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The message of Lu-diĝira to his mother (Q000775)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | The message of Lu-diĝira to his mother |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000775 |
| 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 | lu₂-kaš₄-e lugal-la har-ra-an-na ŋen-na | The courier of the king on the road |
| 2 | nibru{ki} ga-e-gi₄ inim-bi dug₄-ba-ab | I want to return to Nippur, so I can speak its words. |
| 3 | kaskal su₃-ra₂ i-im-du-de₃-en | We go on a long journey. |
| ama-ŋu₁₀ mud-am₃ u₃ nu-mu-ni-ku-ku u₃ DU-da u₃ ku-ku-ba | The mother is bloody and does not sleep. ... and sleep. | |
| ama₅-a-ni ka-ŋiri₃ al-gib-ba ama₅ saŋ gi₄-a | His cella, the ka-biri canal, abandoned, the cella razed | |
| lu₂ du kaskal-la silim-ma-ŋu₁₀ en₃ al-tar-tar-re har-ra-an-na nu-tar-tar-re | The one who goes on a good path, inquires after it, but does not inquire after it. | |
| 7 | u₃-na-a-dug₄ silim-ma-ŋu₁₀ šu-ni-še₃ ŋar-i₃ | I will praise him, and he will be well. |
| 8 | ama-ŋu₁₀ hul₂-hul₂-la-am₃ še-er-ka-an mi-ri-in-dug₄-ga | It is a joy of the mother, it is pleasing to the child. |
| 9 | tukum-bi ama-ŋu₁₀ nu-e-zu ŋiškim ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | If you do not know motherhood, I will bring it to you. |
| mu-bi ša-at-eš₄-tar₂ inim-bi-ta TE E MU ši-ma-at-eš₄-tar₂ MUNUS-bi-ta | The name of this woman is “Šāt-Eštar, the word of that woman. | |
| 11 | alan muš₂-a me-dim₂ bar šu-ta ŋar-ra | A statue of a snake, fashioned by the hand |
| 12 | diŋir sag₉-ga dag-gi₄-a-ka-ni | His good Ibir temple, his rejoicing |
| 13 | ud tur-ra-ni-ta nam-ma-ni tar-ra-am₃ | In those days when fates were determined |
| 14 | ne₃ ni-te-am₃ e₂ ušbar-ra-ni si sa₂ mu-un-ak | He made the house of his father-in-law tremble in fear. |
| 15 | diŋir nin-a-ni-še₃ sun₅-na-še₃ gub-ba | At the Bīr-temple, the place of her mistress, stationed |
| 16 | ki {d}inana-ke₄ kiŋ₂-kiŋ₂ mu-un-zu | The place of Inana knows the place |
| inim lugal-la-ke₄ inim-bi li-bi-gu-ul-e gu₃ de₂ lugal | The word of the king should not be uttered, it is a cry of kingship | |
| 18 | šu dim₄-ma-am₃ niŋ₂-gur₁₁ mu-un-šar₂-šar₂ | The hand of a dream interpreter is bound in fear |
| 19 | ki aŋ₂ mi₂ dug₄-ga zi-šag₄-ŋal₂-la-am₃ | It is the place where the laborers are treated favorably. |
| 20 | sila₄ i₃ dug₃-ga lal₃ i₃-nun zal-le šag₄-ga-ke₄ | The lambs of sweet oil, honey and butter that pass by in the storehouse |
| 21 | ŋiškim ama-ŋu₁₀ 2-kam-ma ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | I want to bring it to you for the second time |
| ama-ŋu₁₀ su₃-ra₂-aŋ₂-gin₇ an-na lu-lim hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ an-ur₂-ra | Like a distant mother in heaven, a luxuriant one in the mountains, | |
| mul a₂-gu₂-zig₃-ga ud MAŠ daŋal-la-ke₄ ud-ud ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The star of Aguziga, the day of the exalted extispicy, | |
| 24 | {na₄}gug kal-la {na₄}du₈-ši-a mar-ha-ši{ki} | mighty carnelian, agate, Marḫaši |
| 25 | gi₁₆-sa šeš lugal hi-li du₈-du₈-a | The treasure, the king who heaps up allure |
| {na₄}kišib nir₂-a {d}utu-gin₇ he₂-du₇-a gi₁₆ {na₄}gug-am₃ bibra he₂-du₇-a X gi₄ DU gug {na₄}nir₂ he₂-du₇-a gi₁₆-gi₁₆-sa x-am₃ bibra sig₇-ga-a | May it be adorned with a scepter like Utu, may it be decorated with reeds of carnelian! May the bibra be decorated ..., may the carnelian and nir stones be decorated. May the treasures be ... in the red bibra! | |
| 27 | har an-na šu-gur an-ta-sur-ra | Hand of heaven, hand of the Antasura |
| 28 | lagab kug-sig₁₇ kug-babbar zalag-ga-kam | It is a lagab of gold and shining silver. |
| niŋ₂-zi-ŋal₂ niŋ₂ zi pa e₃ zi bur₂ HAR-HAR {ŋiš}pu₂ E zal-le niŋ₂ zi pa-an{aŋ₂}-pa-an{aŋ₂} x NE ki X x | “If he slips in, if he goes out, he will be able to make a righteous decision, a wronged man, ... ..., | |
| 30 | {d}lamma {na₄}ŋiš-nu₁₁-gal ki-gal {na₄}za-gin₃-na gub-ba-am₃ | The protective spirit of Išnugal, stationed on the lapis lazuli pedestal |
| dim₃-ma zu₂ til-la hi-li šu ŋiri₃ gur₃-ru-a dim₃-ma til₃-la ul MAŠ niŋ₂ ur₂-re ul ul-ṣu₂-u₂ gur₃-ra | The one whose teeth are finished, full of allure, whose hand is bound with a knot, who whose mind is not enraged, who does not tremble, | |
| 32 | ŋiškim ama-ŋu₁₀ 3-kam-ma ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | It is the third song I want to utter for you |
| ama-ŋu₁₀ šeŋ₁₄ an-na a numun saŋ-ŋa₂-ke₄ ud a₂-ba | The mother of abundance in heaven, the water of the fertile seed, when will she arrive? | |
| buru₁₄ he₂-nun še gu-nu mu₂-a še ba-til-la gu-nu dirig guru₅-gu₂ X an-na bu-lu-ug ba-til gu₂ x | (Sum) The harvest is abundance, the horned barley is ripe. (Akk) The harvested barley has finished, horns are elevated. The ... of heaven has finished its ... | |
| {ŋiš}kiri₆ me-a i-si-iš la₂-la₂-e la-la asil-la₂ si-a | The orchard, where is it? Lala, lala, joy! | |
| {ŋiš}u₃-suh₅ a de₂-a {ŋiš}li šu tag-ga {ŋiš}še u₃-suh₅ | “Sulphur, the water of the river, sulphur that is torn out, a thorny reed thicket | |
| gurun zag-mu-a niŋ₂-tu-hu-um nesaŋ-ŋa₂ u₂-{ŋiš}kiri₆ | roasted barley, nītuḫum-beer, nesa-ba-bread, ‘juniper orchard’ | |
| 38 | pa₅-šita₃ mu₂-sar-re a hi-li-a de₆-a | The pāšivita-plant, planted with water and allure, |
| 39 | zu₂-lum dilmun-na ku₇-ku₇ zu₂-lum saŋ kiŋ₂-kiŋ₂-e | Sweet dates in Dilmun, sweet dates in the netherworld |
| 40 | ŋiškim ama-ŋu₁₀ 4-kam-ma ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | It is the fourth song I want to utter it for you |
| 41 | ama-ŋu₁₀ ezen sizkur₂-re asil-la₂ si-a | The mother, at the festival of the šikikur prayer, joyfully |
| sizkur₂ a₂-ki-tum igi du₈-de₃ huš-a ezen | a sizkur prayer before the Akītum, a furious festival | |
| lu-lu-gu-na dumu lugal-la i-lu he₂-ŋal₂-la-kam lu-li-gu₂-na lu-lu-bu-na dumu-munus | Luluguna, the daughter of the king, may a lament be uttered. Lululuna, Lullubuna (is) the daughter | |
| 44 | ki-e-ne-di hul₂-hul₂-le ŋar-ra | “May the earth rejoice over you, |
| 44A | x gurun he₂-ŋal₂ x | ... may he carry fruit. |
| 45 | ki aŋ₂ šag₄ ki aŋ₂ la-la nu-gi₄-gi₄-da | The place of labor, the place of labour, a place of joy that cannot be changed |
| inim de₆-a lu₂-nam-ra ama-ni-še₃ gur-ra-am₃ giri₁₇-zal-še₃ | The word of the lord is to be returned to its mother, to be joyful | |
| 47 | ŋiškim ama-ŋu₁₀ 5-kam-ma ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | It is the fifth song I want to utter it for you |
| 48 | ama-ŋu₁₀ {ŋiš}ŋišnimbar ir-si-im dug₃-dug₃-ga | The mother of the nimbar plant is a sweet fragrance. |
| 49 | gigir šim-li {ŋiš}mar-šum {ŋiš}taškarin | a šimlu-stone, a marsḫum-stone (and) taskarin-stone |
| tug₂ sag₉-ga i₃ gu-la ak-a ŠE₃ UD dug₃-ga | Good garment made with great oil, good day, | |
| ga-ra-an he₂-me-du gu₂ me-er-me-er-re-da gu₂ me-er-me-re-de₃ du₇ | I want to go to the quay, to the place where there are quakes, to make it perfect. | |
| {dug}šaŋan nunuz ga-nu₁₁{mušen} i₃ saŋ šag₄-bi dirig ama-ŋu₁₀ šim šag₄ bi₂-si | I want to strew a šaban-vessel of pomegranates, the oil of the cress is spread out over its interior, the mother fills it with aromatics. | |
| 52A | munus sag₉-ga {d}lamma tuku-a mu-X x | The beautiful woman, who has a protective deity |
| 52B | munus {d}a-ru-ru arhuš mu-ra-an-šum₂ x u₃-tud x | The woman Aruru gave birth to a kind heart |
| 53 | ŋiškim a-ra-dug₄-ga-ŋu₁₀ igi dalla-bi gub-za | “The one who looks at Aradug, you are the one who stands in triumph. |
| 54 | {m}lu₂-diŋir-ra dumu ki aŋ₂-zu silim-ma e-ne-ra dug₄-na | Ludibira, child of the place where your prayers are in order |
| A | ŋiškim a-ra-dug₄-ga-ŋu₁₀ ulutim₂ an-šum₂ | “It is enough, it is enough! It is sufficient! Its length is 0;00 08 20. |
| B | munus sag₉-sag₉ {d}lamma-{d}lamma tuku-am₃ e-ne-am₃ ama-ŋu₁₀ | Beautiful woman, who has a protective spirit, what does she say? |
| Š | ŋeštug ŋal₂-la še-en hul₂-le-eš DU-mu-un | May you be able to rejoice over the lifted-hand prayer |
| D | {m}lu₂-diŋir-ra dumu ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-zu silim-ma x SUM GI₄ | Lu-dibira, son of Aya-bazu, is well. |
| E | X e-ne-ra dug₄-x | ... for him ... |
| F | X X NE ga-mu-šum₂ X x | I want to ... |
Sources & licences
- 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)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-18.