The Dialogue of Put-Ishtar and His Son

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

An Old Babylonian Dialogue


An Old Babylonian dialogue on a clay prism in the Yale Babylonian Collection (YBC 2394), from about 1800 BCE: a disputation between a father, Put-Ishtar (his son calls him Putti), and his son Mannum-utarissu. Each short speech is fenced off by a ruling and opened with "His son answers him" or "His father answers him."

The father complains that his son neglects him in his old age. The son answers with proverbs about fate, heirs and the favor of the gods, calling on the command of Enlil and on Etana, the king who sought a child. The setting is Agade, in the time of the father's lord Naram-Sin.

The text ends with the father's lament for his own coming death, in which he will go up like Etana and enter Ereshkigal's underworld, and with a long curse on the ungrateful son that calls on Ishtar, Kilili, Mama, Aruru and Shamash. Columns 5 and 6 are lost, and columns 4 and 7 survive only in part.


Translation

Obverse

Column 1

1. [Put-Ishtar instructs his son:]1

2. "[My son, let me in]struct [you];

3. hold fast to [my instruction] [...].


4. [Do not say] in the midst of instruction,

5. 'It is [I] who am the good one.'" (blank line)



7. His son answers him:

8. "[P]utti, sage-wisdom is šalūtum,2

9. and forgetfulness, like a protective spirit,

10. is [n]ot held dear before Nudimmud.3


11. [Be it st]rength, musicianship, wisdom, understanding —

12. the [m]an who has a guardian spirit, what will he (need to) do?4


13. The matter rests on you indeed:

14. you have [driven off(?)] my wealth and my protective spirit.5


15. [A]t the gate of the one who has a guardian spirit

16. the sage [k]neels.


17. [B]y the command of Enlil, at the akītu(?)6

18. [...] ... pass along.


19. [The man who] keeps pouring out plenty

20. [is the favored one] of his god."7


21. His father answers him:


22. "What, for your youth,

23. you and your [ki]ng

24. had set in place before —


25. you who, in the šabīhum of my lord,8

26. walked under a good shelter —


27. now the strong one is driven off,9

28. festivity is chased away.


29. There is no gladness;

30. brightness is removed far away.


31. The days are spent;

32. the years are at an end.


33. He has been made to cling(?) to hardship:

34. keep hold of your head!10


35. And the hand that gave

36. has gone into its own lap.


37. And the bad has vanished,

38. the joyful has been driven away.11


39. Your lord will use up the property

40. [th]at his father left behind,12


41. and what I gathered together

42. you scatter — you!"


43. His son answers him:


44. "Putti, have you not seen

45. the flood come down in the river?

46. Six times it rose, and seven times it turned back.


47. Famine, want, hunger

48. and [l]oss —

49. it is mingled with the people;

50. it has been there since of old.


51. The reed in the canebrake

52. falls with age.13


53. Like a young reed-thicket,14

54. it goes on until its day.


55. Putti, just as before our faces

56. the [pe]ople were shown the design,15


57. you have seen the workings of the god;

58. you have heard the [s]ecret.


59. It is said, from the mouth of Enlil:

60. 'Let the father love the son.'


61. [W]hy was 'Let the son love the father'

62. [n]ot spoken among the decrees?

Column 2

1. And if in [good times]

2. the father did not shelter [his] son,

3. [w]hen, in hardship, shall the son

4. shelter his father?"


5. His father answers him:


6. "Mannum-utarissu,16

7. what do I ask of you now?

8. Rations, oil and clothing.


9. Yet ever since your youth17

10. (that hope) has been driven off, pushed away,

11. forgotten in heart."


12. His son answers him:


13. "Putti, one who is dead among mankind

14. lives with the god for ever.18


15. And the son who in the scribe's house

16. was held back(?) is upright before the king."19


17. His father answers him:


18. "Mannum-utarissu,

19. I know about the sons before you,

20. and the work that is good, and how it is done:20

21. I keep it in mind.


22. The god set it in the design:

23. an heir, so that the seed shall not perish.


24. You know, son,

25. that just as a child and a wife do,

26. look to his father.21


27. Among sons — five, six, seven, eight —

28. who — a good child —

29. would grant to a man?"22


30. His son answers him:


31. "Putti, what is a boat of seventy gur

32. that has no rudder?

33. Its course is in distress.


34. Now, a man who has no son

35. is scorned along with his brother."23


36. His father answers him:


37. "Mannum-utar,

38. Etana, to the king his brother,

39. came up short, not enough.24


40. Your son(?) — a potsherd that, in the street,

41. they picked up — did [n]ot gain a god."25


42. His son answers [him]:


43. "Putti, you know:

44. Etana, for a child,

45. ro[am]ed the mountains.


46. L[ike a bird] to the assembly of the gods

47. he went up [to heav]en.


48. They had set [him over manki]nd,26

49. [because] the gods did not stand by him

50. and did not grant him a child

51. in the decrees of fate."


52. His father answers him:


53. "Mannum-utar,

54. you treat your own body well

55. with what is not set before(?) me,27


56. and what is in my old age

57. you do not look upon — you talk, you!"


58. His son answers him:


59. "Why, Putti,

60. did you yourself say to me —

61. From my youth on, with you

62. am I not the son?"28

Right side

Column 3 (two or three lines blank)

0. [... His father answers him:]29

1'. "[Mannum-utar,]

2'. wh[y ...]

3'. to [...]

4'. and it is fitting(?) ... [...]

5'. your eye [you lift(?)]


6'. He has not been proven false [...] ... [...]30

7'. The king of the raging(?) one, grea[t ...]31


8'. Before my lord [set(?)] a word;

9'. in setting things right ... [...]"


10'. His son [answers him]:


11'. "Putti, in tru[th]

12'. they have made the few many, and ... [...] he kno[ws].32


13'. The one [whose head was heavy(?)] grew light,

14'. and the li[ght one] grows heavy."


15'. His father answers him:


16'. "Mannum-utar,

17'. before your face the king swore an oath

18'. and honored the god.


19'. Who, like you,

20'. so greatly abuses the father who begot him, and be[littles him(?)]?"33


21'. His son answers him:


22'. "Putti, the one whose [guardian spirit] is deaf,

23'. whose prote[ctive spirit] is blinded,


24'. and the one whom the king has held in honor —

25'. does he ex[alt] a father?"34


26'. His father answers him:


27'. "Mannum-utar,

28'. why does one who has b[rea]d

29'. go about in tears?


30'. And he whom his god has cursed(?) —

31'. he lacks(?) a roof."35


32'. His son answers him:


33'. "Putti, who, for a sweet cake,

34'. throws a brick?36

35'. And those who gave for good —

36'. repaid evil?37


37'. Putti, you know that my

38'. not looking after you is the command of the god.38


39'. It was from your body, from your strength,39

40'. that Shamash brought forth my body."


41'. His father answers him:


42'. "Mannum-utar,

43'. so, you — you have not feared the king,

44'. you have not honored the god;

45'. my pleas have not fallen

46'. into your heart."


47'. His son answers him:


48'. "Putti, come now,

49'. [let] us lay out our case

50'. before Shamash the warrior.


51'. Between us, the one whom guilt

52'. carries off — let him b[ea]r his punishment."


53'. His father answers him:


54'. "Mannum-utar,

55'. even now you are not ashamed!

56'. For mankind the god has es[tablish]ed the plea for mercy,40


57'. and whoever has said, 'My sin!'

58'. the god has set him free."


59'. His son answers him:


60'. "I, ever since my youth,

61'. have not let you go.


62'. Because, ever since my yo[ut]h,

63'. you have not wanted me as a son,

64'. my heart is angry with you."41

Column 4 (a long gap)

1'. ... [...]


2'. and in ... [...]

3'. they did good [...]

4'. who pay heed(?) [...]42

5'. the house, indeed, not [...]


6'. His fath[er answers him]:


7'. "Mannum-utar, [...]

8'. the left hand seized [...]43

9'. and whose face [...]

10'. in haste [...]


11'. do not [...]

12'. with the king [...]

13'. Ninlil ... [...]

14'. breaks off ... [...]"


15'. His so[n answers him]:


16'. "Putti, you have heard ... [...]

17'. before yo[u ...]

18'. these reverences(?) [...]44

19'. they spoke in ... [...]

20'. the king does not speak ... [...]


21'. And the one whom the king ... [...]

22'. let him treat lightly ... [...]

23'. Putti, yo[u know(?)]

24'. that what a father pronoun[ces]

25'. the son makes li[ght of].45


26'. Now his cry(?) ... [...]46

27'. passes by(?) ... [...]"


28'. His father an[swers him]:


29'. "Mannum-utar, [...]

30'. what(?) — let him [honor(?)] his cry,

31'. let him pray to his king [...]


32'. I, who [begot you] —

33'. have my pleas not [fallen(?)]

34'. into [your] hea[rt]?"47


35'. His son [answers him]:


36'. "Putti, in not ... [...]

37'. your heart is mind[ful].


38'. Even so, he did not ... [...]

39'. before the warr[ior] gods [...]


40'. W[h]y ... [...]

41'. ... [...] ... [...]

42'. ... [...]

43'. ... [...]48


Column 5 (broken)

Column 6 (broken)

Left side

Column 7

1'. [...] ... [...]

2'. [...] ... [...]


3'. [...] ... sage [...]

4'. [...] returns [...]


5'. [...] ... sage ... [...]


6'. [... w]arrior [...]

7'. [...] his body.


8'. [...] ... listening [...]

9'. [...] he sits.


10'. [... His ...] answers him:

11'. [...] ... of the house

12'. [...] ... (four lines blank)

17'. [...] sonsh[ip]


18'. [...] your ...

19'. [...] ...

20'. [...] ...

21'. [...] ...

22'. [...] your ... — who?


23'. [...] his ...49

Column 8

1'. [...] ...

2'. [...] his ...


3'. [...] I

4'. [...] ... not(?)

5'. [...] my eyes.50


6'. [...] his ... — let it take me!


7'. Let me [rea]ch it — death!

8'. Let me [re]turn to clay!


9'. [No]w, following Naram-Sin my lord,

10'. I will turn to my bed,


11'. where son and wife will not weep

12'. over me,


13'. where people will not see my face,


14'. and the friend of my brothers

15'. will not say, 'Woe, my brother, you were my trust!'


16'. I will die in the midst

17'. of the city of Agade; the house that I enter

18'. will grant no door.51


19'. I will go up like Etana

20'. to the heaven of Anu;


21'. I will go down to the Apsu,

22'. and no one will know.


23'. I am not a warrior, seed of meamli(?).52


24'. I will enter<, and> in Ereshkigal's Kurnugi53

25'. I will set down my valor.


26'. I will set down my valor in the land,

27'. in the mouth of the teeming peoples.


28'. The teeming [p]eoples will tell

29'. [the pr]aise of my valor:


30'. 'Put-Ishtar, before his son,

31'. went up to heaven.


32'. He went down to the Apsu,

33'. and there is no one who sees him.'


34'. I will make those who come after tell it,

35'. the people, mankind:


36'. 'Put-Ishtar, the sage of surpassing understanding —

37'. the seed-grain of the master is mingled with the dust of the earth.'54


38'. As for him: after I am gone,

39'. may the people not welcome his face.55


40'. What he did to me,

41'. may a son do so to him!

42'. May he not build a house in his prime!


43'. May he not gain a son, and his seed —

44'. may it perish!56


45'. May the city of Agade curse him,

46'. the [b]ar(?) of the la[nd].57


47'. [H]im — may the curse of [his] fa[ther come near him]!

48'. May the [pe]ople cu[rse]

49'. [his pre]cious [life(?)]!

50'. [...] ... [...]

Bottom

1. [...] ...58

2. [...] his(?) ... in hi[s] palace [... may ...] him.

3. May [his city] Agade and Eulmash cur[se him, and may] he not lift [the hand] of one who stands to bar(?) the way.59

4. [May the La]dy who makes words good make his word as light as a s[lav]e's.

5. [Before the ki]ng may she turn courtier and attendant against him.

6. May [Ishtar], warrior of the goddesses, set confusion and revolt in his house.

7. [...] bread — may it not come to him; upon him may [...] enter,60

8. and [in his ho]use may what is not good confront him.

9. [May Kilili], the [La]dy who leans from the windows of the teeming people,61

10. set [sleeplessness, wak]efulness and no rest for him.

11. [May she ha]te him; may she s[hort]en his stature;

12. [may she carry off] his shade; may she take away his vigor.

13. [M]ama, who bore him, who created his name,

14. may she thrust him away and drive him into his king's heart for evil.62

15. May she take away his vigor; may she destroy his dignity.

16. [Among] his brothers may his name b[e] "weakling".63

17. Aruru, the Lady, creator of mankind, may she set his [fat]e for evil.

18. May he [b]uild a house, but not se[t u]p its roof-shelters.64

19. May he [m]arry a wife, but [not ra]ise a child.

20. [...] young men [of the bl]ack-[h]eaded people — visitors to the bedroom.65

21. [...] ... [he]: may he not do (it).

22. [Because ... he did not] do good, and angered his father,

23. [by the command of Shama]sh, judge of heaven and earth,

24. may he not obtain a decision in his case.

25. Finished.66


Notes on the reading

This is an Old Babylonian literary dialogue, a disputation between a father, Put-Ishtar (Putti), and his son Mannum-utarissu. It is set in Agade in the shadow of Naram-Sin, as column 8 shows. Each short speech is fenced off by rulings and opened by "His son answers him" or "His father answers him". The father complains that the son neglects him in his old age, and the son replies with proverbs about fate, heirs and divine favor, including the figure of Etana seeking a child. The text ends with the father's own lament for his coming death, in which he goes up to heaven like Etana and down to the Apsu. It closes with a long curse: the goddesses Ishtar, Kilili, Mama and Aruru, and the god Shamash, are called on against the ungrateful son. The hardest readings are the son's opening words (šalūtum, line 8 of column 1), the obscure words šabīhum and meamli, the Etana couplet in column 2 (lines 38–39), and the curse clause in line 3 of the bottom face. Several proverbs are clear in their words but uncertain in their point. Column 4 survives only in the beginnings of lines, column 7 only in the ends of lines, and columns 5 and 6 are lost entirely, so those parts are rendered only as fragments and gaps.

Colophon

A Good Works Translation from the Akkadian by the Good Works Library, 2026, made directly from the eBL transliteration of YBC 2394 printed below. Before translating, every English translation line and editorial note was removed from the working text, so the English here is independently derived from the cuneiform signs. The translation was then checked line by line against the Akkadian by a second reader. Each line of the English renders the source line with the same number. Broken passages stay broken: [...] marks a gap, and words in square brackets are restorations, explained in the notes.

Earlier English translation: the English translation by the CAMS project, given line by line in the Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) corpus (freely available). This is a new translation made independently from the source language.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

© 2026 Tianmu Anglican Church. This English translation is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: you may share and adapt it for non-commercial use with credit to the Good Works Library, tianmu.org. The source text keeps its own terms. For other uses, see Rights and Reuse.

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Source Text: YBC 2394 (transliteration)

Akkadian transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) corpus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, licensed CC BY 4.0, with its English translation lines and notes omitted. %n marks eBL's normalized Akkadian, and %akk the return to the transliteration.

Obverse

Column 1

  1. %ob [{m}pu-ut-{d}INANNA ma-ra-šu i-iš-ša-ar?]

  2. %ob [ma-ri lu-šu]-ur₂!#-[ka]

  3. %ob [a-ši-ir-ti] ṣa#-bat [(x)]


  1. %ob [e ta-aq-bi] i-na li-ib-bi a-ši-i[r-tim]

  2. %ob [a-na]-ku-mi dam-qa₂-a-k[u] (blank)



  1. %ob ma#-ru-šu i-ip-pa-al-šu

  2. %ob [{m}p]u-ut-ti NUN.ME-lu-tum!?# ša-lu-tum


  1. %ob u₃# mi-ši-tum ki-ma la-ma-as-si₂

  2. %ob [u₂-u]l šu-qu₂-ra-at ma-har {d}nu-dim₂-mud


  1. %ob [lu d]a-nu na-ru-tum ne-me-qum ha-si#-sum₂

  2. %ob [L]U₂ ša ši-dam i-šu-u₂ i-pe-eš mi-nam


  1. %ob [e]-li-ka#-ma a-wa-tum

  2. %ob [tap]-ri-id ma-aš-ri-i u₃ la-ma-si₂


  1. %ob [a-n]a ba-ab ša ši-dam i-šu-u₂

  2. %ob [k]a-mi-is NUN.ME


  1. %ob [i-n]a qi₂-bi-it {d}en-lil₂ i-na a?#-ki-tim

  2. %ob [x] x x# i-ba-u₂


  1. %ob [LU₂ it-ta-n]a-aq-qi₂ la-li-a-am

  2. %ob [ma-gir] DINGIR-šu


  1. %ob a#-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob ša a-na ṣu₂-uh-ri#-ku#-nu#-u₂

  2. %ob at-ta u₃ šar-r[a-k]a

  3. %ob ta-aš-ku-na pa-na#-nu-um


  1. %ob ša i-na ša-bi-hi-im ša be-li₂-ia

  2. %ob ta-al-li-ka ta-ra-nim dam-qi₂


  1. %ob i-na-an-na uk-ku-uš pi-it-nu

  2. %ob du-up-pu-ra-at ni-gu-tum


  1. %ob u₂-ul i-ba-aš-ši me-le-ṣum

  2. %ob na-wa-rum šu-us-su₂


  1. %ob ga-am-ra u₄-ma-tum

  2. %ob qu₂-ut-ta-a ša-na-tum


  1. %ob u₂-ta-hi-iz a-na nam-ra-ṣi-im

  2. %ob ki-i-il qa₂-qa₂-ad-ka


  1. %ob u₃ qa₂-tum na-di-in-tum

  2. %ob i-te-ru-ub su₂-un-šu


  1. %ob u₃ lum-nu ih-ta-li-iq

  2. %ob ha-du-u₂ ud-da-ap-pi-i[r]


  1. %ob i-ga-mar be-el-ka ma-ak-ku-r[a]

  2. %ob [š]a i-zi-bu a-bu-šu


  1. %ob u₃ ša a-na-ku u₂-pa-hi-ru

  2. %ob tu-sa₃-pa-ah at-ta


  1. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti u₂-ul ta-mu-ur

  2. %ob i-na na-ri-im mi-lam a-la-kam

  3. %ob 6-šu iš-ši-a-am-ma 7-šu it-tur


  1. %ob su₂-un-qum hu-ša-hu ni-ib-ri-tum

  2. %ob u₃ [mi]-ṭi-tum

  3. %ob ba-li#-il-ma it-ti ni-ši

  4. %ob la-bi-ri-iš ba-ši


  1. %ob qa₂-nu-u₂ i-na a-pi-im

  2. %ob lu-bu-rum i-ma-aq-qu₂-ut


  1. %ob ki-ma GI.EN₃.BAR ṣe-eh-ri

  2. %ob i-il-la-kam a-di u₄-mi-šu


  1. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti ki-i i-na pa-ni-ni

  2. %ob ku-ul-lu-m[a n]i-šu u₂-ṣur-tam


  1. %ob am-ra-ti-ma ki-ki-ṭa ša DINGIR

  2. %ob [p]i-ri-iš-tam te-eš-me


  1. %ob qa₂-bi-mi i-na pi-i {d}en-lil

  2. %ob a#-bu ma-ra-am li-ra-am


  1. %ob [a]m-mi-ni ma-rum a-ba-am li-ra-am

  2. %ob [l]a iq-qa₂-bi i-na ši-ma-tum


Column 2

  1. %ob u₃ šum-ma i-na dam-q[a₂-a-tim]

  2. %ob a#-bu la ih-si-nam ma-r[a-šu]

  3. %ob [m]a-ti ma-rum i-na nam-ra#-ṣ[i₂-im]

  4. %ob a-ba-šu li-ih-si-in#


  1. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}ma-an#-nu#-um-u₂-tar-is-su₂

  2. %ob a-na-ku i-na-an-na mi-nam e-ri-iš-ka

  3. %ob ip-ra-a-am pi-iš-ša-tam u₃ lu-bu-ša


  1. %ob ki-ša!(MA)-ma iš#-tu ṣu₂-uh-ri-ka-ma

  2. %ob ṭa-ar-da-at uk-ku-ša-at

  3. %ob ma-ši-a-at i-na li-ib-bi-


  1. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti ša it-ti a-wi-lu-tim | mi-tu

  2. %ob it-ti DINGIR ba-li-iṭ da-ri-ša-am


  1. %ob u₃ ma-ra-am ša i-na E₂ A.BA

  2. %ob hu-um-mu-u₂ i-šar LUGAL


  1. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar-is-su₂

  2. %ob i-de ša DUMU.MEŠ i-na pa-ni-ka


  1. %ob u₃ ši-ip-ra ša ṭa-bu u₃ ni-pi-sa₃

  2. %ob a-na-ku [h]a-as-sa₃-a-ku


  1. %ob i-lum iš-[ku-u]n i-na u₂-ṣur-tim

  2. %ob ap-lam a-na la NUMUN ha-la-qi₂-im


  1. %ob ti-de-ma at-ta ma-rum

  2. %ob ma-la ši-ir-ri u₃ DAM

  3. %ob a-ba-šu

  4. -iṭ-ṭu₃-ul


  1. %ob i-na DUMU.MEŠ 5 6 7 8

  2. %ob ma-an-nu še-er-ra-am ša ṭa-bu

  3. %ob a-na a-wi-lim li-iš-ru-uk


  1. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti mi-nu MA₂ 70 GUR

  2. %ob ša la si₂-ik-ka-nim

  3. %ob i-na nam-ra-ṣi-im a-la-ak-ša


  1. %ob a-nu-um-ma LU₂ ša DUMU la i-šu#-u₂

  2. %ob na-a-aṣ it-ti a-hi-šu


  1. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar

  2. %ob {m}e-ta-na a-na šar-ri a-hi-šu

  3. %ob im-ṭi-a-am la ma-aṣ-am


  1. %ob DUMU?#-ka# ha-aṣ#-bu# ša# i-na SILA <>

  2. %ob il-qu₂-u₂ i-la-a-am [u₂-u]l ir-ši


  1. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-a[l-šu]

  1. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti at-ta ti-de

  2. %ob {m}e-ta-na a-na še-er-ri-im

  3. %ob it-t[a-g]i-ša-am ša-di-a-am


  1. %ob i-ṣ[u₂-ri-iš] a-na UKKIN ša DINGIR.MEŠ

  2. %ob [ša-me-š]a-am i-li


  1. %ob [a-na a-wi-l]u-tim iš-ku-nu-ni-iš-[šu]

  2. %ob š[a-šu]m DINGIR.MEŠ la i-ku-šu-šu-ma

  3. %ob še-er-ra-am la iš-ru-ku-šum

  4. %ob i-na ši-ma-tim


  1. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar

  2. %ob tu#-dam-ma-aq a-na pa-ag-ri-ka

  3. %ob ša# la ṭu₃-ha-a a-na ia-ši-im


  1. %ob u₃ ša i-na ši-bu-ti-ia

  2. %ob la tap-pa-la!-sa₃ ta-da-bu-ub at-ta


  1. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu

  1. %ob am-mi-ni {m}pu-ut-ti

  2. %ob at-ta-ma ta-aq-bi-a-am


  1. %ob iš-tu ṣu₂-uh-ri-ia-ma it-ti/ka#

  2. %ob u₂-ul ma-rum a-na-ku-[ma]

Right edge

Column 3 (2 or 3 lines blank)

  1. [... a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu]

1'. %ob {m}[ma-an-nu-u₂-tar]

2'. %ob am-m[i-ni x x x x]

3'. %ob a-n[a x x x x x x]

4'. %ob u₃ na#-ṭu₂# ka#-x [x x x]

5'. %ob i-in-ka [ta-na-ši?]


6'. %ob u₂-ul uk-ta-zi-ib [x (x) x] | x [x x x]

7'. %ob LUGAL na-e-ri-im ra-bi-[x x x]


8'. %ob ma-har be-li₂-ia a-wa-ta[m šu-ku-un?]

9'. %ob i-na šu-šu-ri-im u₂#-[x x x]


10'. %ob ma-ru-šu i#-[pa-al-šu]


11'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti i-na ki-it-[tim]

12'. %ob i-ṣa-am uš-mi-du u₃ x [x] | i-d[e]


13'. %ob iq-li-il-ma ša r[e-su ka-ab-tu?]

14'. %ob i-ka-bi-it qa₂-al-[lum]


15'. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-šu#


16'. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar

17'. %ob i-na pa-ni-ka LUGAL iz-kur

18'. %ob u₃ DINGIR u₂-ka-bi-i[t]


19'. %ob ma-an-nu ki-ma ka-a-ti

20'. %ob a-ba ba-ni-šu i-ṭap-pa-lam ma-gal u[š-tam]-ṭ[i-šu?]


21'. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu#


22'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti su₂-ku-uk ša [ši-di-im]

23'. %ob hu-pu-da-at la-m[a-su₂-(um)]


24'. %ob u₃ ša LUGAL uš-ta-qi₂-ru-[šu]

25'. %ob a-ba-am u₂-u[l-le]


26'. %ob a-bu#-šu i-pa-al-šu


27'. %ob {m}ma#-an-nu-u₂-tar

28'. %ob am-mi-nim#-ma ra-ši a-ka-[li]m!

29'. %ob di-ma-tam i-sa₃-hu-ur


30'. %ob u₃ ša# DINGIR-šu# iz-zu?-ru-šu

31'. %ob u₂-ra-am im?#-ṭi₃?#


32'. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu


33'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti ma-an-nu ša a-na me-er-si

34'. %ob is-su₂-ku li-bi#-tam

35'. %ob u₃ ša a-na du-um-qa₂ id-di#-nu

36'. %ob i-ri-bu lum-nam


37'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti ti-de-e ša a-na-ku

38'. %ob la ap-pa-la-sa₃-kum qi₂-bi-it DINGIR-ma


39'. %ob i-na zu-um-ri-ka i-na le-[u₂]-ti-ka!(KU)

40'. %ob ša {d}UTU u₂-ši-ṣ[i₂] pa-ag-ri


41'. %ob a-bu-šu i#-pa#-al-šu


42'. %ob [{m}]ma-an-nu-u₂-tar

43'. %ob ma# at-ta u₂-ul LUGAL tap-la-ah

44'. %ob u₂-ul DINGIR tu-ka-bi-it

45'. %ob u₂-ul un-ne-nu-u₂-a im-qu₂-tu

46'. %ob a-na li-i[b]-bi-ka


47'. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-a[l]-šu


48'. %ob [{m}p]u-ut-ti ma bi-lam

49'. %ob [i ni]-iš-ku-un ṭe₄-em-ni

50'. %ob i-na ma-har {d}UTU qu₂-ra-di#-im


51'. %ob i-na bi-ri-ni ša ar-ni-[i]m

52'. %ob ub-ba-la-aš-šu a-ra-an-šu li-i[š-š]i


53'. %ob a-bu-šu i-pa-al-š[u]


54'. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar

55'. %ob a-di-ni at-ta la tab-ba-aš

56'. %ob a-na a-wi-lu-tim ši-gu DINGIR iš-[ku-u]n


57'. %ob u₃ ša ar-ni-mi iq-b[u-u₂]

58'. %ob DINGIR ip-ṭu₃-ur-šum#


59'. %ob ma-ru-šu i-pa-al-šu


60'. %ob a-na-ku ša# ṣu₂-uh-ri-ia-ma

61'. %ob u₂-ul u₂-wa-ša-ra-ak-kum


62'. %ob aš-šum-ma iš-tu ṣu₂-u[h]-ri-ia-ma

63'. %ob ma#-ru-ti la ta-a[h]-še-hu

64'. %ob [k]a-mi-il-ka li!#-bi

Column 4 (long gap intervenes)

1'. %ob x [...]


2'. %ob u₃ i-na x [...]

3'. %ob id-mi-q[u₂ ...]

4'. %ob ša i-qu₂-ul-l[u ...]

5'. %ob E₂-a-ma u₂-u[l ...]


6'. %ob a-bu-š[u i-pa-al-šu]


7'. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar [(x)]

8'. %ob šu-me-lum iṣ-ba-a[t ...]

9'. %ob u₃ ša zi-mi-[...]

10'. %ob ha-mu-ut-[...]


11'. %ob la tu-n[a-...]

12'. %ob it-ti LUGAL [...]

13'. %ob {d}nin-lil₂ ib-x [...]

14'. %ob i-ha-ṣa-ab x [...]


15'. %ob ma-ru-š[u i-pa-al-šu]


16'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti te-eš-me x [...]

17'. %ob i-na pa-ni-k[a ...]

18'. %ob tap-li-hi-i an-nu-tim [...]

19'. %ob id-bu-bu i-na x [...]

20'. %ob u₂-ul i-za-kar šar-rum x [...]


21'. %ob u₃ ša šar-ru-um uk-x [...]

22'. %ob li-qa₂-li-il x [...]

23'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti at-t[a ti-de?]

24'. %ob ša a-bu i#-za-k[a-ru]

25'. %ob ma-rum u₂-qa₂-a[l-la-al]


26'. %ob i-na-an-na ši-is-su₂ x [...]

27'. %ob i-ba-a x [...]


28'. %ob a-bu-šu i-p[a-al-šu]


29'. %ob {m}ma-an-nu-u₂-tar [(x)]

30'. %ob ma ši-is-su₂ li-[ka-bi-it]

31'. %ob šar-ra-šu li-sa₃-l[i ...]


32'. %ob ša a-na-ku ul-[du-ka]

33'. %ob un-ni-nu-u₂-a la i[m-qu₂-tu?]

34'. %ob a-na li-ib-[bi-ka]


35'. %ob ma-ru-šu i-[pa-al-šu]


36'. %ob {m}pu-ut-ti i-na la x [...]

37'. %ob li-ib-ba-ka -ha-a[s-sa₃-as]


38'. %ob ki-ša-ma-a la iš-te-[...]

39'. %ob ma#-har# DINGIR.MEŠ qu₂-ra-d[u-tim ...]


40'. %ob a[m-mi]-ni qa₂-x [...]

41'. %ob x [x (x)] ir? [...]

42'. %ob ta?-[...]

43'. %ob te | nim?-ha [...]


Column 5 (broken)

Column 6 (broken)

Left edge

Column 7

1'. %ob [...] x [x x]

2'. %ob [...-a]m ih-x [x]


3'. %ob [...] x NUN.ME [(x)]

4'. %ob [...] i-ta-ar [(x)]


5'. %ob [...] x-pi-a-am NUN.ME x [(x)]


6'. %ob [... qu₂]-ra#-dum [(x)]

7'. %ob [...-a]m pa-gar₃-šu


8'. %ob [...] x še-mu-um-m[a]

9'. %ob [...] uš-ša-ab


10'. %ob [...] [x x-š]u i-pa-al-šu

11'. %ob [...] x x-ti?-ma bi-tim

12'. %ob [...] x (4 lines blank)

17'. %ob [...] ma-ru-t[im]


18'. %ob [...] x-ti-ka

19'. %ob [...] x-a-tim

20'. %ob [...]-li-il

21'. %ob [...] x-a-tim

22'. %ob [...]-ka ma-an-n[u?]


23'. %ob [...] x-bi-šu

Column 8

1'. %ob [...]-tim#

2'. %ob [...]-te-šu


3'. %ob [...] a-na-ku

4'. %ob [...] x la?

5'. %ob [li-im-d]a-la i-na-a-a


6'. %ob [x x]-šu li-il-qi₂-a-am ia-ti


7'. %ob [lu-uk]-šu-su₂ mu-ta-am-ma

8'. %ob [lu-t]u-ur₂ a-na ṭi-iṭ-ṭi


9'. %ob [i-na]-an-na EGIR na-ra-am-sin be-li₂-ia

10'. %ob [ma]-a-a-li a-sa₃-hu-ur


11'. %ob a-šar DUMU u₃ DAM la i-ba-ku-u₂

12'. %ob i-na ṣe-ri-ia


13'. %ob a-šar ni-šu la i-ma-ra pa-ni-ia


14'. %ob u₃ i-bi-ir ta-li-mi-ia

15'. %ob la i-qa₂-bu-u₂ wu-a-a a-hi tu-uk-la-at;-ni


16'. %ob a-ma-at-ma i-na li-ib-bu

17'. %ob a-lim a-ga-de₃{ki} E₂ ša e-ru-bu-šu

18'. %ob u₂-ul u₂-šar-ša ba-ba-am


19'. %ob e-li-ma ki-ma e-ta-na

20'. %ob ša-mu AN-nim


21'. %ob ur-ra-ad-ma ap-si₂-<>-šu

22'. %ob u₂-ul i-lam-ma-ad ma-ma-an


23'. %ob u₂-ul qar-ra-da-ku NUMUN me-a-am-li!?


24'. %ob e-ru-um- a-na kur-nu-gi₄ {d}ereš-ki-gal

25'. %ob a-ša-ka-an qu₂-ur-di


26'. %ob a-ša-ka-an-ma qu₂-ur-di i-na KUR

27'. %ob i-na pi-i ni-ši de-ši-a-tim


28'. %ob [n]i-šu de-ši-a-tum i-da-bu-ba

29'. %ob [da]-li-il qu₂-ur-di-ia


30'. %ob {I#}pu-ut-{d}INANNA-mi i-na pa-ni ma-ri-šu#

31'. %ob i-te-li ša-me-ša-am


32'. %ob u₂-ri-id-ma ap-si-šu-um

33'. %ob u₂-ul i-ba-aš-ši a-me-er-šu


34'. %ob u₂-ša-aq-ba wa-ar-ki-a-tim

35'. %ob ni-ši te-ni-ši-tim


36'. %ob {I#}pu-ut-{d}INANNA-mi NUN.ME wa-tar-ha-si-<sa₃>-a[m]

37'. %ob ŠE.NUMUN u₂-ma-nim i-na SAHAR KUR bu-lu-ul


38'. %ob ša-ti iš-tu wa-ar-ki-ia-ma

39'. %ob ni-šu a-a im-hu-ra zi-<>-im-šu


40'. %ob ša ia-ti i-pu-ša-an-ni

41'. %ob ma-rum ki-a-am li-pu-uš-šu

42'. %ob a i-pu-uš E₂ i-na la-le-šu


43'. %ob a# ir-ši ma-ra-am-ma ze-ru-šu

44'. %ob li!(LA)-ih-li-iq


45'. %ob li-zu-ur-šu-ma a-lum a#-ga#-de₃{ki}

46'. %ob [p]i-ri-ik ma-a#-[tim]


47'. %ob [š]u-ma er-re-et a-b[i-šu li-iṭ-he-šu]

48'. %ob [ni]-šu li-iz-[zu-ra]

49'. %ob [wa-a]q-ra-[tam na-pi-iš-ta-šu?]

50'. %ob [x (x) x] x [...]

Bottom edge

  1. %ob ($___$) [...] x

  2. %ob [...]-a-šu? i-na E₂.GAL-š[u ... li-š]a-ri-šu

  3. %ob [a-al-š]u a-ga-de₃{ki} e₂-ul-maš li-zu-u[r-šu-ma qa₂-at] ma#-za-az i-pa-ri-ku a-a iš-ši

  4. %ob [be-el-tu]m mu-dam-mi-qa₂-at a-wa-tim ki#-ma w[a-ar-d]i li-qal-li-lam a-wa-as-su₂

  5. %ob [ma-har LUGA]L-ri ti-ra u₃ ma-za-za e-li-šu [li]-iš-ba-al-ki-it

  6. %ob [{d}INNIN].NA qa₂-ri-ti i-la-tim i-na E₂-šu i-ši-[tam] u₃ sa₃-ah-maš-tam li-iš-ku-un-šum

  7. %ob [x x-i]k ak-lam a il-li-kam e-li-šu li-ru-ub-ma

  8. %ob [i-na bi]-ti-šu la ṭa-ab-tum li-im-hu-ur-šu

  9. %ob [{d}ki-li-li be]-el-tum mu-ši-ra-at a-pa-at ni-ši di-<ši>-a-tim

  10. %ob [di-li-ip-tam e-r]u-tam u₃ la ṣa-la-lam li-iš-ku-un-šu

  11. %ob [li-ze-e]r-šu# l[i-ik-ru]-u₂ la-an-šu

  12. %ob [li-it-ba-l]am-ma ṣi-la-šu# du-u₂-su₂ li-ṭe₄-er

  13. %ob [{d}m]a-ma wa-li-ta-šu ba-ni-a-at °\° šu-mi-šu

  14. %ob [l]i-is-ki-ip-šu-ma a-na ŠA₃ LUGAL-šu i-na le-mu-tim | li-<ir?>-de-šu

  15. %ob [l]i-ṭe₄-er-ma du-u₂-su₂ ba-aš-ta-šu li-hal-

  16. -iq

  17. %ob [i-na] bi-ri-it ah-hi-šu lu-[u₂] du-na-mu!(NU)-um šum-šu

  18. %ob [{d}]a-ru-ru be-el-tum ba-ni-a-at a-wi-lu-tim š[i-ma-t]i-šu a-na le-me-nim li-iš-ku-un

  19. %ob [l]i-pu-uš bi-tam a i[š-k]u-nam u₂-ru-ba-tim

  20. %ob [li-h]u-uz# aš#-ša#-tam [a u₂-ra]-ab-bi ši-ir-ra-am

  21. %ob [... e]ṭ-lu-tim [ša ṣa]-al#-ma#-[at qa₂]-qa₂-di-im <lu-u₂> e-ri-bu ur-ši-im

  22. %ob [...] x# x# [šu]-u₂ a i-pu-uš

  23. %ob [aš-šum ... la] id-mi-qu₂-ma iš-bu-su a-ba-šu

  24. %ob [i-na qi₂-bi-it {d}UT]U da-a-a-nim ša ša-me-e u₃ er-ṣe-tim

  25. %ob [di-in-šu pu-ru-sa₃]-a# a i-ir-ši

  26. %ob ($___$) ZAG.TIL


Source Colophon

Transliteration of YBC 2394 from the Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) project, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (ebl.lmu.de), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.10018951, CC BY 4.0, fetched 2026-10-16. eBL's English translation lines and notes were removed before translation.

🌲

Footnotes

  1. The whole line is restored in the transliteration, and the restored verb iššar(?) is itself marked uncertain. I take it from ašārum, "to look after, instruct", which the words lušur ("let me instruct") and ašīrtum ("instruction") in lines 2–4 support; the English stays in brackets. ↩

  2. The line reads NUN.ME-lūtum šalūtum. NUN.ME-lūtum I take as apkallūtum, "sage-craft". I cannot securely identify šalūtum, and the sign before it is itself marked doubtful, so the word is left untranslated. ↩

  3. Nudimmud is a name of Ea, god of wisdom. The line could also be read as a question: "Is forgetfulness ... not held dear before Nudimmud?" ↩

  4. šēdum (written ši-dam) is the male protective spirit, the partner of the lamassum in lines 9 and 14. The son seems to mean that talents count for less than divine favor. The words of line 12 could also be taken as "what does he do?" ↩

  5. [tap]rid: the verb is partly restored and its sense is uncertain. parādum usually means "to be afraid", so another possible reading is "you have frightened off". The plene ending of ma-aš-ri-i (and la-ma-si₂) is read as the first-person suffix, "my wealth and my protective spirit", so that the son accuses his father. A general statement ("wealth and protective spirit") remains possible. ↩

  6. The sign read a? is doubtful, so akītum (the festival house) is a probable reading, not a certain one. Most of line 18 is broken; ibâʾū, "they pass along", is the only clear word. ↩

  7. Both lines are partly restored: "[The man]" in line 19 and "[the favored one]" in line 20 come from the transliteration's restorations (awīlum, magir). ↩

  8. šabīhum is a word I cannot identify, so it is left untranslated. I take tarānum as "shade, shelter". The plural verb tallikā matches "you and your king" in line 23. ↩

  9. pitnu can be "strong" or a noun (a "chest" or "frame"). "The strong one" is the reading taken here. ↩

  10. uttahhiz could be a D-stem perfect of ahāzum ("he has taught") or a passive ("he has been made to hold to"). The subject is not stated. kīl qaqqadka, "hold your head", is clear in its words, but I am unsure of the idiom. It may mean "look after yourself". ↩

  11. The words read plainly ("evil has perished, the joyful one is driven off"), but the point of the pair is unclear. It may be bitter irony. ↩

  12. bēlka, "your lord", may be sarcastic, addressing the son as "your lordship". The sign reading itself is clear. ↩

  13. lubūrum is taken as "old age" (from labārum). The form is unusual. ↩

  14. GI.EN₃.BAR is a reed-thicket or canebrake word. Its exact Akkadian equivalent is uncertain. ↩

  15. kullumā is restored in part (ku-ul-lu-m[a]). uṣurtum is a "design" or "plan", that is, the fixed pattern of things. ↩

  16. The son's name, Mannum-utarissu, means "Who can turn him back?". It is shortened to Mannum-utar from line 37 on. The father is Put-Ishtar, called by the short name Putti. ↩

  17. kišāma (written ki-ša!(MA)-ma, with the sign corrected) is taken as an asseverative particle, "yet, indeed". "(That hope)" supplies the subject of the feminine statives in line 10, which the Akkadian leaves unexpressed. The possessive "my" in line 11 is the editor's supplied <ia>. ↩

  18. The line is divided on the tablet (marked |) before mītu, "dead". The saying is clear in its words, but its point in the argument (that the dead father will be with the god?) is not. ↩

  19. hummû, read here as "held back, confined", is an uncertain reading. išar šarri, "is upright with the king", is also uncertain: it could mean "goes straight to the king". ↩

  20. nipissa is taken as "its doing", a form of epēšum. It is uncertain. ↩

  21. The precative liṭṭul, "let him look", is completed by the editor's <li>; the implied subject is a son. The lines literally read "as much as child and wife — let him look to his father". ↩

  22. The question is presumably rhetorical: only the gods grant a good son. ↩

  23. nāʾaṣ, "is scorned" (from naʾāṣum), is the reading taken here. nāṣ, from naṣārum, "is guarded", is less likely. "Along with his brother" renders itti ahīšu literally; "before his brother" is also possible. ↩

  24. imṭiam la maṣam is literally "it fell short for me, not sufficient". How the line connects to "the king his brother" is not clear to me. The father may mean that even the king Etana lacked an heir. ↩

  25. The first sign of line 40 is damaged ("Your son?"). A child found in the street, a foundling, is compared to a cast-off potsherd. ilam ul irši, "did not gain a god", means he had no personal god's favor. ↩

  26. The bracketed words are the transliteration's restoration. The sense ("they had appointed him for mankind", i.e. as king) is uncertain. In line 49 the restored conjunction [aššum], "because", is also the editor's. ikūšūšu is taken from kâšum, "to help, stand by"; the same root also means "to delay". ↩

  27. ṭuhhâ is taken as a stative of ṭuhhûm, "to provide abundantly" (perhaps "offered"). The meaning of the line is uncertain. ↩

  28. Lines 61–62 may continue what the father once said (with "my youth" spoken in the father's voice) or be the son's own question. They are given here as the son's. ↩

  29. Line 0 is wholly restored in the transliteration: it is the expected speech-heading, made certain by the speaker pattern of the dialogue. Line 1' is likewise a restored name. ↩

  30. ul uktazzib is taken as a passive-reflexive perfect of kazābum, "to be made a liar". It could also be an active "he has not called (anyone) a liar". The rest of the line is broken. ↩

  31. na-e-ri-im is a genitive form: perhaps nāʾirum, "roaring, raging", or a form of nêrum, "to kill". Its grammatical link to "king" and the broken word rabi[...], "great", is unclear. ↩

  32. īṣam ušmīdū is read as "they made the few many": īṣum, "few", with the Š-stem of mâdum, "to be many". This fits the reversal saying in lines 13'–14', but it is an inference. The end of the line is split on the tablet (|) and broken. ↩

  33. iṭappalam is taken from ṭapālum, "to slander, abuse". The final verb uš[tam]ṭ[i-], "he has diminished", is partly restored and marked uncertain. ↩

  34. Line 25' can be read as a question, as here, or as a statement ("exalts a father"). The verb ullê is partly restored. ↩

  35. izzurūšu ("cursed him") is a reading the transliteration marks as doubtful. ūram may be "roof", or urram, "tomorrow". imṭi is itself marked doubtful. Neither line is secure. ↩

  36. mersum is taken as the sweet confection (mirsu) of dates and butter, set against the worthless brick (libittum). ↩

  37. irībū is read as an active G preterite of riābum, "they repaid": those who gave in kindness were themselves the ones who returned evil, matching the brick for a cake in lines 33'–34'. The construction is uncertain. ↩

  38. appalasakkum, "I look to you", is taken in the sense of providing for an aged parent. ↩

  39. le-[u₂]-ti-ka! (the sign is written KU on the tablet) is read leʾûtika, "your ability, your strength". ↩

  40. šigû is the penitential cry, the plea for a god's mercy. Line 57' quotes the cry "My sin!" ↩

  41. kāmilka libbī: the first sign of libbī is corrected by the editor (li!). The sense "my heart is the one angry with you" comes from kamālum, "to be angry". ↩

  42. iqullū is taken from qâlum, "to heed, keep silent". The context is lost. ↩

  43. šumēlum, "the left (hand, side)", is the subject of "seized". The image is lost with the rest of the line. ↩

  44. taplihī is taken as a noun of reverent fear, from palāhum, "to fear, revere". The form is unusual. ↩

  45. uqa-a[l-la-al], partly restored, could be active ("the son belittles") or passive ("the son is belittled"). The active reading is taken here. ↩

  46. šissu is uncertain: perhaps šisītum, "cry, call", with a possessive ending. The same word returns in line 30', where the restored verb li-[ka-bi-it] is an active precative, "let him honor". ↩

  47. The verb i[mqutū?] is restored by the editor with a question mark, after the parallel in column 3, line 45'. "[Begot you]" in line 32' is also restored. ↩

  48. Lines 41'–43' keep only isolated signs (ir?, ta?, te, nim?-ha), and no words can be read from them. ↩

  49. Column 7 is a narrow strip with only the ends of lines. It mentions a sage (NUN.ME, apkallum) twice, a warrior, "his body", sonship and a speech-heading ("[...] answers him"), which shows the dialogue continued here. Nothing connected can be read. ↩

  50. The verb before "my eyes" is restored as li-im-d]a-la. I cannot interpret that form with confidence, so it is left as a gap. ↩

  51. ul ušarša bābam, "it will not let it have a door": the house of the dead has no way out. The phrasing is compressed and the rendering approximate. ↩

  52. qarrādāku, "I am a warrior", is negated and clear. The words after it, NUMUN me-a-am-li!? ("seed of ...?", with the last sign marked doubtful), are not understood. ↩

  53. The <ma> after erum is supplied by the editor. Kurnugi, "the land of no return", is the realm of Ereshkigal, queen of the dead. ↩

  54. ŠE.NUMUN ummānim: "seed-grain of the master (or scholar)", that is, the sage himself buried like seed. KUR is read "earth"; "underworld" is equally possible. ↩

  55. The scribe wrote an extra sign (hi) in zīmšu, and the editor deletes it. "Not welcome his face" means "not receive him with favor". ↩

  56. The first sign of line 44' is written LA and corrected by the editor to li. ↩

  57. pirik mātim is uncertain. It is taken from parākum, "to lie across, bar", perhaps as an epithet of Agade as the bar or bolt of the land. ↩

  58. The opening sign group ($___$) in lines 1 and 25 is an editorial mark in the transliteration, not text. It is passed over in the English. ↩

  59. The second half of line 3 (qāt mazzaz ipparikku a iššī) is partly restored and obscure to me. "One who stands to bar the way" takes mazzazum as a "station" and ipparikku from parākum, "to bar". The rendering is uncertain. Eulmash is Ishtar's temple at Agade. ↩

  60. The first word of line 7 is broken ([x x-i]k), and the subject of "enter" is lost. The rendering is uncertain. ↩

  61. The name Kilili is restored in the transliteration. The epithet, "who leans from the windows", fits that goddess. In line 10, "[sleeplessness, wak]efulness" is likewise restored. ↩

  62. The verb li-<ir?>-de-šu, "may she drive him", contains a supplied sign that the editor marks doubtful. The line is divided on the tablet (|). ↩

  63. The last sign of dunnamûm is written NU and corrected by the editor. The word means "weakling, nobody". ↩

  64. urubātum is taken as "roof-shelters" (the temporary huts set on a roof). This is a probable reading, not a sure one. ↩

  65. The <lū> is supplied by the editor. The sense seems to be that other men will enter his wife's bed. The opening of the line is lost. ↩

  66. ZAG.TIL, "end, complete", is the scribe's closing mark. ↩