Origin/Historian/Author: Babylonian
Source: The Sacred Books and Literature of the East, By Prof. Charles F. Horne, Ph.D.
The Sacred Books and Literature of the East Translations conducted by:
Morris Jastrow, Jr., LL.D., Rev. A.H. Sayce, LL.D., Robert W. Rogers, LL.D., George A. Barton, LL.D., Leonard W. King, F.S.A., Stephen Langdon, PH.D., Arno Poebel, PH.D., and other scholars.
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Introduction
Dedicated to the goddess Ishtar, this Old Babylonian prayer was composed on a single tablet, in a single column. The beginning portion of the tablet was broken away, however, prayers written during this period appear to have the same literary body, style, or makeup. With that said, we can assume the very beginning portion of this text addresses Ishtar and perhaps mentions a number of common descriptors and/or some of her epithets.
Full Text Below
. . . good is thy supplication when the spirit of thy name is propitious!
Thy regard is prosperity, thy command is light!
Have mercy on me, O Ishtar! Command abundance!
Truly pity me and take away my sighing!
5 . . . . . . . . . .
Thy . . . have I held; let me bring joy of heart! [1]
I have borne thy yoke; do thou give consolation!
I have . . . thy head; let me enjoy success and favor!
I have protected thy splendor; let there be good fortune and prosperity!
10 I have sought thy light; let my brightness shine!
I have turned toward thy power; let there be life and peace!
Propitious be the favorable sidu who is before thee; may the lamassu that goeth behind thee be propitious! [2]
That which is on thy right hand increase good fortune; that which is on thy left hand attain favor!
Speak and let the word be heard!
15 Let the word I speak, when I speak, be propitious!
Let health of body and joy of heart be my daily portion!
My days prolong, life bestow; let me live, let me be perfect, let me behold thy divinity!
When I plan, let me attain my purpose; Heaven be thy joy, may the Abyss hail thee!
May the gods of the world be favorable to thee: may the great gods delight thy heart!
Footnotes
[1] Lines 6 to 11 are regularly divided, the first half of each stating some attention or observance on the part of the suppliant toward his goddess, which balances and justifies the petitions contained in the second half of the line.
[2] The colossi whose favor is invoked in lines 12 and 13 evidently surround the goddess on all sides and possibly flanked the entrances to her shrine. Then follow various petitions couched in general terms for prosperity, life, and length of days, and the prayer concludes with a formula of benediction.