Hymn to the E-kur: translation

^1-13The great house is as great as a mountain. The house of Enlil is as great as a mountain. The house of Ninlil is as great as a mountain. The bedchamber is as great as a mountain. The house which knows no daylight is as great as a mountain. The house at the Lofty Gate is as great as a mountain. The house at the Gate of Well-being is as great as a mountain. The courtyard of Enlil is as great as a mountain. The Hursaj-galama is as great as a mountain. The holy Renowned Gate is as great as a mountain. The Gate From Which Grain Is Never Diverted is as great as a mountain. The Ubcu-unkena is as great as a mountain. The Ja-jic-cua is as great as a mountain.

^14-27The house of Ninlil is as great as a mountain. The gate Innamra is as great as a mountain. The E-itida-buru is as great as a mountain. The courtyard of the Egal-mah is as great as a mountain. The lofty E-itida-buru is as great as a mountain. The Entum-galzu is as great as a mountain. The Innam-gidazu is as great as a mountain. The Suen Gate is as great as a mountain. The Dul-kug, the holy place, is as great as a mountain. The field of E-dima is as great as a mountain. The Ane-jara is as great as a mountain. The Acte, the pure place, is as great as a mountain. The E-tilla-mah is as great as a mountain. The Ja-apina is as great as a mountain.

²⁸ Sa-gida.

²⁹He declares: "Heavenward (?)!"

³⁰Its jicgijal.

^31-41For him who declares it, for him who declares it, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the mountain, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Enlil, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Ninlil, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Ninurta, the house comes forth like the daylight, for him who declares that he is of the house of the princely son.

⁴² Kirugu.

^43-52The house towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The house of Enlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The house of Ninlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The courtyard of Enlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The courtyard of Ninlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars.

⁵³ Sa-jara.

⁵⁴...... rejoice .......

⁵⁵Its jicgijal.

^56-68Its king is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The hero Ninurta is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The offspring (?) of Ninlil is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The lord, the hero (?) of the E-kur, is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The offspring (?) of Enlil is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. Lord Acimbabbar is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The princely son of the E-kur is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth.

⁶⁹...... (This rubric was probably omitted accidentally)

⁷⁰He is the favourite of Enlil.

⁷¹Its jicgijal.

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Revision history

25.vi.1999 : GZ : adapting translation
06.xii.1999 : JAB : proofreading
13.xii.1999 : GC : tagging
22.xii.1999 : ER : proofreading SGML
22.xii.1999 : ER : converting to HTML 4.0
7.ix.2001 : ER : header and footer reformatted; substantive content of file not changed