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The song of the hoe (Q000778)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | The song of the hoe |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000778 |
| 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 | en-e niŋ₂-du₇-e pa na-an-ga-mi-in-e₃ | The lord made perfect for me. |
| 2 | en nam tar-ra-na šu nu-bal-e-de₃ | The lord whose fate is to be decided does not change |
| {d}en-lil₂ numun kalam-ma ki-ta ed₂-de₃ eš₃-ta ed₃-de₃ | Enlil, to bring forth the seed of the Land from the ground, to draw near from the horizon | |
| 4 | an ki-ta ba₉-re₆-de₃ saŋ na-an-ga-ma-an-šum₂ | So that heaven and earth are separated from each other, so that they cannot be equalled |
| 5 | ki an-ta ba₉-re₆-de₃ saŋ na-an-ga-ma-an-šum₂ | To bring down the earth from above, he should not bring it to him |
| uzu-e₃-a saŋ mu₂-mu₂-de₃ uzu-mu₂-a | In order to bring out the meat, in order to make the meat grow, | |
| dur-an-ki-ka bulug nam-mi-in-la₂ nam-il₂-e nam-il₂-la | In Duranki he hung a reed mat. Do not raise, do not raise. | |
| 8 | {ŋiš}al-e mu-un-ŋar ud al-e₃ | The hoe rises, the storm comes out. |
| 9 | eš₂-gar₃ mu-un-du₃ nam al-tar-re | He built the ešŋar and decreed a fate. |
| 10 | {ŋiš}al-e {ŋiš}dusu-e a₂ si ba-ab-sa₂-e | The hoe, the hoe ... its power. |
| 11 | {d}en-lil₂-le {ŋiš}al-a-ni za₃-mi₂ ba-an-dug₄ | Enlil praised his hoe. |
| 12 | {ŋiš}al-a-ni kug-sig₁₇-ga saŋ-bi {na₄}za-gin₃-na | his hoe with gold and its horns of lapis lazuli |
| 13 | {ŋiš}al sa la₂-a-ni kug-me kug-sig₁₇-ga | The hoe, whose hair is of gold and gold, |
| 14 | {ŋiš}al-a-ni a₂ bulug-ba apin {na₄}za-gin₃-na-kam | His hoe is a bolt of lapis lazuli. |
| zu₂-bi gud-si-AŠ bad₃ gal ed₂-de₃-dam saŋ gal u₃-tud-da | Its teeth are a gudsi-ašu-stone, a great wall that is to be erected, the great sa-stone that was born | |
| 16 | en-e {ŋiš}al mu-un-šid nam mi-ni-ib-tar-re | The lord has carried the hoe and decreed a fate for him. |
| 17 | ki-in-du men kug saŋ-ŋa₂ mu-ni-in-ŋal₂ | He adorned the throne with gold and silver. |
| uzu-e₃-a {ŋiš}al am₃-mi-ni-in-du₃ uzu-mu₂-a | When he brought out the meat, he built it. In the flesh | |
| 18A | uzu-mu₂-a saŋ nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂-de₃ | he will not raise a claim concerning my flesh |
| 19 | saŋ nam-lu₂-ulu₃ u₃-šub-ba mi-ni-in-ŋar | he made the land of humanity into ruins |
| 20 | {d}en-lil₂-še₃ kalam-ma-ni ki mu-un-ši-in-dar-re | Enlil has destroyed his land |
| 21 | saŋ gig₂-ga-ni-še₃ igi zid mu-ši-in-bar | He looked faithfully at his broken limbs |
| 22 | {d}a-nun-na mu-un-na-sug₂-sug₂-ge-eš | The Anuna stood before him. |
| 23 | šu-bi giri₁₇-ba mu-un-ne-ŋal₂ | Its hand he carried off in joy |
| 24 | {d}en-lil₂ a-ra-zu-a mu-ni-in-huŋ-e-ne | Enlil rejoicing in arazu prayer |
| 25 | uŋ₃ saŋ gig₂-ga al mu-un-da-be₂-ne | They say to him “It is enough, it is enough! It is enough!" |
| 26 | nin en u₃-tud-de₃ lugal u₃-tud-de₃ | The lady who gave birth to lords, the king who given birth to |
| 27 | {d}nin-men-na-ke₄ tud-tud al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | Ninmena gave birth, she was born. |
| 28 | mas-su an ki-a en {d}nu-nam-nir-ra | son of An and earth, lord Nunamnir, |
| 29 | saŋ zid saŋ kal-la mu-ni-ib-sa₄-sa₄ | He adorned it with a good crown and a precious crown. |
| saŋ-bi gu dili-a mu-un-ed₂-de₃-a mu-un-ne-ed₃-de₃-a mu-un-ni-ib-du₈ | Its piles of flax, which had been gathered together, had been heaped up, were piled up. | |
| 31 | diŋir-re-e-ne-ra šukur₂-še₃ mu-un-dab₅-be₂ | He seized the goats of the intertwined divisions |
| 32 | {d}en-ki-ke₄ {ŋiš}al-a-ni za₃-mi₂ ba-an-dug₄ | Enki praised his hoe. |
| 33 | ki-sikil {d}nisaba eš-bar-ra ba-an-gub | The young woman Nisaba stood in the ešbara |
| 34 | {ŋiš}al mul {ŋiš}al kug-ba šu mu-un-ne-ŋal₂ | The hoe, the star, and the hoe carry the hand. |
| 35 | e₂-kur e₂ {d}en-lil₂-la₂ {ŋiš}al-e ŋar-ra-am₃ | The Ekur, the house of Enlil, is a wild bull |
| 36 | ud-de₃ al-du₃-e ŋi₆ al-mu₂-mu₂ | The storm is building, the river is growing. |
| 37 | nibru{ki} ki ŋar-ra ama₅ tum-ma-al{ki}-a | Nippur, the place of ..., the chamber of Tummal |
| tum-ma-al {gi}pisaŋ ninda ama {d}nin-lil₂-la₂-kam gašam in-du₃ | It is a tummal offering of the reed basket of the bread of mother Ninlil he built. | |
| 39 | e₂-mi tum-ma-al{ki}-a niŋ₂ sa₂ dug₄-ga-ta | From the temple of Tummal, a place of relaxation, |
| 40 | ur-saŋ {d}nin-urta {d}en-lil₂-ra mu-na-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | The hero Ninurta entered for Enlil. |
| 41 | maš₂ gig₂ nesaŋ en-na-ta | After he has given birth to a sick kid |
| 42 | kug {d}nin-i₃-si-in-na {d}en-lil₂-ra mu-na-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | The silver of Ninisina entered for Enlil. |
| 43 | abzu igi piriŋ₃-ŋa₂ me al nu-di-da | The Abzu, the eye of the piriŋ priestess, the one who cannot see the divine powers. |
| 44 | al-tar lu₂ zid-de₃ en {d}nu-dim₂-mud-e | The altar priestess, the faithful man, lord Nudimmud |
| 45 | abzu al-du₃-e eridug{ki} al-tar-ra | The Abzu is being built, Eridug is being determined |
| 46 | ama diŋir-re-e-ne {d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂-ke₄ | Mother of the intertwined people, Ninḫursa |
| 47 | ud al-tar en-na keš₃{ki}-a mu-da-an-til₃ | The storm, until when did Keš live? |
| 48 | {d}šul-pa-e₃-a na-nam {ŋiš}al-tar mu-da-an-gub | Šulpa’ea was indeed present, he stood with him. |
| 49 | eš₃ e₂-an-na {ŋiš}al-e kug-ga-am₃ | The shrine Eana is pure |
| nin e₂-an-na im-ma-al zid-da munus | Lady of the Eana, there is life for the woman. | |
| 51 | {ŋiš}al du₆-du₆-dam {ŋiš}al {u₂}|KI.KAL|-dam | The hoe is to be sown, the hoe (is to be planted) to the ground |
| 52 | ki zabalam{ki}-a {ŋiš}al lu₂ {d}inana-kam | In Zabalam it is a hoe of Inana. |
| {ŋiš}al nam mi-ni-ib-tar-re sun₄ za-gin₃ ed₂-de₃ zu₂ | The hoe determines a fate, the lapis lazuli wind blows in the steppe | |
| 54 | {ŋiš}al-tar-ra-ni-a {d}utu mu-da-an-gub | Utu stood by his altar drum |
| 55 | {ŋiš}al-tar ka tar-ra šul {d}utu-kam | It is an altar prayer of the mouth of Šamaš |
| 56 | nin ŋeštug₂ daŋal-la {d}nisaba-ke₄ | Lady of the bala garment of Nisaba, |
| 57 | šudum e₂-an-na-ka {ŋiš}al-tar ba-an-dug₄ | The child of the Eanna temple was treated favorably. |
| 58 | e₂-ha-mun na-nam {ŋiš}al-tar mu-da-an-gub | The E-hamun is indeed the altar temple, it stands with him. |
| 59 | lugal {ŋiš}al šid-da us₂-a ud zal-la | The king, the hoe, the one who carries the scepter and the light of the day |
| 60 | ur-saŋ {d}nin-urta ki-bal-a {ŋiš}al-tar ba-an-gub | The hero Ninurta stood in the rebel land. |
| 61 | iri en-še₃ nu-še-ga šu-še₃ al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The city that does not obey the lord is being plundered. |
| 62 | an-še₃ ud-dam šeg₁₁ al-gi₄-gi₄ | The sky is a storm, the earth is trembling |
| 63 | ki-še₃ ušumgal-am₃ al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | It is a great ušumgal-demon |
| {d}šara₂ {d}en-lil₂-la₂ dub₃-ba nam-mi-in-tuš nam-mi-in-ŋar | The šara of Enlil did not sit on the throne, did not release it | |
| 65 | niŋ₂ al-dug₄-ga-ni mu-na-da-ab-šum₂-mu | When he speaks to him, he will be satisfied. |
| šita₂ {ŋiš}tukul ti mar-uru₅ {ŋiš}al am₃-ma-an-dug₄ al | The life of the one who carries a weapon, he is satisfied with the ala drum | |
| 67 | {d}dumu-zid al-lum-lum-ma igi-nim-ma-ka | Dumuzid, the one who is bright in the sunlight, |
| 68 | {d}gibil₆ {ŋiš}al-a-ni saŋ an-še₃ mi-ni-il₂ | Gibil raised his hoe up high. |
| 69 | {ŋiš}al-e kug-ga-am₃ izi nam-mi-in-la₂ | The hoe is pure, he spreads fire. |
| 70 | {d}a-nun-na al-hul₂-hul₂-le-de₃-eš | The Anuna rejoice over me. |
| 71 | e₂ {d}ŋeštin-an-na-ka {ŋiš}al-ŋar-surₓ(|UZ₃×BALAG|)-ra-am₃ | In the temple of Bēštinana it is an albarsur demon |
| 72 | ama {d}ŋeštin-an-na-ka {ŋiš}al-ŋar-surₓ(|UZ₃×BALAG|) gu₃ dug₃-ga-ka | The mother of Bēštinana, the albarsur-bird, the sweet voice |
| 73 | en-e {ŋiš}al-a-ni gud-gin₇ mur im-ša₄ | The lord roared like a lion |
| 74 | irigal-am₃ {ŋiš}al saŋ ki-a tum₂-ma | In Irigal, the hoe, fitting for the earth |
| 75 | adₓ(|BAD.LU₂|) {ŋiš}al-e ki-ta tum₂-ma-am₃ | The herdsman is a hoe, fitting from the ground |
| 76 | šul idim an-na šeš-ban₃-da {d}nergal-ka-kam | It is the head of the god Nergal, the scepter of heaven. |
| 77 | ur-saŋ {d}gilgameš₂ {ŋiš}al-e sa-par₄-am₃ | The hero Gilgamesh, the hoe is a net |
| dumu {d}nin-sumun₂-ka {ŋiš}ŋisal-e dub-saŋ-ŋa₂ gašam | son of Ninsumun, scribe of Gašam | |
| 79 | {ŋiš}al-e id₂-da kindagal-am₃ | The hoe is a kindagal creature in the river |
| dag agrun-na-ka {ŋiš}al-e sukkal-am₃ ki | At the door of the cella, the hoe is the vizier | |
| 81 | hul-ŋal₂ ud nu₂-a dumu {ŋiš}al-me-eš | The evildoer, lying down in the daytime, the son of the demons |
| 82 | u₄-sa₂ dug₄-ga-ta an-ta u₃-tud-de₃-eš | When good days were born from heaven |
| 83 | an-še₃ al-ti-ri₂-gu₇ mušen diŋir-ra-am₃ | The one who eats heaven, it is a snake of the intertwined net |
| 84 | ki-še₃ {ŋiš}al-am₃ ŋiš-gi-a ur-ra tir-ra ušumgal-am₃ | It is the hoe, it is the reed-bed of the dog, (it is) the mountain |
| 85 | ki me₃-ka šen-al-lu₅-am₃ | It is Svenallu at the place of battle |
| 86 | ki bad₃-ka {ŋiš}al-lu₅-hab₂-am₃ | In the place of the wall it is an alluhab demon |
| 87 | ki {ŋiš}banšur-ra {ŋiš}ma-al-tum-ma | with a table, a scepter |
| 88 | ki {ŋiš}gigir-ka {ŋiš}ma-a-a-al-tum-ma | with a chariot, a māyaltum weapon |
| 89 | e₂ anše-ka {ŋiš}ar-gibil₂-am₃ | The house of the donkeys is an atrophied one |
| 90 | {ŋiš}al-am₃ mu-bi dug₃-ga hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ mu-un-ŋal₂ | It is a hoe, its name is good, it carried it off to the mountains. |
| 91 | ŋiš hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ {ŋiš}al-la-nu-um-ma | “It is a mountain, it is an allānum-plant |
| 92 | šim hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ {ŋiš}ar-ga-nu-um-ma | from the mountain range of Arganum |
| 93 | na₄ hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ {na₄}algameš-am₃ | It is algameš stone from the mountain range |
| 94 | {ŋiš}al lum-lum-ma {ŋiš}al lam-lam-ma | “The hoe is bright, the hoe has radiance, |
| {ŋiš}al še dug₃-ga {ŋiš}al sa-par₄-am₃ šabra-x | The hoe is good barley, the hoe (is) a net | |
| 96 | {ŋiš}al u₃-šub-ba {ŋiš}al saŋ ŋal₂-la-am₃ | It is a hoe, a šub-horse that is to be carried off. |
| 97 | {ŋiš}al-am₃ a₂ nam-ŋuruš-a-kam | It is a hoe, it is the arm of a cow |
| 98 | {ŋiš}al {ŋiš}dusu niŋ₂ iri du₃-du₃-dam | The hoe, the hoe is the one who makes the city flourish. |
| 99 | e₂ zid al-du₃-e gana₂ zid al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The true house is being built, the true field is being cultivated. |
| 100 | gan₂-ne₂ zid-de₃ šu daŋal-la-me-en | I am the one who carries the hand in the righteous field |
| 101 | gan₂-ne₂ lugal-bi-ir bal-e | the field of its owner he cleared. |
| 102 | gan₂-ne₂ lugal-bi-ir gu₂ nu-ŋar-ra-e | The field of its owner is not to be cultivated. |
| 103 | {ŋiš}al-e lugal-bi-ir gu₂ mu-na-ab-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | He made the hoe bow down to his master. |
| 104 | {u₂}numun₂ hul {u₂}numun₂ hul-e saŋ dub₂-dub₂-be₂ | The evil seed, the evil seed is to be heaped up. |
| 105 | ur₂-ba mu-un-bur₁₂-re pa-bi mu-un-ze₂-e | He burst into its roots, he smashed its branches. |
| 106 | {ŋiš}al-e {u₂}hirin{hu-ri₂-in} šu-še₃ al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The hoe and the ḫirin-plant are in his hand. |
| 107 | {ŋiš}al-e ŋiš nam tar-ra a-a {d}en-lil₂-la₂ | The hoe, the hoe of fate, father Enlil |
| 108 | {ŋiš}al-e za₃-mi₂ dug₄-ga | The hoe is a praiseworthy one |
| 109 | {d}nisaba za₃-mi₂ | Nisaba, praise! |
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.