The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSLtranslation

Result: 70 paragraph(s)

The rulers of Lagaš: c.2.1.2
Ur-Ninmarki, the scribe and scholar: ……, his personal gods were Ḫaya and Nisaba, he acted for X + 20 years. Ur-Ninĝirsu, the son of Ur-Ninmarki: he acted for X × 60 years. Ur-Bau, the scribe of Ur-Ninĝirsu, who …… in the assembly: he acted for X + 30 years. Gudea, the younger brother of Ur-Bau, ……, who was not the son of his mother nor the son of his father: he acted for …… years.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
"The lord called for his house and I intend to make the grandeur of E-ninnu known everywhere. Using his wisdom, the ruler (i.e. Gudea) will achieve great things. He will direct faultless cattle and kids for offering. It is for him the fated brick is waiting. It is by him that the building of the holy house is to be done."

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
On that day, in a nocturnal vision Gudea saw his master, Lord Ninĝirsu. Ninĝirsu spoke to him of his house, of its building. He showed him an E-ninnu with full grandeur. Outstanding though his mind was, the message remained to be understood for him.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
"Warrior, rampant lion, who has no opponent! Ninĝirsu, important in the abzu, respected in Nibru! Warrior, I want to carry out faithfully what you have commanded me; Ninĝirsu, I want to build up your house for you, I want to make it perfect for you, so I will ask your sister, the child born of Eridug, an authority on her own, the lady, the dream-interpreter among the gods, my divine sister from Sirara, Nanše, to show me the way." His call was heard; his master, Lord Ninĝirsu, accepted from Gudea his prayer and supplication.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Gudea celebrated the ešeš festival in the house of Bagara. The ruler set up his bed near to Ĝatumdug. He offered bread and poured cold water and went to holy Ĝatumdug to pray to her: "My lady, child begotten by holy An, an authority on her own, proud goddess, living in the Land, …… of her city! Lady, mother, you who founded Lagaš, if you but look upon your people, it brings abundance; the worthy young man on whom you look will enjoy a long life."

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
"Well, I have to tell her about this! Well, I have to tell her about this! I will ask her to stand by me in this matter. I will take my dream to my mother and I will ask my dream-interpreter, an expert on her own, my divine sister from Sirara, Nanše, to reveal its meaning to me." His call was heard; his lady, holy Ĝatumdug, accepted from Gudea his prayer and supplication.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The true shepherd Gudea is wise, and able too to realise things. Accepting what Nanše had told him, he opened his storehouse up and took out wood from it. Gudea checked (?) the wood piece by piece, taking great care of the wood. He smoothed meš wood, split ḫalub wood with an axe and built (?) a blue chariot from them for him. He harnessed to it the stallion Piriĝ-kaše-pada. He fashioned for him his beloved standard, wrote his name on it, and then entered before the warrior who loves gifts, before his master Lord Ninĝirsu in E-ninnu-the-white-Anzud-bird, together with his beloved balaĝ drum Ušumgal-kalama, his famous instrument to which he keeps listening. He joyfully brought the drum to him in the temple. Gudea came out of the shrine E-ninnu with a radiant face.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Afterwards, Ninĝirsu stepped up to the head of the sleeper, briefly touching him: "You who are going to build it for me, you who are going to build it for me, ruler, you who are going to build my house for me, Gudea, let me tell you the ominous sign for building my house, let me tell you the pure stars of heaven indicating my regulations (?)."

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
"When you, true shepherd Gudea, really set to work for me on my house, the foremost house of all lands, the right arm of Lagaš, the Anzud bird roaring on the horizon, the E-ninnu, my royal house, I will call up to heaven for humid winds so that plenty comes down to you from heaven and the land will thrive under your reign in abundance."

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Gudea rose -- it was sleep; he shuddered -- it was a dream. Accepting Ninĝirsu's words, he went to perform extispicy on a white kid. He performed it on the kid and his omen was favourable. Ninĝirsu's intention became as clear as daylight to Gudea.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He undid the tongue of the goad and the whip, replacing them with wool from lamb-bearing sheep. No mother shouted at her child. No child answered its mother back. No slave who …… was hit on the head by his master, no misbehaving slave girl was slapped on the face by her mistress. Nobody could make the ruler building the E-ninnu, Gudea, let fall a chance utterance. The ruler cleansed the city, he let purifying fire loose over it. He expelled the persons ritually unclean, unpleasant to look at, and …… from the city.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The citizens were purifying an area of 24 iku for him, they were cleansing that area for him. He put juniper, the mountains' pure plant, onto the fire and raised smoke with cedar resin, the scent of gods. For him the day was for praying, and the night passed for him in supplications. In order to build the house of Ninĝirsu, the Anuna gods of the land of Lagaš stood by Gudea in prayer and supplication, and all this made the true shepherd Gudea extremely happy.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The Elamites came to him from Elam, the Susians came to him from Susa. Magan and Meluḫa loaded wood from their mountains upon their shoulders for him, and to build the house of Ninĝirsu, they gathered for Gudea at his city Ĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Ninzaga was commanded and he made his copper, as much as if it were a huge grain transport, reach Gudea, the man in charge of building the house. Ninsikila was also instructed and she made large ḫalub logs, ebony, and aba wood reach the ruler building the E-ninnu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Lord Ninĝirsu directed Gudea into the impenetrable mountain of cedars and he cut down its cedars with great axes and carved the Šar-ur, the right arm of Lagaš, his master's flood-storm weapon, out of it.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
It was like a giant serpent floating on the water as, for Lord Ninĝirsu, Gudea had the long rafts floating downstream moor at the main quay of Kan-sura: logs of cedar wood from the cedar hills, logs of cypress wood from the cypress hills, logs of zabalum wood from the zabalum hills, tall spruce trees, plane trees, and eranum trees.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Lord Ninĝirsu directed Gudea into the impenetrable mountains of stones and he brought back great stones in the form of slabs. For Lord Ninĝirsu, Gudea had ships with ḫauna dock there, and ships with gravel, with dried bitumen, …… bitumen, and gypsum from the hills of Madga, cargoes like boats bringing grain from the fields.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Great things came to the succour of the ruler building the E-ninnu: a copper mountain in Kimaš revealed itself to him. He mined its copper onto rafts. To the man in charge of building his master's house, the ruler, gold was brought in dust form from its mountains. For Gudea refined silver was brought down from its mountains. Translucent cornelian from Meluḫa was spread before him. From the alabaster mountains alabaster was brought down to him.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He …… the days (?). Gudea prolonged the nights (?) for Ninĝirsu. Because of building the house for his master, he neither slept at night, nor did he rest his head during the siesta.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
For the one looked on with favour by Nanše, for the favourite of Enlil, for the ruler …… by Ninĝirsu, for Gudea, born in the august sanctuary by Ĝatumdug, Nisaba opened the house of understanding and Enki put right the design of the house.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Towards the house whose halo reaches to heaven, whose powers embrace heaven and earth, whose owner is a lord with a fierce stare, whose warrior Ninĝirsu is expert at battle, towards E-ninnu-the-white-Anzud-bird, Gudea went from the south and admired it northwards. From the north he went towards it and admired it southwards. He measured out with rope exactly one iku. He drove in pegs at its sides and personally verified them. This made him extremely happy.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
When the night fell, he went to the old temple to pray, so that the inclination of the one from the dais of Ĝir-nun (i.e. Ninĝirsu) would become favourable for Gudea. When day broke, he took a bath and arranged his outfit correctly. Utu let abundance come forth for him. Gudea left Iri-kug a second time; he sacrificed a perfect bull and a perfect kid. He went to the house and saluted it.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He poured clear water into the …… of the brick mould -- adab, sim and ala drums were playing for the ruler. He prepared the excavated earth for making (?) the brick, and hoed honey, ghee and precious oil into it. He worked balsam (?) and essences from all kinds of trees into the paste. He lifted up the holy carrying-basket and put it next to the brick mould. Gudea placed the clay into the brick mould and acted exactly as prescribed, bringing the first brick of the house into existence in it, while all the bystanders sprinkled oil or cedar perfume. His city and the land of Lagaš spent the day with him in joy.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He shook the brick mould and left the brick to dry. He looked at the …… with satisfaction. He anointed it with cypress essence and balsam (?). Utu rejoiced over the brick put into the mould by Gudea, and King Enki …… the …… rising like a great river. …… and Gudea went into the house.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He raised the brick out of the …… of the mould, and it looked as a holy crown worn by An. He lifted up the brick and went around among his people: it was like Utu's holy team tossing (?) their heads. The brick lifting its head toward the house was as if Nanna's cows were eager to be tethered in their pen. He put down the brick, entered the house and as if he himself were Nisaba knowing the inmost secrets (?) of numbers, he started setting down (?) the ground plan of the house. As if he were a young man building a house for the first time, sweet sleep never came into his eyes. Like a cow keeping an eye on its calf, he went in constant worry to the house. Like a man who takes but little food into his mouth, he went around untiringly. The intention of his master had become clear for him, the words of Ninĝirsu had become as conspicuous as a banner to Gudea. In (?) his heart beating loudly because of building the house, someone …… a propitious ominous remark. This made him extremely happy.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He performed extispicy on a kid and his omen was favourable. He cast grain on to …… and its appearance was right. Gudea lay down for a dream oracle, and while he was sleeping a message came to him: in the vision he saw his master's house already built, the E-ninnu separating heaven and earth. This made him extremely happy.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Gudea, in charge of building the house, placed on his head the carrying-basket for the house, as if it were a holy crown. He laid the foundation, set the walls on the ground. He marked out a square, aligned the bricks with a string. He marked out a second square on the site of the temple, saying," It is the line-mark for a topped-off jar of 1 ban capacity (?)." He marked out a third square on the site of the temple, saying," It is the Anzud bird enveloping its fledgling with its wings." He marked out a fourth square on the site of the temple, saying," It is a panther embracing a fierce lion." He marked out a fifth square on the site of the temple, saying," It is the blue sky in all its splendour." He marked out a sixth square on the site of the temple, saying," It is the day of supply, full of luxuriance." He marked out a seventh square on the site of the temple, saying," It is the E-ninnu bathing the Land with moonlight at dawn."

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
They inserted the wooden door frames, which were like a crown worn in the blue sky. As Gudea sat down at a wooden door frame, from there it was like a huge house embracing heaven. As he built the house and laid wooden scaffolding against it, it was like Nanna's lagoon attended by Enki. They made the house grow as high as the hills, they mad it float in the midst of heaven as a cloud, they made it lift its horns as a bull and they made it raise its head above all the lands, like the ĝišgana tree over the abzu. As the house had been made to lift its head so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth like the hills, it was like a luxuriant cedar growing among high grass (?); E-ninnu was decorated most alluringly among Sumer's buildings.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up in the great courtyard he named as "The king who …… the courtyard, Lord Ninĝirsu, has recognised Gudea from the Ĝir-nun".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up at the Kan-sura gate he named as "The king, Enlil's flood storm, who has no opponent, Lord Ninĝirsu, has looked with favour at Gudea".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up facing the rising sun he named as "The king, the roaring storm of Enlil, the lord without rival, Lord Ninĝirsu, has chosen Gudea with his holy heart".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up facing Šu-galam he named as "The king, at whose name the foreign countries tremble, Lord Ninĝirsu, has made Gudea's throne firm".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up facing E-uru-ga he named as "Lord Ninĝirsu has decided a good fate for Gudea".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The stela which he set up by the inner room (?) of Bau he named as "The eyes of An know the E-ninnu, and Bau is the life source of Gudea".

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He built his master's house exactly as he had been told to. The true shepherd Gudea made it grow so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth, had it wear a tiara shaped like the new moon, and had its fame spread as far as the heart of the highlands. Gudea made Ninĝirsu's house come out like the sun from the clouds, had it grow to be like hills of lapis lazuli and had it stand to be marvelled at like hills of white alabaster.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He made its door-sockets stand like wild bulls and he flanked them with dragons crouching on their paws like lions. He had its terraced tower (?) grow on a place as pure as the abzu. He made the metal tops of its standards twinkle as the horns of the holy stags of the abzu. Gudea made the house of Ninĝirsu stand to be marvelled at like the new moon in the skies.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The true shepherd Gudea is wise, and able too to realise things. In the inner room (?) where the weapons hang, at the Gate of Battle he had the warriors Six-headed wild ram and …… head take their stand. Facing the city, its place laden with awe, he had the Seven-headed serpent take its stand. In Šu-galam, its awesome gate, he had the Dragon and the Date palm take their stand. Facing the sunrise, where the fates are decided, he erected the standard of Utu, the Bison head, beside others already there. At the Kan-sura gate, at its lookout post, he had the Lion, the terror of the gods, take its stand. In the Tar-sirsir, where the orders are issued, he had the Fish-man and the Copper take their stand. In Bau's inner room (?), where the heart can be soothed, he had the Magilum boat and the Bison take their stand. Because these were warriors slain by Ninĝirsu, he set their mouths towards libation places. Gudea, the ruler of Lagaš, made their names appear among those of the gods.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The fearsomeness of the E-ninnu covers all the lands like a garment. The house! It is founded by An on refined silver, it is painted with kohl, and comes out as the moonlight with heavenly splendour. The house! Its front is a great mountain firmly grounded, its inside resounds with incantations and harmonious hymns, its exterior is the sky, a great house rising in abundance, its outer assembly hall is the Anuna gods' place of rendering judgments, from its …… words of prayer can be heard, its food supply is the abundance of the gods, its standards erected around the house are the Anzud bird spreading its wings over the bright mountain. E-ninnu's clay plaster, harmoniously blended clay taken from the Edin canal, has been chosen by its master Lord Ninĝirsu with his holy heart, and was painted by Gudea with the splendours of heaven as if kohl were being poured all over it.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The house has been built most sumptuously by its lord. It was built on a pedestal by Ninĝišzida. Its foundation pegs were driven in by Gudea, the ruler of Lagaš.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The true shepherd Gudea is wise, and able too to realise things. His friendly guardian went before him and his friendly protecting genius followed him. For his master, Lord Ninĝirsu, Gudea gave numerous gifts to the house of yore, the old house, his dwelling place. He went into the E-ninnu to the lord, and prayed to him:

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
"My master Ninĝirsu, lord who has turned back the fierce waters, lord whose commands take precedence, male child of Enlil, warrior, I have carried out faithfully what you have ordered me to do. Ninĝirsu, I have built up your house for you; now I shall let you enter it in joy! My goddess Bau, I have set up your E-mi quarters for you: take up pleasant residence in them." His call was heard, his hero Lord Ninĝirsu accepted from Gudea his prayer and supplication.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Gudea made a paste with cornelian and lapis lazuli and applied it to the corners. He sprinkled the floor with precious oil. He made the ……, who worked there (?), leave the house. Syrup, ghee, wine, sour milk, ĝipar fruit, fig-cakes topped with cheese, dates, …… and small grapes, things untouched by fire, were the foods for the gods which he prepared with syrup and ghee.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
On the day when the true god was to arrive, Gudea was busy with the evening meal from early morning. Asari cared for the maintenance of the house. Ninmada took care of its cleaning. King Enki gave oracular pronouncements concerning it. Nindub, the chief purification priest of Eridug, filled it with the smoke of incense. The lady of precious rites, Nanše, versed in singing holy songs, sang songs for the house.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to guide the hand of the righteous one; to force the evil-doer's neck into a neck stock; to keep the house safe; to keep the house pleasant; to instruct his city and the sanctuaries of Ĝirsu; to set up an auspicous throne; to hold the sceptre of never-ending days; to raise high the head of the shepherd called by Ninĝirsu, as if he wore a blue crown; and to appoint to their offices in the courtyard of E-ninnu the skin-clad ones, the linen-clad ones and those whose head is covered, Gudea introduced Ig-alim, the Great Door (ig gal), the Pole (dim) of Ĝir-nun, the chief bailiff of Ĝirsu, his beloved son, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to keep the house clean; to let hands always be washed; to serve water to the lord with holy hands; to pour beer into bowls; to pour wine into jars; to make emmer beer in the brewery, the house of pure strength, fizz like the water of the Papsir canal; to make certain that faultless cattle and goats, grain-fed sheep, fresh bread and hind's milk are available day and night; to wake from sleep the noble one, Enlil's beloved son, the warrior Ninĝirsu, by offering (?) food and drink, Gudea introduced Šul-šaga, the lord of the pure hand-washings (šu-luḫ), the first-born son of E-ninnu, to Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to carry the seven-headed mace; to open the door of the an-kar house, the Gate of Battle; to hit exactly with the dagger blades, with the mitum mace, with the "floodstorm" weapon and with the marratum club, its battle tools; to inundate Enlil's enemy land, Gudea introduced Lugal-kur-dub, the warrior Šar-ur, who in battle subdues all the foreign lands, the mighty general of the E-ninnu, a falcon against the rebel lands, his general, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, Gudea introduced the lord's second general, Kur-šuna-buruam, to the son of Enlil.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to send entreaties on behalf of the land of Lagaš; to perform supplications and prayers for it, propitious ones; to greet pleasantly the warrior departing for Eridug; and until (?) Ninĝirsu comes from Eridug, to keep the throne of the built-up city firm; to pray, with hand placed before the nose, together with Gudea, for the life of the true shepherd, Gudea introduced his adviser, Lugal-si-sa, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to request; to command; to co-operate with the one speaking straightforwardly; to …… the one speaking evil; to inform Ninĝirsu, the warrior sitting on a holy dais in the E-ninnu, Gudea introduced Šakkan, the wild ram, the minister of the E-duga, his ……, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to clean with water; to clean with soap; to …… with oil from white bowls and with (?) soap; to urge him to sweet sleep on his bed strewn with fresh herbs; to let him enter the E-duga, his bed chamber, from outside (?) and to make him not wish to leave it, Gudea introduced Kinda-zid, the man in charge of the E-duga, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to yoke up the holy chariot decorated with stars; to harness the donkey stallion, Piriĝ-kaše-pada, before it; to …… a slender donkey from Eridug with the stallion; to have them joyfully transport their owner Ninĝirsu, Gudea introduced En-šeg-nun, who roars like a lion, who rises like a flood storm, Ninĝirsu's hurrying bailiff, his donkey herdsman, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely, to make the butter abundant; to make the cream abundant; to see that the butter and the milk of the holy goats, the milking goats, and the hind, the mother of Ninĝirsu, do not cease to flow in the E-ninnu sanctuary, Gudea introduced En-lulim, the herdsman of the hinds, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to tune properly the sweet-toned tigi instrument; to fill the courtyard of E-ninnu with joy; to make the alĝar and miritum, instruments of the E-duga, offer their best in the E-ninnu to Ninĝirsu, the warrior with an ear for music, Gudea introduced his beloved musician, Ušumgal-kalama, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to soothe the heart, to soothe the spirits; to dry weeping eyes; to banish mourning from the mourning heart; to …… the heart of the lord that rises like the sea, that washes away like the Euphrates, that hits like a flood storm, that has overflowed with joy after inundating a land which is Enlil's enemy, Gudea introduced his balaĝ drum, Lugal-igi-ḫuš, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Zazaru, Iškur-pa-e, Ur-agrunta-ea, Ḫe-Ĝir-nuna, Ḫe-šaga, Zurĝu and Zarĝu, who are Bau's septuplets, the offspring of Lord Ninĝirsu, his beloved lukur maidens, who create plenty for the myriads, stepped forward to Lord Ninĝirsu with friendly entreaties on behalf of Gudea.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to see that the great fields grow rich; to see that the levees and ditches of Lagaš will be full to the brim; to see that Ezina-Kusu, the pure stalk, will raise its head high in the furrows in Gu-edina, the plain befitting its owner; to see that after the good fields have provided wheat, emmer and all kinds of pulses, numerous grain heaps -- the yield of the land of Lagaš -- will be heaped up, Gudea introduced Ĝišbar-e, Enlil's surveyor, the farmer of Gu-edina, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to make sure that Imin-šatam, the messenger of Gu-edina, informs Ninĝirsu in the E-ninnu about the amount of carp and perch (?) yielded by the marshes, and about the quantity of new shoots of reed yielded by the green reedbeds, Gudea introduced Lama, the inspector of the fisheries of Gu-edina, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to administer the open country, the pleasant place; to give directions concerning the Gu-edina, the pleasant open country; to make its birds propagate (?); to have them lay their eggs in nests (?); to have them rear their young; to see that the multiplication of the beasts of Ninĝirsu's beloved countryside does not diminish, Gudea introduced Dim-gal-abzu, the herald of Gu-edina, to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his divine duties, namely to erect cities; to found settlements; to build guard-houses for the wall of the Iri-kug; to have its divine resident constable, the mace of white cedar with its enormous head, patrol around the house, Gudea introduced Lugal-ennu-iri-kugakam to Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
The mighty steward of Nanše, the accomplished shepherd of Ninĝirsu, is wise, and able too to realise things; the man in charge of building the house, Gudea the ruler of Lagaš, was to make presents for the house.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Gudea, the ruler in charge of building the house, the ruler of Lagaš, presented it with the chariot "It makes the mountains bow down", which carries awesome radiance and on which great fearsomeness rides and with its donkey stallion, Ud-gu-dugduga, to serve before it; with the seven-headed mace, the fierce battle weapon, the weapon unbearable both for the North and for the South, with a battle cudgel, with the mitum mace, with the lion-headed weapon made from nir stone, which never turns back before the highlands, with dagger blades, with nine standards, with the "strength of heroism", with his bow which twangs like a meš forest, with his angry arrows which whizz like lightning flashes in battle, and with his quiver, which is like a lion, a piriĝ lion, or a fierce snake sticking out its tongue -- strengths of battle imbued with the power of kingship.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
With his duties, namely to fill the channels with flowing water; to make the marshes full with carp and perch (?) and to have the inspector of fisheries and the inspector of dykes stand at their posts; to fill the great waters with boats carrying grain; to see that tons, heaps and tons -- the yield of the land of Lagaš -- will be piled up; to see that cattle-pens and sheepfolds will be erected; to see that lambs abound around healthy ewes; to have the rams let loose on the healthy ewes; to see that numerous calves stand beside healthy cows; to see that breed bulls bellow loudly among them; to have the oxen properly yoked and to have the farmers and ox drivers stand beside them; to have donkeys carry packsaddles and to have their drivers, who feed them, follow behind them; to see that large copper …… will be strapped onto jackasses; to see that the principal mill will produce (?); to …… the house of Ninĝirsu's young slave women; to set …… right; to see that the courtyard of the E-ninnu will be filled with joy; to see that the ala drums and balaĝ drum will sound in perfect concert with the sim drums, and to see that his beloved drum Ušumgal-kalama will walk in front of the procession, the ruler who had built the E-ninnu, Gudea, himself entered before Lord Ninĝirsu.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
He had everything function as it should in his city. Gudea had built the E-ninnu, made its powers perfect. He brought butter and cream into its dairy and provided its …… with bread (?). He had debts remitted and made all hands clear. When his master entered the house, for seven days the slave woman was allowed to became equal to her mistress and the slave was allowed to walk side by side with his master. But the ritually unclean ones could sleep only at the border of his city. He silenced the evil-speaking tongue and locked up evil.

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
Like Utu, he rose on the horizon for the city. He wound (?) a turban (?) on his head. He made himself known by the eyes of holy An. He entered the shrine of E-ninnu with raised head like a bull and sacrificed there faultless oxen and kids. He set bowls in the open air and filled them full with wine. Ušumgal-kalama was accompanied by tigi drums, and ala drums roared for him like a storm. The ruler stepped onto the outer wall (?) and his city looked up to him in admiration. Gudea ……. (6 lines missing)

The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7
(3 lines fragmentary) "…… grown as tall as Gilgameš. No one shall remove its throne set up there. Your god, Lord Ninĝišzida, is the grandson of An; your divine mother is Ninsumun, the bearing mother of good offspring, who loves her offspring; you are a child born by the true cow. You are a true youth made to rise over the land of Lagaš by Ninĝirsu; your name is established from below to above. Gudea, nobody …… what you say. You are …… a man known to An. You are a true ruler, for whom the house has determined a good fate. Gudea, son of Ninĝišzida, you will enjoy a long life!"

A tigi to Bau for Gudea (Gudea A): c.2.3.2
After you had chosen the shepherd in the assembly for his attractiveness, you recognised him in ……, his lofty place, gave him ……, and ……. Bau, after you had chosen Gudea for his attractiveness in the divine assembly, you recognised him in ……, his lofty place, gave him ……, and …….

A tigi to Bau for Gudea (Gudea A): c.2.3.2
My lady, you have looked up in the divine assembly and …… him (?) with charms. You have chosen with your heart a worthy man, the true shepherd Gudea. Mother Bau, he will duly praise you in your city, Lagaš! Bau, you have looked up in the divine assembly and …… him (?) with charms. You have chosen with your heart a worthy man, the true shepherd, Gudea. Mother Bau, he will duly praise you in your city, Lagaš!

Letter from Gudea to his personal deity: c.3.3.20
Speak to my god: this is what Gudea, your servant, says:

A hymn to Nanše (Nanše A): c.4.14.1
There is perfection in the presence of the lady. Lagaš thrives in abundance in the presence of Nanše. She chose the šennu in her holy heart and seated Ur-Nanše, the beloved lord of Lagaš, on the throne. She gave the lofty sceptre to the shepherd. She adorned Gudea with all her precious divine powers. The shepherd chosen by her in her holy heart, Gudea, the ruler of Lagaš, placed the lyre (?) Cow-of-Abundance among the tigi drums and placed the holy balaĝ drum at its side. While sacred songs and harmonious songs were performed before her, the kintur instrument praised the temple. The chief musician played the ibex horn for her: the song 'The house has been granted powers from the abzu', the sacred song of the house of Sirara about the princely powers was performed.

The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2
At that time, the water was drained away from the reeds ……, and they were visible at the sheepfold. The aštaltal plant, spreading its seeds from the reedbeds, and the little kumul plants came out of the earth: they are good as little ones. The small enbar reed tighten her headdress: it is good as a young maiden. The ubzal reed goes about the city: it is good as a young man. The pela reed is covered from bottom to top: it is a good daughter-in-law. The pela reed turns from bottom to top: it is a good young son. The gašam reed digs in the ground: it is good as an old man. The zi reed …… on its own: it is good as an old woman. The reedbed lifts its head beautifully: it is a good Gudea. The ildag tree lifts its head in the irrigation ditch: it is good as a king. …… with bright branches: it is a good prince.