HYMN TO SIN, THE MOON GOD

Origin/Historian/Author: Babylonian
Source: Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament, Robert William Rogers
Translated by Zimmern, Hymnen, EG Perry, and Ungdad in Gressmann.

Full Text Below

Lord, chief of the gods, who alone is exalted on
earth and in heaven.
Father Nannar, Lord, Anshar, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, Lord, great Anu, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, Lord, Sin, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, Lord of Ur, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, Lord of Egisshirgal, 1 chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, Lord of the tiara, 2 brilliant one,
chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, whose rule is perfect, chief of the gods,
Father Nannar, who dost go forth in the robe of
majesty, chief of the gods,
O strong, young bull, with huge horns, perfect in
limbs, with beard 8 of lapis-lazuli color, full of
glory and perfection.
Fruit which hath created itself, of lofty form beau-
tiful to look upon, in whose being one cannot
sufficiently sate himself;
Mother womb, begetter of all things, who hast taken
up his exalted habitation among living creatures;
O merciful, gracious Father, who hath taken into
his care the life of the whole world.
O Lord, thy divinity is full of awe, like the far-off
heaven and the broad ocean.
O creator of the land, founder of sanctuaries, pro-
claimer of their names.
O Father, begetter of gods and men, who dost build
dwellings and establish offerings,
Who dost call to lordship, dost bestow the sceptre,
determinest destinies for far-off days.
O mighty leader, whose deep inner being no god
understands.
hastening steed, sturdy one, whose knees do not
grow weary, who dost open the road for the gods,
thy brothers,
20 Thou that from the base of heaven to the height of
heaven dost march in glory, opening the door of
heaven, and granting light to all men.
O Father, begetter of all things, who lookest upon
all living beings, seeker of . . .
O Lord, who determinest the decisions of heaven
and earth, whose command is not set aside.
Who holdest fire and water, and leadest all souls.
What god reaches thy fullness?
Who is exalted in heaven? Thou alone art ex-
alted.
Who is exalted on earth? Thou alone art exalted.
Thy word is proclaimed in heaven, and the Igigi
prostrate themselves;
Thy word is proclaimed on earth, and the Anunaki
kiss the ground.
Thy word sounds on high like a storm wind, and
food and drink do abound.
Thy word sounds over the earth, and vegetation
springs up.
Thy word makes fat stall and stable, and multiplies
living creatures.
Thy word causes truth and righteousness to arise,
that men may speak the truth.
Thy word is like the distant heaven, and the con-
cealed earth, which no man can see.
Thy word, who can know it, who can compare with it?
O Lord, in heaven, thou hast, among the gods thy
brothers no rival in dominion, nor in rule upon earth.
King of kings, exalted, whose decrees none rival, no
god is like unto thy divinity.
Where thine eye does glance faithfully there cometh
harmony (?)
Where thou dost grasp the hand, there cometh sal-
vation (?)
Gleaming Lord, who dost guide and lead truth and
righteousness in heaven and upon earth (?)
Look upon thy temple, look upon thy city,
Look upon Ur, look upon Egisshirgal,
May thy dear wife [Ningal (?)] the gracious [mother],
may she say to thee: “O Lord be appeased.”
The hero Shamash, [thy son] may he say to thee:
“(O Lord be appeased).”
The Igigi (may they say to thee): “O Lord (be
appeased).”
The Anunnaki (may they say to thee) : “O Lord (be
appeased) .”
The god (?) [. . . may he say to thee]: “O Lord
(be appeased) .”
The goddess Nin
[. . . may she say to thee]: “0 Lord (be appeased).”
The bolt of Ur, “0 The gods of heaven [ “]
A prayer of the lifting of the hand[8 lines to Sin]
Mighty one, Lord of power (?) [
Copied and compared according to the original.
Tablet of Ishtar-shuma-eresh, chief copyist
of Ashurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria,
son of Nabu-zer-lishteshir, the chief copyist.