Origin/Historian/Author: Isin (ca. 1900 BCE)
Source: Sumerian Liturgical Texts, By Stephen Langdon, 1917
Full Text Below
OBVERSE COLUMN I
19. [“Divine Ishme-Dalgan son of Dagan I am.
20. [May the god ….. ] decree me prosperity.
21. [To my reign] prosperous years may he announce.”
OBVERSE COLUMN II
1. Whatsoever things are named …..
2. May he with understanding of the seven (numbers) grandly [adorn me].
3. Sin first horn son of Enlil,
4. A throne of royalty ….. .
5. In a chamber of ruling loftily [may ….. ]
6. May he fashion unto far away days a restless scepter.
7. May Nusku the messenger of Enlil,
8. Into my hand a regal scepter place.
9. In Ekur oracles unto me may he reveal.
10. Wheresoever I go, his awe may he lend me.
11. The heart of Enlil like (the heart of) a mother may he make faithful.
12. Ninurash, the valiant hero of Enlil,
13. The divine prince of valor mycommands may make sure for me.
14. A favorable word to Enlil and Ninlil for me may he speak.
15. With royal power may he cause dirig my reign to he surpassing.
16. With lordship may he cause me to be ….. ; my helper may he be.
17. In Ekur may he take me by the hand.
18. The protecting genius of my royalty may he be.
19. With a valiant weapon subduing the foreign lands,
20. A mighty arm, may he fill my faithful hand.
21. May the sun-god place justice and righteousness in my mouth;
22. The judge, giver of decision, who directs the Land;
23. Who makes justice exceedingly good.
24. The transgressor(?) he pardons, the wicked he destroys.
25. To justify brother with brother to the father …..
26. Not to justify the slander(?) of a sister against the elder (brother) to a mother, courage he ensures.
27. Not to place the weak at the disposal of the strong a man …..
REVERSE COLUMN I
1. That the rich man may not do whatsoever is in his heart, that one man to another do not anything disgraceful,
2. Wickedness and hostility he destroyed justice he instituted.
3. May the Sun-god, son whom Ningal bore, my portion create.
4. He whom Innini, queen of heaven and earth,
5. As her beloved spouse has chosen, I am.
6. For my ….. Luxury may she create.
7. With a joyous eye of life may she look upon me.
8. Her blazing form upon me may she cause to shine
9. May she establish for me a couch secure.
10. In the mysterious sanctuary to create me length of days,
11. To add the office of high priesthood unto regal power for me,
12. That in the “House of Heaven” the serpent rob me not, [1]
13. That in the land of Erech like a wild bull. …..
14. To cover Kullab with my glory,
15. An holy command which is unchanged may she utter.
16. May Enki and Ninki, Enul and Ninul,
17. The Anunnaki, lord(s) who decree fate,
18. The divine spirit of Nippur and the protecting geniuses of Ekur,
19. The great gods who determine oracles,
20. Crush the pride of the hostile ruler.
21. Divine ishme-Dagan son of Dagan thou art.
22. May Enlil lord of the lands
23. Who in …..
24. ….. choose.
Footnotes
[1] This reference to a serpent adversary is unusual and is referred to but once in other Sumerian literature; a passage in Gudea refers to a serpent who is prevented from robbing the mother of Ningirsu of the goat’s milk by which she feeds the “leading goat.” Here the serpent is the traditional adversary of the prehistoric earth goddess, represented as a patroness of goats who feeds the young goat Ningirsu. The tradition of the serpent adversary probably reveals itself in the story of Gilgamesh from whom a serpent stole the plant of life, column XI 304. The same tradition has found its way into the Hebrew legend, and the ancient version of the temptation and fall of man in Genesis 3 represents the serpent as the moral adversary who brought about the loss of immortality.