THE PRAYERS AND HYMNS.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Jastrow, Morris
O lord of E-babbara, as thou marchest, may thy course be directed,
Direct thy path, march along the path fixed for thy course (?).
O Shamash! judge of the world, director of its laws art thou.
In the previous chapter, the hymns addressed to the moon-god in connection with eclipses have been referred to and short specimens given. A more elaborate hymn to Sin will further illustrate the conceptions current about this deity:[434]
O lord, chief of the gods, who on earth and in heaven alone is exalted.
Father Nannar,[435] lord of increase, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, heavenly lord,
Father Nannar, moon-god, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, lord of Ur, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, lord of E-gish-shir-gal,[436] chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, lord of the brilliant crescent, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, whose sovereignty is brought to perfection, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, who passes along in great majesty,
O strong Bull,[437] great of horns, perfect in form, with long flowing beard[438] of the color of lapus-lazuli.
Powerful one, self-created, a product (?) beautiful to look upon, whose fullness has not been brought forth,[439]
Merciful one, begetter of everything, who among living things occupies a lofty seat,
Father, merciful one and restorer, whose weapon (?) maintains the life of the whole world.
Lord, thy divinity, like the distant heaven and the wide ocean, is full (?) of fear.
Ruler of the land, protector of sanctuaries, proclaimer of their name.
Father, begetter of the gods and of men, establishing dwellings and granting gifts,
Calling to sovereignty, giving the sceptre, who decreest destinies for distant days.
Strong chief, whose wide heart embraces in mercy all that exists,
... beautiful, whose knees do not grow weary, who opens the road (?) for the gods, his brothers,
... who, from the foundation of heaven till the zenith,
Passes along in brilliancy (?), opening the door of heaven,
Preparing the fate (?) of humanity.
Father, begetter of everything, ...
Lord, proclaiming the decisions of heaven and earth,
Whose command is not set aside,
... and granting water[440] for all that has life.
No god reaches to thy fullness.
In heaven who is exalted? Thou alone art exalted.
On earth who is exalted? Thou alone art exalted.
Thy strong command is proclaimed in heaven, and the Igigi prostrate themselves.
Thy strong command is proclaimed on earth, and the Anunnaki kiss the ground.
Thy strong command on high, like a storm in the darkness, passes along, and nourishment streams forth.
When thy strong command is established on the earth, vegetation sprouts forth.
Thy strong command stretches over meadows and heights, and life is increased.
Thy strong command produces right and proclaims justice to mankind.
Thy strong command, through the distant heavens and the wide earth, extends to whatever there is.