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A šir-namšub to Ninurta (Ninurta G)

1-16. King, your headdress hangs loose upon your neck, your kingship is gloriously manifest! Hero Ninurta, your headress hangs loose upon your neck! Hero Pabilsaĝ, your headress hangs loose upon your neck! Hero Ninĝirsu, your headdress hangs loose upon your neck; your kingship is manifest! Your kingship exists in the heavens, exists on the earth. You sit with Enki upon the holy throne-dais.

17-37. The 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 Pabilsaĝ, devastator of the mountains, pillager of cities, the hero Ninĝirsu, 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 Pabilsaĝ, you are the towering wall of your city. Hero Ninĝirsu, you are the towering wall of your city; may your august name be invoked!

38-57. Since the day it was so decreed, your donkey-foals have …… gardens and meš trees. Šakkan, 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 Pabilsaĝ, your awesomeness is spread over the mountains. Hero Ninĝirsu, 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 meš trees. Šakkan, the lord of donkeys, has positioned them at your feet.

58-75. You 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 Lagaš. Speak to holy Mother Nanše, 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 šuba stone about her neck, ……
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76-87. The hero is most precious; his word is august. He is the sun of the Land; the discloser of great counsel in E-ama-lamma. Ninurta is most precious. Pabilsaĝ is most precious. Ninĝirsu is most precious; his word is august. He is the sun of the Land; the discloser of great counsel in E-ama-lamma.

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

102-110. If someone diminishes its borders, that man cuts off the house of his father at its borders, E-ama-lamma. 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-lamma.

    111. Its ĝišgiĝal.

112-133. The hero is a powerful force; may his storm leave no rain behind! The hero Ninurta is a powerful force. The hero Pabilsaĝ is a powerful force. The hero Ninĝirsu 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 Pabilsaĝ is the pillager of cities for his father. The hero Ninĝirsu 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 …….

134-164. My king, you covered the edge of the sea with rays of light. On that day from the gold (?) of Ḫarali you are Ena-tum. From the cornelian and lapis lazuli of the land of Meluḫa you are Ena-tum. From the dušia stone of the land of Marḫaši 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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165-171. House 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 reedbeds? House of the rebel lands, when will your beams return to their forests?

172-183. The enemy …… on the wall, and pays homage. My king, if only he knew your outstanding strength! 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. Its kišu.

    185-186. A šir-namšuba of Ninurta.



Revision history

24.vii.1999-27.vii.1999: JAB, editor: adapting translation
03.iv.2000: GZ, editor: proofreading
12.iv.2000: GC, editor: SGML tagging
20.iv.2000: ER, editor: proofreading SGML
20.iv.2000: ER, editor: web publication
01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion

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