A shir-namshub to Ninurta (Ninurta G): translation

^1-16Hero, Enlil's gatherer of the numerous divine powers, great hero, consummately your kingship is gloriously manifest! Hero Ninurta, the combs of your neck-hair are loosened! Hero Pabilsaj, the combs of your neck-hair are loosened! Hero Ninjirsu, the combs of your neck-hair are loosened; your kingship is gloriously manifest! Your kingship exists in the heavens, exists on the earth. You sit with Enki upon the holy throne-dais.

^17-37The hero, devastator of the mountains, pillager of cities, batters at the rebel lands. The hero Ninurta, devastator of the mountains, pillager of cities, the hero Pabilsaj, devastator of the mountains, pillager of cities, the hero Ninjirsu, devastator of the mountains, pillager of cities, batters at the rebel lands. A king, a storm beating down from above: you are an unrivalled lord. Hero, you are the towering wall of your city; may your august name be invoked! Hero Ninurta, you are the towering wall of your city. Hero Pabilsaj, you are the towering wall of your city. Hero Ninjirsu, you are the towering wall of your city; may your august name be invoked!

^38-57Since the day it was so decreed, your donkey-foals have ...... gardens and mec trees. Cakkan, the lord of donkeys, has positioned them at your feet. Hero, your awesomeness is spread over the mountains; your grandeur covers all foreign lands. Hero Ninurta, your awesomeness is spread over the mountains. Hero Pabilsaj, your awesomeness is spread over the mountains. Hero Ninjirsu, your awesomeness is spread over the mountains; your grandeur covers all foreign lands. Since the day it was so decreed, your donkey-foals ...... gardens and mec trees. Cakkan, the lord of donkeys, has positioned them at your feet.

^58-75You have taken your place upon the throne-dais of Nibru, where you sit with father Enlil. You are the heroic son of father Enlil. He made you stand in service in E-kur. You have taken your place upon the throne-dais of Lagac. Speak to holy mother Nance, so she will cast her protecting arms over you like Utu! May she indicate your station for you! May she who has no fear of your splendour embrace your limbs! May my lady of the beneficent divine powers, with the ornaments of cuba stone about her neck, ......
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^76-87The hero is most precious; his word is august. He is the sun of the Land; the discloser of great counsel in E-ama-lama. Ninurta is most precious. Pabilsaj is most precious. Ninjirsu is most precious; his word is august. He is the sun of the Land; the discloser of great counsel in E-ama-lama.

^88-101Hero, on the battlefield the cities of the foreign lands have dedicated (?) a house to you: E-ama-lama, a house of sanctuary (?). Ninurta, a house of sanctuary (?), Pabilsaj, a house of sanctuary (?), Ninjirsu, on the battlefield the cities of the foreign lands have dedicated (?) a house to you: E-ama-lama, a house of sanctuary (?). It is a most distant forest whose edges are widespread (?). Its extent is indeed with the king, E-ama-lama. It is a forest, a most distant boat moored on the mountains.

^102-110If someone diminishes its borders, that man cuts off the house of his father at its borders, E-ama-lama. If someone, though a stranger to his father, diminishes its borders, that man cuts off the house of his father at its borders, E-ama-lama.

^111-999Its jicgijal.

^112-133The hero is a powerful force; may his storm leave no rain behind! The hero Ninurta is a powerful force. The hero Pabilsaj is a powerful force. The hero Ninjirsu is a powerful force; may his storm leave no rain behind! My king is the pillager of cities for his father. O his valour! The hero Ninurta is the pillager of cities for his father. The hero Pabilsaj is the pillager of cities for his father. The hero Ninjirsu is the pillager of cities for his father. O his valour! My king, ...... the mountains, you ....... Hero Ninurta, before you the land swells (?) as if .......

^134-164My king, you covered the edge of the sea with rays of light. On that day from the gold (?) of Harali you are Ena-tum. From the cornelian and lapis lazuli of the land of Meluha you are Ena-tum. From the ducia stone of the land of Marhaci you are Enakam. From the silver of fifteen cities you are Enakam. From the copper and tin of Magan you are Enakam. From the bronze of ...... you are Enakam (?). From the silver of Dilmun you are Ena-tum. From the im-kalaga clay of the mouth of the hills you are Enakam. From the gypsum of the shining hills you are Enakam.
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^165-171House of the rebel lands! Ah you! You! Ah me! Me! House of the rebel lands, when will your clay return to its abzu? House of the rebel lands, when will your reeds return to their reed-beds? House of the rebel lands, when will your beams return to their forests?

^172-183The enemy ...... on the wall, and pays homage. My king, if only he knew your titanic, mighty awesomeness! Hero Ninurta, if only he knew your mighty awesomeness! If only he knew your devouring of men like a lion! If only he knew your ...... like a dragon! If only he knew your ...... kid and lamb like a lion!

^184-999Its kicu.

^185-186A cir-namcuba of Ninurta.

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Revision history

24.vii.1999-27.vii.1999 : JAB : adapting translation
03.iv.2000 : GZ : proofreading
12.iv.2000 : GC : tagging
20.iv.2000 : ER : proofreading SGML
20.iv.2000 : ER : converting to HTML 4.0
7.ix.2001 : ER : header and footer reformatted; substantive content of file not changed