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Enki's journey to Nibru (Q000335)

Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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Designation	Enki's journey to Nibru
ID	Q000335
Language	Sumerian
Period	Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
Genre	Literary
Find spot	Nippur
Coordinates	32.1271, 45.2300

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)

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)
1	ud re-a nam ba-tar-ra-ba	In those days when fate was determined,
2	mu he₂-ŋal₂ an u₃-tud-da	year: “May An be sworn by the life
3	uŋ₃-e u₂-šim-gin₇ ki in-dar-ra-ba	When the earth was divided up like a flood,
4	en abzu lugal {d}en-ki-ke₄	lord of the Abzu, king of Enki
5	{d}en-ki en nam tar-tar-re-de₃	Enki, the lord who determines fates
6	e₂-a-ni kug {na₄}za-gin₃-na teš₂-bi ba-ni-in-du₃	He built his temple with silver and lapis lazuli.
7	kug {na₄}za-gin₃-bi ud kar₂-kar₂-a-ka	The silver and lapis lazuli of the days of distant days
8	eš₃-e abzu-a ul im-ma-ni-in-de₆	In the shrine Abzu he brought joy.
9	suh₁₀ kug galam dug₄-ga abzu-ta e₃-a	The one who brings out the pure and luxuriant splendor from the Abzu,
10	en {d}nu-dim₂-mud-ra mu-un-na-sug₂-sug₂-ge-eš	they stood before lord Nudimmud
11	e₂ kug-ga i-ni-in-du₃ {na₄}za-gin₃-na i-ni-in-gun₃	He built the temple of silver and decorated it with lapis lazuli.
12	gal-le-eš kug-sig₁₇-ga šu tag ba-ni-in-dug₄	He adorned his hands with gold and silver
13	eridug{ki}-ga e₂ gu₂-a bi₂-in-du₃	In Eridug he built a house on the bank.
14	šeg₁₂-bi inim dug₄-dug₄ ad gi₄-gi₄	Its brickwork is a good word, a resounding voice
15	gi-sal-la-bi gud-gin₇ mur im-ša₄	Its reed screen is covered like a lion
16	e₂ {d}en-ki-ke₄ gu₃ nun di-dam	The house of Enki is shouting loudly.
17	e₂-e lugal-bi-ir ŋi₆-a ar₂ im-ma-ab-de₆ dug₃-bi mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂	The house, its king, sat down at the riverbank and poured out its beer.
	lugal {d}en-ki-ra sukkal {d}isimud-de₃ mi₂ dug₃-ge-eš im-me zid-de₃-eš	King Enki, vizier of Isimud, speaks kindly:
19	e₂-e im-ma-ŋen gu₃ im-ma-de₂-e	I go to the house and he calls out.
20	šeg₁₂-e im-ma-ŋen gu₃ im-ma-ab-šum₂-mu	He screamed, he shouted
21	e₂ kug {na₄}za-gin₃-na ki ŋar-ra	the silver and lapis lazuli temple of the outer place
22	temen-bi abzu-a sig₉-ga	The foundations of the Abzu are good.
23	nun-e abzu-ta mi₂ dug₄-ga	the prince who loves the Abzu,
24	{id₂}idigna {id₂}buranun-na mah ni₂ šu ti-a	The Tigris and the Euphrates, the great rivers of fearsomeness
25	abzu {d}en-ki-ke₄ ul-la bi₂-in-tum₂-mu	In the Abzu of Enki he brought joy.
26	{ŋiš}saŋ-kul-zu gaba-šu-ŋar nu-tuku	You have no rival.
27	{ŋiš}si-ŋar-zu ur-mah ni₂ gur₃-ru	Your lion roaring with fearsomeness
28	ŋiš-ur₃-zu gud an-na suh₁₀ kug galam dug₄-ga	Your ‘nose’ is the ox of heaven, the mighty one with a beautiful face.
29	{gi}kid-zu za-gin₃-na ŋiš-ur₃-še₃ gun₃-a	Your lapis lazuli sandals, speckled with pomegranates
	nir-gam-ma-zu gud si gur₃-ru am	Your nugig priestess, carrying horns, wild bull
	kan₄-zu ur-mah lu₂ šu ti-a ni₂	Your gate is a lion whose hand is fearsome
32	kun₄-zu ug lu₂-ra ed₃-de₃	In order to raise your tail to the ug of a man,
33	abzu ki sikil me-te-ŋal₂	The Abzu, the pure place, which is balanced.
34	e₂-engur-ra lugal-zu ŋiri₃ im-ma-ri-in-gub	In the Eʾengura your king has set up a fortress.
35	{d}en-ki lugal abzu-ke₄	Enki, king of the abzu
36	temen-zu {na₄}gug im-ma-da-an-sa₂	Your foundations are adorned with carnelian
37	\|KA×LI\|-\|KA×LI\| za-gin₃-na mi₂ im-ma-ri-in-dug₄	He treated me with lapis lazuli.
38	e₂ {d}en-ki-ke₄ lal₃-har-ra kug kurum₇ ak	the temple of Enki with honey and sweetened silver
39	gud lugal-bi-ir us₂-a sig₁₀-ga	the oxen of its owner on the long side, reddish,
40	ni₂-bi-še₃ mur ša₄ teš₂-bi-še₃ ad gi₄-gi₄	Its fearsomeness, the roar of the heart, its utterance, the voice of a requital
41	e₂-engur-ra {d}en-ki-ke₄ gi dub-ba-an kug la₂-am₃	In the E’engura of Enki, the reeds and tablets are filled with silver.
42	šag₄-zu-ta barag mah ki ŋar-ra	From your womb a supreme dais is set on the ground
43	zag-du₈-zu aškud₂ kug an-na	Your hem is a holy scepter of heaven
44	abzu ki sikil ki nam tar-ra	Abzu, pure place, place where fates are determined.
45	en ŋeštug₂-ga lugal {d}en-ki	en priestess, king of Enki
45A	{d}en-ki en nam tar-tar-re-de₃	Enki, the lord who determines fates
46	{d}nu-dim₂-mud en eridug{ki}-ga-ke₄	Nudimmud, the lord of Eridug,
47	šag₄ šeg₉-bar-ra lu₂ igi nu-bar-re-dam	The one who does not see the wild goat
48	abgal-zu siki bar-ra bi₂-in-du₈	Your abgal priest has shaved his head.
49	eridug{ki} {d}en-ki-ke₄ ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-ni	Eridug, Enki’s place
50	e₂-engur-ra šag₄-bi he₂-ŋal₂ sug₄-ga	In the E’engura may its midst be swept away
51	abzu zi kalam-ma ki aŋ₂ {d}en-ki-ke₄	The Abzu, the life of the Land, the place of Enki
52	e₂ zag-ga du₃-a me galam-ma tum₂-ma	The temple built on the right, fitting for the divine powers,
53	eridug{ki} ŋissu-zu ab-šag₄-ga la₂-a	Eridug, your “seizing-of-the-mouth’ magic has been carried off.
54	a-ab-ba zig₃-ga gaba-šu-ŋar nu-tuku	The rising sea has no rival
55	id₂ mah ni₂-ŋal₂-la su kalam-ma zi-zi	The supreme river, a flood that rises in the land,
56	e₂-engur-ra uru₂ mah ki us₂-sa	The Eʾengura, the great city, established on earth.
57	e₂ da engur-ra piriŋ abzu šag₄-ga	The house next to the deep, the piri of the Abzu, erected
58	e₂ mah {d}en-ki-ke₄ ŋeštug₂ kalam-e šum₂-mu	The supreme temple of Enki is the garment of the land
59	akkil-zu id₂ mah zig₃-ga-gin₇	Your akkil prayer is like the rising of a great river.
60	lugal {d}en-ki-ra mu-un-na-tuku-am₃	for the king Enki he had it acquired.
61	e₂ kug-ga-ni-še₃ dug₃-bi mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂	In his pure house he fills its pots.
62	{ŋiš}za₃-mi₂ {ŋiš}al-ŋar {ŋiš}balaŋ al-ŋar-sur₉-da	“It is my lapis lazuli, it is my albarbara, the albarsurda,
A	{ŋiš}za₃-mi₂ {ŋiš}al-ŋar balaŋ sur₉-za	“I want to say a prayer, I want to speak an arazu prayer to you
B	{ŋiš}za₃-mi₂ {ŋiš}al-ŋar-zu balaŋ {ŋiš}al-ŋar-sur₉-ra-ta	After you have sworn by the praise of your exalted name,
Š	{ŋiš}za₃-mi₂ {ŋiš}al-ŋar balaŋ {ŋiš}sur₉-am₃	It is a šamu-disease, a hoe, and a convulsion.
63	{ŋiš}har-har {ŋiš}sa-bi₂-tum {ŋiš}mi-ri₂-tum e₂ sig₉-ga	harhar, sabītum, “mīritum', the good house
	ad dug₃-ga nundum bur₂-re balaŋ-ŋa₂ nundum-nundum	a sweet voice, a ‘cutting-of-the-throat’-prayer, and an acoustic instrument
65	šag₄ ni₂-ba-ka ad ha-ba-ni-ib-ša₄	May he speak to him in his own heart
66	{ŋiš}al-ŋar kug {d}en-ki-ke₄ ni₂-ba mu-un-na-du₁₂	He uttered a balaŋ composition of holy Enki for him.
	nar 7-e ad he₂-em-mi-ib-ša₄ tigi	The seven singers shall sing. The tigi
68	dug₄-ga {d}en-ki-ke₄ šu nu-bal-e-de₃	Enki's favor cannot be overturned
69	KA X X ki-bi-še₃ ŋal₂-la-am₃	It is the ... of its place.
70	sukkal {d}isimud-de₃ šeg₁₂-e gu₃ ba-an-šum₂	The vizier Isimud spoke to the roof.
	e₂-engur-ra-ke₄ šir₃ dug₃-ge-eš im-me mi₂	She cries out in the E'engura, a pleasant place
72	mu-un-du₃-a-ba mu-un-du₃-a-ba	When she built, when she built
73	eridug{ki} {d}en-ki-ke₄ im-ma-an-il₂-la-ba	When Enki raised Eridug,
74	hur-saŋ galam kad₅-dam a-e ba-dirig	The open mountain range is flooded, the water carries it off.
75	zag-ga-a-ni ŋiš-gi-a ba-an-KU	His shoulders were smashed with a reed.
76	{ŋiš}kiri₆ sig₇-ga gurun il₂-la-a-ba	In its green orchards raised with fruit,
	mušen-e haš₄-bi mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ ŋi₆	(Sum) The snake carries away its carcasses, it is the river(?) (Akk) (The snake) carries off its carcass(?)
78	suhur{ku₆}-e u₂-lal₃-e e-ne mu-un-e	The suhur fish eats honey.
79	eštub{ku₆}-e gi-zi di₄-di₄-la₂ kun mu-un-na-sud-e	The eštub fish ... the tiny reed bundles for him
80	{d}en-ki zig₃-ga-na ku₆ i-zi-eš₂ na-zig₃	Enki, when he rises, the fish rises.
81	abzu-e u₆ am₃-ma-gub	The Abzu stands in splendor.
82	engur-ra hul₂-la mu-ni-ib-de₆	he brought joy in the deep.
83	a-ab-ba-gin₇ ni₂ mu-un-da-ŋal₂	Like the sea he carried fear.
84	id₂ mah-gin₇ su zig₃ mu-un-da-ri	Like a great river, he rises up high.
85	{id₂}buranun-na u₁₈-lu sumur mu-un-da-an-zig₃	On the Euphrates a raging storm rises.
	{ŋiš}gi-muš-a-ni {d}nirah-a-ni im-du-du-a-ni	His scepter, his Nirah, he smote,
87	{ŋiš}ŋisal-a-ni gi tur-tur-a-ni	His small reeds
88	{d}en-ki u₅-a-ni mu he₂-ŋal₂ sug₄-ga	Enki, may his name be sworn by a long life
89	{ŋiš}ma₂ ni₂-bi nam-du₈ eš₂ ni₂-bi nam-dab₅	The boat, its fearsomeness was sunk, the shrine it was seized
90	e₂ eridug{ki}-ga-ke₄ im-ma-kar-ra	The temple of Eridug was taken away.
91	id₂-de₃ lugal-bi-ir ad im-mi-ib-gi₄-gi₄	The river resounded its king.
92	gu₃-bi gu₃ amar-ra gu₃ ab₂ dug₃-ga-ke₄	Its voice is a calf's voice, the voice of a good cow.
93	{d}en-ki-ke₄ gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar₂-re	Enki slaughtered the oxen, he sacrificed the sheep.
94	{kuš}a₂-la₂ nu-ŋal₂-la ki-bi-še₃ sa₂ im-dug₄	The ala drum, which was not loosened, was placed in its place
95	ub₃ zabar nu-ŋal₂-la ki-bi-še₃ im-mi-in-e₃	The bronze throne that cannot be unlocked came out from its place
96	nibru{ki}-še₃ ŋiri₃-ni dili mu-un-gub	In Nippur he stood alone in his city.
97	gi-gun₄-na eš₃-e nibru{ki}-a im-ma-da-an-ku₄-ku₄	The Giguna, the shrine of Nippur, entered with him.
98	{d}en-ki-ke₄ kaš-kaš-e ba-te kurun₂-kurun₂-e ba-te	Enki approached, he approached the food offerings.
99	kurun₂ gal zabar-ra ba-ni-in-de₂	He poured out great beer on the bronze vessel.
100	{kaš}ulušin dili-am₃ ba-ni-in-sur	He split up the single victualler.
101	{dug}ku-kur-ru₂ kaš dug₃-dug₃-ga duh-bi bi₂-in-sa₂-sa₂	He placed the kukurru-vessel with sweet beer as its sweet beer.
102	ka-bi lal₃ zu₂-lum-ma niŋ₂ er₉ ba-ni-in-ak	Its mouth was full of honey and dates, she wept.
103	duh-bi niŋ₂ lal₃-lal₃ dili-a sed-še₃ bi₂-in-du₈	Its sweet fragrance, scented with honey, was released alone.
104	{d}en-ki-ke₄ eš₃-e nibru{ki}-am₃	Enki, the shrine Nippur
105	a-a-ni {d}en-lil₂-ra ninda mu-un-gu₇-e	For his father Enlil he ate bread.
106	an ki mah-a im-ma-an-tuš	He sat in heaven and on the supreme earth
107	an-ra {d}en-lil₂ im-ma-ni-in-us₂	For An, Enlil sat down.
108	{d}nin-tur₅ zag gal-la im-mi-in-tuš	Nintur sat on the great dais
109	{d}a-nun-na ki-us₂-ki-us₂-bi im-mi-in-dur₂-ru-ne-eš	The Anuna sat on their thrones.
110	lu₂-e-ne kaš i₃-na₈-na₈-ne kurun im-dug₃-ge-ne	The men drink beer, they libate sweet beer
111	{zabar}aga im-gur₄-gur₄-re-e-ne	they were carrying a bronze scepter
112	zabar-e {d}uraš-e a-da-min₃ mu-un-di-ne	The bronze one, Uraš, gave him a rival.
113	ti-lim-da ma₂-gur₈ kug im-ba-ba-re-e-ne	They will weigh the silver with the tilimda barge.
114	kaš ba-dug₄ kurun₂ ba-dug₃-ga-ta	After the beer was poured and the liquor was drank
115	e₂-ta ŋiri₃-bi-a ba-ra-ŋar-ra-ta	From the house, from its inner city,
116	{d}en-lil₂ nibru{ki}-a hul₂-la mu-ni-ib-de₆	Enlil brought joy in Nippur.
117	{d}en-lil₂-le {d}a-nun-na-ke₄-ne gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e	Enlil spoke to the Anuna gods:
118	diŋir gal-gal-la i₃-sug₂-ge-en-za-na	When you stand at the great crossings,
119	{d}a-nun-na ub-šu-unken-na-ka si mu-un-sa₂-sa₂-e-en-za-na	In the Anuna's Ubšunken, where you set the righteous order
120	dumu-ŋu₁₀ e₂ mu-un-du₃ lugal {d}en-ki-ke₄	The son built the temple. The king Enki
	eridug{ki} hur-saŋ-gin₇ ki-ta ba-ra-ri ba-ra-e₃	Eridug, like a mountain range, came out from the earth.
122	ki dug₃-ga-am₃ e₂ im-ma-an-du₃	He built a house in a pleasant place.
123	eridug{ki} ki sikil lu₂ nu-ku₄-ku₄-da	Eridug, the pure place where no one enters,
124	e₂ kug-ga du₃-a za-gin₃-na gun₃-a	a built-up silver house decorated with lapis lazuli,
125	e₂ tigi 7-e si sa₂-e nam-šub šum₂-ma	The house of seven tigi drums - where is the place to lay down?
126	šir₃ kug teš₂ e₂ ki al-dug₃-ga	Pure heart, together with the house that makes the earth happy
127	eš₃ abzu nam dug₃ {d}en-ki-ke₄ me galam-ma tum₂-ma	The shrine Abzu, the favourable fate of Enki, fitting for the divine powers
128	eridug{ki} e₂ kug-ga du₃-a-ba	In Eridug, the temple built in gold,
129	a-a {d}en-ki za₃-mi₂	Father Enki, praise!

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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)

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