A PRAYER TO NINIB

Origin/Historian/Author: Babylonian
Source: Babylonian Magic and Sorcery, L. W. King, 1896

Full Text Below

11. O mighty son, first-born of Bel
12. Powerful, perfect, offspring of Isara,
13. Who art clothed with terror, who art full of fury!
14. O Utgallu, whose onslaught is unopposed!
15. Mighty is (thy) place among the great gods!
16. In Ekur, the house of decisions, exalted are thy heads,
17. And Bel thy father has granted thee
18. That the law of all the gods thy hand should hold!
19. Thou judgest the judgment of mankind!
20. Thou leadest him that is without leader, the man that is in need!
21. Thou holdest the hand of the weak, thou exalted him that is not strong!
22. The body of the man that to the Lower World has been brought down thou dost restore!
23. From him who sin possesses, the sin thou dost remove!
24. Thou art quick to favor the man with whom his god is angry
25. O Ninib, prince of the gods, hero art thou!
26. I so and so, son of so and so, whose god is so and so, whose goddess is so and so,
27. Have bound for thee cord ….. have I offered thee;
28. I have offered thee tarrinnu, pleasant odor;
29. I have poured out for thee mead, drink from corn.
30. With thee may there stand the gods of Bel
31. With thee may there stand the gods of Ekur
32. Truly pity me and hearken to my cries!
33. My sighing remove and accept my supplication!
34. Let my cry find acceptance before thee!
35. Deal favorably with me who fear thee!
36. Thy face have I beheld, let me have prosperity!
37. Thou art pitiful! Truly pity me!
38. Take away my sin, my iniquity remove!
39. Tear away my disgrace and my offense do thou loosen!
40. May my god and my goddess command me and may they ordain good fortune!
41. May I praise thy heart, may bow in humility before thee!

Another Translation (The Sacred Books and Literature of the East, By Prof. Charles F. Horne, Ph.D.)

O mighty son, first born of Bel!
Powerful, perfect, offspring of Esara,
Who art clothed with terror, who art full of fury!
O Utgallu, whose onslaught is unopposed!
Mighty is thy place among the great gods!
In Ekur, the house of decisions, exalted are thy heads,
And Bel thy father has granted thee
That the law of all the gods thy hand should hold!
Thou judgest the judgment of mankind!
Thou leadest him that is without a leader, the man that is in
need! Thou boldest the hand of the weak, thou exaltest him that is
not strong! The body of the man that to the lower world has been brought down, thou dost restore!
From him who sin possesses, the sin thou dost remove! Thou art quick to favor the man with whom his god is angry!
O Ninib, prince of the gods, a hero art thou!
I [so and so, son of so and so,] whose god is [so and so,]
whose goddess is [so and so,]
Have bound for thee a cord, . . . have I offered thee;
I have offered thee tarrinnu, a pleasant odor;
I have poured out for thee mead, a drink from corn.
With thee may there stand the gods of Bel!
With thee may there stand the gods of Ekur!
Truly pity me and harken to my cries!
My sighing remove and accept my supplication!
Let my cry find acceptance before thee!
Deal favorably with me who fear thee!
Thy face have I beheld, let me have prosperity!
Thou art pitiful! Truly pity me!
Take away my sin, my iniquity remove!