | du-lum-ma ki gibil-gibil-la-bi sa12-e-esz mu-e-rig7 | He presented it in a beautiful place. |
| 33 | e2-a u3-mu-un-ku4-re-en ur5 mu-usz2 | In the house I will bring you in, I will kill you. |
| 34 | gurusz-me-en sila-sze3 um-e3-en sza3 mu-un-sag3 | I am a young man, I go out to the street, it shakes my heart. |
| 35 | szul-me-en sipa zi-gu10 mu-da-ib2 igi erim2 mu-un-du8 | I am well; my loyal shepherd passed by, he opened the eye of the enemy. |
| 36 | na-gada-gu10 lu2-erim2 nu-me-en-na a2 hul ma-kin-kin | My fate, because you are not a criminal, you have set an evil arm against me. |
| 37 | du10-sa-gu10 inim gi-na na-ma-ab-be2 | "My good one, do not speak a true word to me!" |
| 38 | gu5-li-gu10 inim zi du11-ga-gu10-usz lul ma-szi-ga2-ga2 | My friend, my righteous words are falsely placed. |
| 39 | lu2-lul-la-ke4 inim tesz2 mu-un-du11 | The liar spoke a word together. |
| 40 | dingir-gu10 nu-mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4-in | My god does not answer me. |
| 41 | umusz-gu10 ba-an-ta-DU-un | (Sum) My ... (Akk) My heart ... |
| 42 | hul-gal2-e inim tesz2 mu-du | The evildoer speaks kindly. |
| 43 | mu-un-ib2-en u4-gin7 mu-un-du3 sza3 hul mu-un-dim2 | He built it like a storm, he fashioned an evil heart for it. |
| 44 | gal-an-zu-me-en szul nu-zu-ra a-na-asz mu-un-na-la2-en | I am a wise one who does not know youth, what will I carry for him? |
| 45 | zu-me-en murub4 lu2 nu-zu-ka a-na-asz mu-un-na-la2-en | I am the one who knows no middle of a man, why do you lie down? |
| 46 | ninda i3-gal2-gal2 su-gu7 ninda-gu10-um | There is food, I want to eat my food. |
| 47 | u4 ug3 szar2-re ha-la ba-ba du-lum ha-la ba-gu10-um | The storm that scattered the many people, the one who took away half of my share, |
| 48 | szesz x x in mu-un-dub2 sza3 hul mu-un-dim2 | The brother screamed, he fashioned an evil heart. |
| 49 | [...] x-ga-gu10 [...] x | My ... |
| 50 | [...] x HU? szu mu-un-zi?-zi? | ... raised(?) |
| 51 | [...] an-da-tum2-mu | ... I want to bring to you |
| 52 | [...] erim2? igi-gal2 nu?-tuku?-e im mu-sar-sar-re | ... who does not have a enemy, writes(?) a tablet |
| 53 | har-ra-an-na DI sumur?-bi x-kin-kin | ... the road |
| 54 | kaskal-la DI? x-la-bi gesz-gin7 mu-un-ku5-e | ... cut off its ... like a tree |
| 55 | ugula-a a-ga [...] x x [...] | This foreman |
| 56 | nu-banda3-gu10 [...] x [...] GA2? [...] | My overseer |
| 57 | dingir-gu10 x [...] igi-zu-sze3 [...] | My god ... before you |
| 58 | ga-mu-ra-ab-du11 er2-gu10 dirig? inim-gu10 sza3-ne-sza4 | I want to speak to you, my tears are surpassing, my words are roaring(?) |
| 59 | ga-ra-ni-ib-du11 a-ra2-ga2 nig2-hul?-bi? gu-gin7 ga-mu-ra-si-il | I want to say to you "I want to make the evil of my way shine for you like a neck"(?) |
| 60 | nig2 ak-en suh3-a-bi x x [...] | (Sum) What you do(?) ... (Akk) That which you do ... |
| 61 | gesz-hur-ga2 gal-an-zu hu-mu-un-x nig2 er2 nu-gul-lu-dam | May he ... your greatness in my design, something that cannot be destroyed. |
| 62 | gu5-li-gu10-ur2 mu-na-an-la2-en | I hung it for him on my neck. |
| 63 | du10-sa-gu10-ur2 a-ga-sze3 mu-un-szi-gi4-in | My sweet, he returns to the water. |
| 64 | a2-sze ama ugu-gu10 er2-gu10 igi-zu-sze3 na-an-gul-e | Because of the power of my birth mother, do not destroy my tears before you! |
| 65 | nin9-gu10 balag di ad du10 na-nam? | My sister, the balaŋ drum, is indeed a good voice(?) |
| 66 | nig2 ak szu hul du11-ga-gu10 er2-ra ha-ra-ni-ib-be2 | May my evil deeds be uttered to you in tears. |
| 67 | dam-gu10 du-lum-gu10 girid2 x ha-ra-ni-ib-pa3-pa3-de3 | May my spouse, my child, find a ... path for you. |
| 68 | nar szir3 zu-e nam-tar gig-ga-gu10 gu-gin7 ha-ra-si-il-e | May the singer, who knows songs, make my bitter fate tremble for you like a neck. |
| 69 | dingir-gu10 kalam-e u4 ba-zalag ga2-ar u4 ma-ku10-ku10 | My god, the day is bright in the land, the night is dark in the city. |
| 70 | u4 zalag-ga u4 hi-da-gin7 x DU x | Bright day, like a bright day ... |
| 71 | er2 a-nir sza3 sag3 ur5 usz2-a sza3-ga mu-un-ga2-ga2 | Weeping, lamenting, wailing, and trembling are placed in my heart. |
| 72 | du-lum-e dumu er2 pa3-da-gin7 szu mu-un-dul-dul-e | The young man covers him like a child covered in tears. |
| 73 | nam-tar-ra szu-ba igi mi-ni-in-kur2 zi-gu10 mi-ni-tum3-tum3 | She looked at the fate that had fallen into her hands, she brought my life. |
| 74 | su-ga2 a2-sag3 nig2 hul gal2-e a im-ma-ni-ib-tu5 | In my body the asag-demon, which is evil, bathed in water. |
| 75 | a-ra2-ga2 nig2-gig-ga-bi szu hul du11-ga-bi | In my ways, its evil utterances, |
| 76 | ma-mu2-da sa6-ga igi li-bi2-du8-ru-un | Look with pleasure upon my beautiful child. |
| 77 | u4 szu2-usz-e masz2-ge6 nu-gar-ra ga2-la nu-mu-ta-dag-ge | At that time, the black-headed ones were not placed, they were not able to pass by. |
| 78 | sza3 sag3-e dam-bi nu-me-en-na gu2-da in-da-la2 a im-mi-x | (Sum) The heart of the one who trembles, you are not its spouse. (Akk) The neck of that one is stretched out, water ... |
| 79 | zarah-e dumu tur-bi nu-me-en-na ur2 mu-ub-tal2-tal2 | The zarah priestess, who is not a small child, stretches out her lap. |
| 80 | a-nir ulu3 ak-gin7 mu-un-se3 szu nu-mu?-[...] | He poured out a libation bowl like a stormwind, he did not ... hands |
| 81 | szesz-gu10 u8-e-a im-ma-ab-du11 | My brother, he spoke to the ewe. |
| 82 | [...] x [...] | |
| 83 | [...] x x ma? DU [...] x x x x AN [...] | ... ... |
| 84 | [...] x x HA? x x I? | ... ... |
| 85 | [...] x x x ba?-sag3-ge-en | I am the one who shakes |
| 86 | [...] x x x x sag? mu-il2 | ... raised his head |
| 87 | [...] zi? mu-ni-in-tum3-tum3? | He brought the righteous(?) |
| 88 | [...] x mu-ni-x [...] | ... ... |
| 89 | [...] x NIG2? x x x x-en | ... ... |
| 90 | [...] x x-pa3-de3? | ... to ... |
| 91 | [...] x im-mi-ib-DU | ... he ... |
| 92 | [...] | |
| 93 | [...] | |
| 94 | [...] | |
| 95 | [...] | |
| 96 | [...] | |
| 97 | [...] | |
| 98 | [...] mu?-sze8-sze8 [...] | ... weeps(?) |
| 99 | dingir-gu10 za-e a-a ugu-gu10-me-en igi-gu10 he2-szi-[...]-il2 | My god, you are my father who begot me, may he raise his eyes towards me |
| 100 | ab2 zi dingir? arhusz-a sza3-ne-sza4 a2 nun he2-[...] | The true cow, the compassionate god, may he be the princely arm |
| 101 | en-na-me-sze3 en3-gu10 nu-tar-re-en ki-gu10 nu-kin-kin-en | How long will you not inquire after me, my place will not be established? |
| 102 | gu4-gin7 ga?-szi-ib-zi nu-mu-ra-ab-zi-ge-en6 | Like an ox, I will not raise it for you(?) |
| 103 | us2 zi nu-mu-ub-dab5-be2-en | I will not seize the right path. |
| 104 | mi-ni-ib-be2-ne szul gal-an-zu-ne inim zi si sa2 | They say to him: “You are a great young man, your righteous word is right. |
| 105 | u4 na-me dumu nam-tag nu-tuku ama-a-ni nu-tu-u4 | There is no day, no child has sin, his mother does not give birth. |
| 106 | kusz2 la-ba-sa2 erin2 nam-tag nu-tuku ul-ta nu-gal2-la-am3 | The labor-troops have no sin, they have no inheritance. |
| 107 | dingir-gu10 ha-lam-ma nig2 sag-bi-sze3 mu-da-ab-su3-da-gu10 | My god, destroyed, because of what is on its head, |
| 108 | nig2 bur2-ra x-bi igi-zu-sze3 ge26-e bi2-ak-a-gu10 | My ... that was poured before you. |
| 109 | gurusz na-an-sze6-ge26 ku3-zu-a inim hi-li-a he2-ni-be7 | Do not let a young man approach, may he speak a word of pleasure to your holy heart. |
| 110 | u4 nu-sikil a2-ga2 nu2-a-ga2 igi-zu-sze3 ha-ba-ab-dib-be2-en | May you pass the time in your presence when the young woman lies down at my side. |
| 111 | nu-ku3-ug nu-dadag-gu10-ne iri silim-ba ha-ba-tag-ge-en | When I am not pure, not bright, I shall touch the city in peace. |
| 112 | u4 ib2-ba sza3 hul du3-a zu inim hi-li-a he2-ni-be7 | May the angry storm, whose heart is made evil, speak a pleasant word to you. |
| 113 | u4 su-mu-ug x tab2-tab2-ba zu e-ne hul2-la hu-mu-du11 | May he say “At that time, when you have smeared yourself with ..., may he rejoice over me. |
| 114 | dingir-gu10 x x nam-tag-gu10 igi-gu10 u3-mi-zu | My god, ... my sin, before me, know it! |
| 115 | ka2 iri?-ka ha-lam-ma-bi dili bad-bi ga-am3-du11 | I want to say “the gate of the city is destroyed, the outer wall is alone’ |
| 116 | gurusz-me-en ka tar nam-tag-gu10 igi-zu-sze3 ga-si-il | I am a young man, I want to bring the mouth of my sin before you. |
| 117 | ukken-e u2-KU muru9-gin7 hu-mu-ub-szeg3-szeg3-e | May the assembly tremble like a cloud! |
| 118 | e2-zu ama sza3-ne-sza4-gu10 er2-gu10 he2-sze8-x [...] | Your temple, my mother whose heart is enraged, may my tears ... |
| 119 | szul-me-en arhusz sza3-ne-sza4-a-gu10 sza3? ku3-zu he2-em-mi-tuku | I am well-being, my heart/heart(?) is pacified(?), may your holy heart be present |
| 120 | gurusz-me-en sza3 i-zi ni2 ri-a-zu ki-bi ha-ma-gi4-gi4 | I am a young man, may your angry heart and fearsomeness be restored for me. |
| 121 | lu2-ulu3 er2 gig-ga szesz2-a-ni dingir-ra-ni gesz ba-an-tuku-am3 | The one who weeps bitterly, his brother, his god, listens. |
| 122 | gurusz-ra a-nir gal2 i-si-isz la2-la2-a-ni sza3 dingir-ra-na u3-mu-un-na-hun | For the young man, he screamed bitterly, in the heart of his god he calmed him. |
| 123 | inim zi inim ku3-ga du11-ga-ni dingir-ra-ni szu ba-szi-in-ti | The true word, the holy word that he spoke, his god accepted. |
| 124 | gurusz-e inim a-ra-zu-a mi-ni-in-zu-a-ni | The young man has said a prayer. |
| 125 | szudu3 ku3-ug su dingir-ra-na-ka i3 li i3-ak | He performed the holy šudug ritual in the lap of his god. |
| 126 | dingir-ra-ni inim hul-gal2-ta szu-ni ba-ra-an-gid2 | (Sum) His god did not turn his hand away from the evil word (Akk) His personal god was turned away by a bad word |
| 127 | sza3 sag3-ge dam-bi nu-me-en-na gu2 in-da-la2-e a szegx(|IM.A|) im-ma-ab-x | The heart of the one who is afflicted, because you are not its spouse, he ... a sigh of rain. |
| 128 | zarah-e a2 mu-ni-tal2-tal2-la lil2-sze3 im-mi-in-sag3 | She stretched out her arms and struck her with a wind. |
| 129 | a-nir URU{ki} ak-gin7 mu-un-se3-ga sug-ge4 im-mi-in-gu7 | The herald of the city, like one who has done it, eats the marshes. |
| 130 | nam-tar-ra su-a-na mu-un-gal2-la bu3 mu-na-an-ak | He put the fate of her body in her lap, he made her do it for her. |
| 131 | gurusz-a du-lum-ma-ni hul2-la mu-ni-in-ku4 | He brought joy to the young man, his son. |
| 132 | {d}udug saga ka?-e en-nu-ug3 ak maszkim mu-un-da-an-tab | The good udug-demon in the mouth (?) guarded the guard |
| 133 | {d}lamma-{d}lamma igi sa6 mu-na-an-szum2 | Lamma-Lamma gave him a beautiful face. |
| 134 | gurusz-e nam-mah dingir-ra-na zi-de3-esz-sze3 im-me | The young man speaks to the greatness of his god as if it were true. |
| 135 | [...] x mi-ni-ib-e3-esz? [...] e? bi2-zu-zu [...] | ... came out(?) ... knew(?) |
| 136 | [...]-te-en-te-en | (Sum) ... calms down(?) (Akk) You calm down ... |
| 137 | za-da nir ha-ba-an-gal2 [...]-ba zi-bi ga-i-i? | May he be present for you, I want to proclaim its life |
| 138 | x x za-ra {d}utu e3-gin7 igi-gu10 he2-mu-e-szi-ni-gal2 | ... for you, may Utu be present before me like a rising sun. |
| 139 | {d}nin-mah UN geszkim ti-la-gin7 a2 nun he2-me-te-gal2 | Ninmaḫ, like a sign of life, may the princely arm be present. |
| 140 | dingir-gu10 igi zi nam-ti-la-zu su3-u4-sze3 he2-me-du8 | My god, look faithfully upon me for your long life. |
| 141 | x x nam-kal? ku3-ku3-ga-zu du10-ge?-esz2 ga-an-pa3-pa3 | I want to praise your holy mighty ... |
| 142 | sza3 x x a zi-zu ki?-bi ha-ma-gi4-gi4 | May your true heart be restored for me |
| 143 | nam-tag-gu10 he2-mu-e-du8 | May my sin be released. |
| 144 | sza3-zu? ha-ma-hun?-e | May your heart be appeased(?) |
| 145 | gesz-gi4-gal2 | a kind of reed fence |
| 146 | er2-sza3-ne-sza4 | weeping |
| 147 | dingir lu2-ulu3-kam | the god of mankind |
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.