The gods are downcast, sit, and weep, Covered were their lips ... Six days and nights The wind prevailed, flood and storm overwhelmed the land. When the seventh day came the storm abated, the flood was overcome, Which had battled like a warring host; The sea calmed, the hurricane ceased, the flood was restrained, I beheld the sea, uttering a lamentation, Seeing that all mankind was turned to clay. When the light had fully dawned I prayed. I opened an airhole and light fell upon my cheeks. I bowed myself, I sat down, I wept. Over my cheeks ran my tears. I looked upon the far-spread waters of the sea. After twelve double-hours a peak arose, Towards the mountain of Nitsir the ship took its course. The mountain of Nitsir held the ship and let it not rise. One day, a second day, the mountain of Nitsir, _ditto_ A third day, a fourth day the " " " " A fifth day, a sixth day " " " " " When the seventh day arrived I brought forth a _dove_ and let it go. The dove went forth, flew to and fro, but A resting-place there was not, so it returned. Then I brought forth a _swallow_ and let it go, The swallow went forth, flew to and fro, but A resting-place there was not so it returned. (Then) I brought forth a _raven_ and let it go. The raven went forth, the disappearance of the waters he saw, He eats, caws, flies to and fro, and returns not. (Then) I brought forth to the four winds, I offered a sacrifice. I made an incense-offering on the top-most peak of the mountain. Seven and seven _adagur_-vessels I placed. Into them I cast reeds, cedar-wood, and The gods inhaled the good odour. The gods like flies swarmed about the offerer. As soon as the mistress of the gods arrived She lifted up the great jewels (?) that the god Anu had devised and made for her (and said) "These gods, by my _lapis lazuli_ necklace I shall not forget. These days, verily I shall reflect upon and never forget. The gods, let them go to the incense-offering. (But) let not Bel go to the incense-offering, Seeing that he did not reflect but caused the flood. And my people he counted for destruction. As soon as Bel arrived He saw the ship and Bel was sore angry, He waxed wroth against the gods, the Igigi. "Some soul has escaped" (he said), "Let no man survive the destruction." Ninib openeth his mouth and speaketh, He speaks to the warrior Bel: "Who but Ea doeth (this) thing? But Ea is wise in every undertaking." Ea openeth his mouth and speaketh, Saith to the warrior Bel: "Thou sage of the gods, warrior! Verily, verily, thou didst not reflect, and didst make a flood: Upon the sinner lay his sins, Upon the impious his impiety.[3] Spare, let him not be cut off, have mercy, let him (not be utterly destroyed). Instead of bringing on a flood, Let the lion come and reduce mankind. Instead of bringing on a flood,