CDLI Literary 000751 (Kesh Temple Hymn) composite (P464240)

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1. ege-nun-e ege-nun-e e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3
 en: The princely lord, the princely lord came forth from the house.
2. {d}en-lil2 ege-nun-e e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3
 en: Enlil, the princely lord, came forth from the house.
3. ege-nun-e nam-lugal-la e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3
 en: The princely lord came forth royally from the house.
4. {d}en-lil2 kur-kur-ra igi mi-ni in-il2-il2-i
 en: Enlil lifted his glance over all the lands,
5. {d}en-lil2-ra kur ni2-ba mu-na-il2-il2-i
 en: and the lands raised themselves to Enlil.
6. ab-ub-da-limmu {d}en-lil2-ra {gesz}kiri6-ginx mu-na-sa7
 en: The four corners of heaven became green for Enlil like a garden.
7. kesz3{ki} sag-il2 mu-na-ni-in-gal2
 en: Keš was positioned there for him with head uplifted,
8. kesz3{ki} kur-kur-ra sag-ga2 il2-bi
 en: and as Keš lifted its head among all the lands,
9. {d}en-lil2-le kesz3{ki} za3-mi2 am3-ma-ab-be2
 en: Enlil spoke the praises of Keš.
10. {d}nisaba nu-ka-asz-bi-im
 en: Nisaba was its decision-maker (?);
11. inim-bi-ta sa-ginx im-da-an-sur
 en: with its words she wove it intricately like a net.
12. dub-ba sar-sar szu-sze3 al-ga2-ga2
 en: Written on tablets it was held in her hands:
13. e2 musz3-kalam-ma gu4-husz-aratta
 en: House, platform of the Land, important fierce bull!
14. e2-kesz3{ki} musz3-kalam-ma gu4-husz-aratta
 en: House Keš, platform of the Land, important fierce bull!
15. hur-sag-da-mu2-a an-da gu2-la2-a
 en: Growing as high as the hills, embracing the heavens,
16. e2-kur-da-mu2-a kur-ra sag-il2-bi
 en: growing as high as E-kur, lifting its head among the mountains!
17. abzu ginx ri-a hur-sag-bi sig7-sig7-ga
 en: Rooted in the abzu, verdant like the mountains!
18. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
19. ur-sag-bi {asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi?
20. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
21. e2 1(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 1st house.
22. e2-du10 ki-du10-ga du3-a
 en: Good house, built in a good location, house Keš,
23. e2-kesz3{ki} ki-du10-ga du3-a
 en: built in a good location,
24. ma2-gur8-nun-ginx an-na diri-ga
 en: floating in the heavens like a princely barge,
25. ma2-gur8-ku3-ginx ka2-SI ri-a
 en: like a holy barge furnished with a SI gate,
26. ma2-an-na-ginx musz3-kur-kur-ra
 en: like the boat of heaven, the platform of all the lands!
27. u5-ban3-da-ginx peszx-ta sur-sur-ra
 en: ...... from the riverbank like a ...... boat cabin!
28. e2 gu4-ginx ur5-sza4 ninda2-ginx gu3-nun-di
 en: House roaring like an ox, bellowing loudly like a breed-bull!
29. e2-sza3-bi-ta lipisz-kalam-ma
 en: House in whose interior is the power of the Land,
30. a-ga-bi-ta zi-ki-en-gi-ra
 en: and behind which is the life of Sumer!
31. e2 eb-gal an-ne2 us2-sa
 en: House, great enclosure, reaching to the heavens,
32. e2-zi-da-gal an-ne2 us2-sa
 en: great, true house, reaching to the heavens!
33. e2 men-gal an-ne2 us2-sa
 en: House, great crown reaching to the heavens,
34. e2-{d}tir-an-na an-ne2 us2-sa
 en: house, rainbow reaching to the heavens!
35. e2 musz2-bi an-sza3-ga la2-a
 en: House whose diadem extends into the midst of the heavens,
36. te-me-bi abzu-a si-ga
 en: whose foundations are fixed in the abzu,
37. gizzu-bi kur-kur-ra du6-la
 en: whose shade covers all lands!
38. e2-an-ne2 ki-gar-ra {d}en-lil2-le za3-mi2 du11-ga
 en: House founded by An, praised by Enlil,
39. ama {d}nin-tu-ra esz-bar-kin du11-ga
 en: given an oracle by mother Nintur!
40. e2-kesz3{ki} gurun-na sig7-ga
 en: House Keš, green in its fruit!
41. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
42. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi?
43. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
44. e2 2(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 2nd house.
45. e2 an-sze3 1(szar'u) GAN2 ki-sze3 5(szar2) GAN2
 en: House, 10 šar2 area at its upper end, 5 šar2 area at its lower end;
46. e2 an-sze3 1(bur'u) GAN2 ki-sze3 5(bur3) GAN2
 en: house, 10 bur3 area at its upper end, 5 bur3 area at its lower end!
47. e2 an-sze3 alim ki-sze3 lu-lim
 en: House, at its upper end a bison, at its lower end a stag;
48. e2 an-sze3 szeg9-bar ki-sze3 dara3-masz
 en: house, at its upper end a wild sheep, at its lower end a deer;
49. e2 an-sze3 szeg9-bar-dar-a ki-sze3 dara3-masz-sa7-ga
 en: house, at its upper end a dappled wild sheep, at its lower end a beautiful deer!
50. e2 an-sze3 musz-gu7{muszen}-ginx sig7-ga ki-sze3 u5{muszen}-ginx-a-e szu2-a
 en: House, at its upper end green as a snake-eater bird, at its lower end floating on the water like a pelican!
51. e2 an-sze3 utu-ginx e3-a ki-sze3 itix-ginx bara3-ga
 en: House, at its upper end rising like the sun, at its lower end spreading like the moonlight;
52. e2 an-sze3 utug2-szul ki-sze3 {gesz}tun3-am3
 en: house, at its upper end a warrior mace, at its lower end a battle-axe;
53. e2 an-sze3 kur-ra-am3 ki-sze3 idim-ma-am3
 en: house, at its upper end a mountain, at its lower end a spring!
54. e2 an-sze3 3(disz)-kam-bi na-nam
 en: House, at its upper end threefold indeed:
55. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-an-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
56. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Aszgi?
57. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
58. e2 3(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 3rd house.
59. iri{ki} ga-am3 iri{ki} ga-am3 sza3-bi a-ba mu-zu
 en: It is indeed a city, it is indeed a city! Who knows its interior?
60. e2-kesz3{ki} iri{ki} ga-am3 sza3-bi a-ba mu-zu
 en: The house Keš is indeed a city! Who knows its interior?
61. sza3-bi ur-sag-ur-sag-e-ne si mu-un-si-sa2-e-ne
 en: The heroes make their way straight into its interior
62. esz-bar-kin du11-ga szu-gal mu-un-du7-du7
 en: and perform its oracle rites perfectly.
63. e2 gu4-du7-du7-dam gu4 am3-ma-gur-re
 en: Frisking cattle are gathered at the house in herds.
64. e2 gu4-szar2-a al-ku2-e
 en: The house consumes many cattle;
65. e2 udu-szar2-a-am2 al-ku2-e
 en: the house consumes many sheep.
66. eren? x-ma-am2 gu2-bi luh-luh-ha
 en: ...
67. bara2-bara2-e-ne gu2-ne am3-ma-gal2-le-ne
 en: Those who sit on daises bow their necks before it.
68. {gesz}taszkarin-da men an-da gur3-u4
 en: It wears a crown to vie with the boxwood tree,
69. {gesz}asalx-ginx an-da tal2-tal2 sal-la
 en: it spreads out to vie with the poplar
70. hur-sag-da an-da sig7-sig7-ga
 en: It is as green as the hills!
71. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-an-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
72. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Aszgi?
73. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
74. e2 4(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 4th house.
75. e2 pirig u3-tu sza3-bi ur-sag su3-ud
 en: House given birth by a lion, whose interior the hero has embellished (?)!
76. e2-kesz3{ki} pirig u3-tu sza3-bi ur-sag su3-ud
 en: House Keš, given birth by a lion, whose interior the hero has embellished (?)!
77. sza3-bi ur-sag-ur-dag-e-ne szi-mu-un-nin2 si-sa2
 en: The heroes make their way straight into its interior.
78. {d}nin-hur-sag-ga2 uszum-gal-am3 sza3 im-mi-in-tusz
 en: Ninḫursag sits within like a great dragon.
79. {d}nin-tu-ra ama-gal-la tu-tu mu-un-ga2-ga2
 en: Nintur the great mother assists at births there.
80. {d}szul-pa-e3-a ensi2-ke4 nam-en mu-un-x#-x#
 en: Šulpa’e the ruler acts as lord.
81. {d}{asz}aszgi ur-sag mezem mu-un-ku2-e#
 en: Ašgi the hero consumes the contents of the vessels (?).
82. {d}uru3-masz nimgir-gal-eden-na mu-un-da-an-x#
 en: Urumaš, the great herald of the plains, dwells there too.
83. e2 lulim gu4-e3 am3-ma-gur-re
 en: Stags are gathered at the house in herds.
84. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
85. ur-sag {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Aszgi?
86. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-un-du
 en: Acgi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
87. e2 5(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 5th house.
88. e2 utu-ginx ki-gal-la gub-ba
 en: House positioned over its foundations like a storm,
89. am-babbar-ginx eden su8-ga#!
 en: like white bulls standing about on the plain;
90. e2 nun-e-ki-gar-ra igi-da ar2-ra [...]
 en: house founded by the prince, in praise on the tigi instrument!
91. e2 sza3-bi-ta lipisz-bi kalam-ma
 en: House in whose interior is the power of the Land,
92. a-ga-bi-ta zi ki-en-gi-ra
 en: and behind which is the life of Sumer
93. ka2-bi-ta pirig szu-ba na2-a
 en: at whose gate is a lion reclining on its paws,
94. ka2-bi-ta un-gal inim-gar-ra
 en: at whose gate is the ruler who decides cases (?)!
95. e2 ig-bi-ta kur-gal gaba nu-gi-gi
 en: House at whose door is the Great Mountain without adversary;
96. {gesz}sag-kul!-ta am-gal-la du7-a
 en: at whose bolt at whose bar} is a great frisking wild bull
97. ga2-nun ga2-ra-bi an-ub ki-ub
 en: Whose well-founded storehouse is a corner of heaven, a corner of earth
98. gi#-gun4#{ki}-na-bi la-ha-ma ki-us2-sa
 en: whose terrace is supported by lahama deities;
99. bad3-nun-na-bi esz3-uri2{ki} ka-kesz3-da
 en: whose princely wall, the shrine of Ur!
100. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-an-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
101. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Kec? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi?
102. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ra-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
103. e2 6(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 6th house.
104. e2-ku2 KU-bi e2-nin
 en: The holy house whose x is the shrine,
105. e2-kesz{ki} KU-bi e2-nun
 en: the holy house Keš, whose x is the shrine;
106. e2 en-bi {d}a-nun-na-mesz
 en: the house whose lords are the Anunna,
107. nu-esz3-bi giri2-la2 e2-an-na-me-esz
 en: whose nu’eš priests are the sacrificers of Eanna!
108. e2-2 lugal-bur-ra am3-mi-gib
 en: In the house the king places stone bowls in position
109. en-du10 sza3 esze2-la2 am3-mi-in-la2
 en: the good en priest x holds the lead-rope dangling
110. a-tu-e szibir szu bi2-in-du8
 en: The a-tu priests holds the staff;
111. tu-e a-ur4-a am3-mi-tum2
 en: the TU priest brings the gathered (?) waters.
112. lal3-e ki-ku3-ga am3-mi-in-tusz
 en: The "honey" priestess takes her seat in the holy place;
113. enkum-e-ne arax ki am3-ma-gal2-le-esz
 en: the enkum priests bow down x
114. pa4-szesz-e-ne kusz mu-un-sig3-ge-ne
 en: The pašeš priests beat the drumskins;
115. e2-szub iri-szub-a mu-ni-ib-be2-e-ne
 en: they recite powerfully, powerfully.
116. si-am-ma-ke4 gum2-ga mi-ni-ib-za
 en: The bull’s horn is made to growl; the drumsticks are made to thud
117. {gesz}al-gar-surx-ra suh3-sah mi-ni-ib-za
 en: The singer cries out to the ala drum;
118. tigi nun-du10-ge mu-na-du12-a
 en: the grand sweet tigi is played for him
119. e2 al-du3 girix-zal-bi al-du10
 en: The house is built; its nobility is good!
120. e2-kesz3{ki} al-du3 giriz-zal-bi al-du10
 en: The house Keš is built; its nobility is good!
121. nin-bi DIN-bi-a mu-un-tusz
 en: Its lady has taken a seat in its ...
122. {d}nin-hur-sag-ga2 nin-bi DIN-bi-a mu-un-tusz
 en: Ninhursaja, its lady, has taken her seat in its ...
123. kesz3{ki}-ginx rib-ba lu2 szi-in-ga-an-tum2-mu
 en: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
124. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi{gi18} rib-ba ama szi-in-ga-u3-tu
 en: Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi?
125. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ra-ginx rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du
 en: Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?
126. e2 7(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 7th house.
127. iri-sze3 iri-sze3 lu2 te-am3 te
 en: Draw near, man, to the city, to the city—but do not draw near!
128. e2-kesz3{ki} iri-sze3 lu2 te-am3 te
 en: Draw near, man, to the house Keš, to the city—but do not draw near!
129. ur-sag-bi {d}{asz}aszgi lu2 te-am3 te
 en: Draw near, man, to its hero Ašgi—but do not draw near!
130. nin-bi {d}nin-tu-ra-sze3 lu2 te-am3-te
 en: Draw near, man, to its lady Nintur—but do not draw near!
131. kesz3{ki}-du3-a {d}{asz}aszgi za3-mi2
 en: Praise be to well-built Keš, O Ašgi!
132. kesz3{ki} za3-SAL-la-am {d}nin-tu-ra za3-mi2
 en: Praise be to cherished Keš and Nintur!
133. e2 8(disz)-kam-ma
 en: The 8th house.