Assyro-Babylonian literature -- Translations into English
18 The waters of the sea (the waters of my tears) do I drink.
19 That which was forbidden by my god with my mouth I ate.
20 That which was forbidden by my goddess in my ignorance
I trampled upon.
21 O my Lord, my transgression (is) great, many (are) my
sins.
22 O my god, my transgression (is) great, my sins (are
many).
23 O my goddess, my transgression (is) great, my sins (are
many).
24 O my god that knowest (that) I knew not, my transgression
(is) great, my sins (are many).
25 O my goddess, that knowest (that) I knew not, my transgression
(is) great, my sins (are many).
26 The transgression (that) I committed I knew not.
27 The sin (that) I sinned I knew not.
28 The forbidden thing did I eat.
29 The forbidden thing did I trample upon.
30 My Lord in the wrath of his heart has punished me.
31 God in the strength of his heart has overpowered me.
32 The goddess upon me has laid affliction and in pain has set
me.
33 God who knew, (though) I knew not, hath pierced me.
34 The goddess who knew (though) I knew not hath caused
darkness.
35 I lay on the ground and no man seized me by the hand.[3]
36 I wept,[4] and my palms none took.
[Footnote 1: Literally, "of my lord his heart."]
[Footnote 2: The Accadian throughout has the word "mother" before
"goddess."]
[Footnote 3: Accadian, "extended the hand."]
[Footnote 4: Accadian, "in tears [water of the eye] I dissolved myself."]
REVERSE OF TABLET
1 I cried aloud; there was none that would hear me.
2 I am in darkness (and) trouble:[1] I lifted not myself up.
3 To my god my (distress) I referred; my prayer I addressed.
4 The feet of my goddess I embraced.
5 To (my) god, who knew (though) I knew not, (my prayer)
I addressed.
6 To (my) goddess, who knew (though I knew not, my
prayer) I addressed.
(The next four lines are lost.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account