He established justice in Sumer and Akkad, and made the body of the land good.

I am a king praised from the womb,
a true seed.
I, Lipit-Ishtar, am the son of Enlil.

Lifting my head high like a cedar garden,
I am a powerful, vigorous man.
One whose great neck is thick with heroism —
a lion who surpasses all rivals,
having no equal.
A great dragon with open jaws,
the terror of the army.
An Anzud bird sharp-eyed in the mountain's heart.
A wild bull who never lowers his head in power.
A bison with bright eyes, ready for battle.

My beard shines out like lapis lazuli,
wreathed in splendor.
Good of eye, good of mouth, cheerful of heart.
My fierce form is full of charm.
My lips are fitting for the word.
My raised arm has beautiful fingers.
A fine young man who inspires sweet wonder.

Lipit-Ishtar, king of the land —
true shepherd of the black-headed people.
Foremost among all the lands, exalted in the land.
The trusted god of humanity,
of the teeming multitudes.
The mighty heir of kingship.
Head raised toward heaven,
feet set firm on earth.

A priest of heaven with pure hands —
An has placed the great true crown upon my head.
I am Enlil's beloved son.
In the Ekur's inner chamber, he gave me the scepter.
I am the sweet treasure of Ninlil —
at my anointing, she decreed a good destiny.

Nintur, from the birth-brick of Kesh,
the beautiful woman, truly adorned me.
Nanna gazed upon me with a favorable eye
and called me truly to Ur.
I am the trusted man of Utu, the great storm,
and from Eshumesag, great awe was placed in me.
I am the wide-eared one of Enki —
from Eridu, kingship was given to me.
I am the beloved spouse of Inana,
and in Uruk she raised my head to heaven.
I am the skilled scribe of Nisaba,
a young man of true words, of Utu —
the one fitted for kingship.

Lipit-Ishtar, son of Enlil.

The great rising harvest, the breath of the land.
A farmer who heaps the granary piles.
The shepherd of the sheepfold whose fat and milk are great.
One whose marshes teem with fish and birds.
Worthy of the river of abundance, of the flowing water.
One for whom the great mountains rejoice —
a prince given the great arm of Enlil.

Lipit-Ishtar, the self-respecting hero.

The foremost among the gods' attendants.
One who never sleeps away from the Ekur.
A king who holds a kid to his breast as an offering.
One who prostrates and puts hand to nose in reverence.
A king who stands in prayer.
One who pleases Enlil with beautiful words.
One at whose supplications Ninlil rejoices.
Who stands before Nuska without resting.
Who raises his hands toward the Ekur.
One fit to bring gifts to the foundation —
hastening with knee untiring.

One who never passes by the Ebabbar without bringing tribute.
One who brings abundance running to Nippur.
One installed as the purification priest of Kesh.
One who brings the finest oil and finest milk to Ur.
One who goes to Eridu without resting.
One who brings great offerings to Uruk.
Given life from the Ekur,
longing with a living heart for his city.

Lipit-Ishtar, shepherd of all the lands.

A king suited to penetrating into battle.
Whose heroism on every flank never loosens its grip.
One who plows with the sword.
One who flashes like lightning in battle.
One who smashes the firm neck of the enemy army.
A flint stone, unbreakable.
One who faces the enemy with a shield.
A bright-eyed hero with firmly clenched teeth.

Lipit-Ishtar, son of Enlil.

A cool-water vessel, the breath of life for warriors.
A wise shelter for the army on the road.
A king whose seat fits the throne.
One with a weighty heart, open to the word.
One who seeks far-reaching wisdom and deep prayer.
One who hastens at nothing, examining every end.
One of vast heart and broad understanding.
A precious stone that has emerged from the land.
Truth in his mouth.
One who sets things right forever, not letting them perish.
A judge who makes the word of decision straight.
A wise one skilled in commanding all the lands.

He established justice in Sumer and Akkad
and made the body of the land good.

What has fallen away from my truth?
I, the prince Lipit-Ishtar, have set the people straight.
What has moved away from my justice?
I am mighty — I have brought everything to light.

Lipit-Ishtar, son of Enlil.

In the palace of kingship, my pure sweet dwelling —
my holy spouse, Inana,
has set firm the foundation of my throne.
For long and distant days, she has embraced me.
In the marriage bed of sweet things,
the place where the heart rejoices,
I will spend the day with the queen.

Lipit-Ishtar, mighty heir —
a king who brings justice to light.
May my name be truly praised in all the lands.

Lipit-Ishtar, son of Enlil.

My praise is sweet.

Colophon

Translated from Sumerian (ETCSL c.2.5.5.1) by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. ETCSL English translation (t.2.5.5.1) consulted as reference for difficult lines; all English independently derived from the Sumerian transliteration. Scribal credit: liberation-translator, 2026-03-21.

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Source Text

Sumerian Transliteration (ETCSL c.2.5.5.1)

1. lugal mi2 dug4-ga cag4-ta numun zid-me-en
2. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
3. jicisimu2sar jicerin-na-gin7 saj mu-il2-la-ta
4. nitah usu-tuku lirum-ma-me-en
5. nam-cul-la gu2 gal pec-a-me-en
6. pirij {zag dib} {(3 mss. have instead:) zag til} gaba-ri nu-tuku-me-en
7. ucumgal ka du8-a ni2 gal erin2-na-me-en
8. anzudmucen kur-cag4-ga igi jal2-me-en
9. am su-ba saj nu-ja2-ja2-me-en
10. alim igi gun3 cen-na-me-en
11. sun4 na4za-gin3 e3-a jir2 kece2-kece2-du3!-me-en
12. igi sag9 ka sag9 cag4 zal-le-me-en
13. ulutim2 huc-huc-a hi-li du8-du8-a-me-en
14. nundum inim-inim-ma he2-du7-me-en
15. a2 il2-la cu-si sag9-sag9-me-en
16. cul sag9-ga u6 di dug3-ga-me-en
17. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 lugal kalam-ma-me-en
18. saj gig2-ga sipad zid-bi-me-en
19. saj-kal kur-kur-ra kalam-ma il2-la-me-en
20. dijir nam-lu2-ulu3 nir-jal2 uj3 car2-ra-me-en
21. ibila kalag-ga nam-lugal-la-me-en
22. an-ta saj il2-la ki-gub sig10-ga-me-en
23. icib an-na cu dadag-ga-me-en
24. an-ne2 aga zid mah saj-ja2 mu-ni-in-ge-en
25. den-lil2-le dumu ki aj2-ja2-ni-me-en
26. ki-ur3-ra jicjidru ma-ni-in-cum2
27. nij2 ur5 sag9-sag9 dnin-lil2-la2-me-en
28. ja2-jic-cu2-a-ka nam dug3 mu-un-tar
29. dnin-tur5-re ceg12 kec3ki-a-ta
30. munus ul-la zid-de3-ec gun3-a-me-en
31. igi zid bar-ra dnanna-me-en
32. urim2ki-ma gu3 zid-de3-ec ma-an-de2
33. u4-ta-u18-lu lu2 cag4-ga-na-me-en
34. e2-cu-me-ca4-ta ni2 gal mu-un-da-ri
35. jectug2 ba9-ra2 den-ki-kam-me-en
36. eridugki-ta nam-lugal ma-an-cum2
37. nitalam ki aj2 dinana-kam-me-en
38. ki unugki-ga saj an-ce3 mi-ni-il2
39. dub-sar a-ra2 zu dnisaba-kam-me-en
40. cul inim gen6-na dutu-me-en
41. nam-lugal-la he2-du7-bi-me-en
42. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
43. buru14 mah zig3-ga zi kalam-ma-me-en
44. engar guru7-ni dub-dub-ba-me-en
45. sipad e2tur3-re i3 ga mah-me-en
46. ambar ku6 mucen gal-gal-la-me-en
47. id2 he2-jal2-la a zal-le tum2-ma-me-en
48. hur-saj gal giri17-zal nun-na-me-en
49. a2 mah cum2-ma den-lil2-la2-me-en
50. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 cul ni2-tuku-ni-me-en
51. dijir-re-e-ne saj us2-bi-me-en
52. e2-kur-ra muc3 nu-tum2-mu-bi-me-en
53. lugal kadra-ce3 mac2 gaba tab-ba-me-en
54. sun5-sun5-na giri17 cu jal2-la-me-en
55. lugal cudu3-de3 gub-ba-me-en
56. inim sag9-sag9-ge den-lil2 huj-ja2-me-en
57. a-ra-zu-ne dnin-lil2 hul2-le-me-en
58. ja2-la nu-dag-ge dnuska gub-ba-me-en
59. ki-ur3-ce3 cu jal2-jal2-la-me-en
60. nij2 de6-de6 {suhuc-e} {(1 ms. has perhaps:) uru2?} he2-du7-me-en
61. ul4-ul4-la dub3 nu-kuc2-u3-me-en
62. nesaj tum3 e2-babbar nu-dib-be2-me-en
63. nibruki-ce3 he2-jal2 sar-re-me-en
64. kec3ki icib-bi ba-gub-be2-me-en
65. urim2ki-ce3 i3 saj ga saj-me-en
66. eridugki-ce3 ja2-la nu-dag-ge-bi-me-en
67. ki unugki-ce3 nidba gal-gal-la-me-en
68. e2-kur-ta nam-til3 cum2-ma-me-en
69. zi-cag4-jal2 iri-ni-ce3 al di-me-en
70. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 sipad kur-kur-ra-me-en
71. lugal me3-ce3 ku-kur du7-du7-me-en
72. da-da-ra nam-cul-la zu2 kece2 nu-du8-me-en
73. jiri2-ur3-ra u3-sar ak-me-en
74. me3-a nim-gin7 jir2-jir2-re-me-en
75. suhuc gen6-na erin2-na gar3 dar-re-me-en
76. na4saj-kal na4pec6-pec6-a-me-en
77. kucgur21ur3 igi tab ugnim-ma-me-en
78. ur-saj igi zalag-ga zu2 kece2 gen6-na-me-en
79. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
80. kucummud a sed-de3 zi juruc-a-me-en
81. igi-jal2 kaskal-la {an-dul3} {(1 ms. has perhaps:) a2-tah?} erin2-na-me-en
82. lugal tuc-a-ni barag-ga tum2-ma-me-en
83. cag4 dugud-da inim-ce3 jal2-la-me-en
84. dim2-ma jalga sud a-ra-zu kij2-ja2-me-en
85. nij2-nam-e nu-ul4-en ejer-bi kij2-kij2-me-en
86. cag4 su3-ra2 jectug2 dajal-la-me-en
87. na4 u2nij2-buru3-buru3-de3 kalam-ta e3-a-me-en
88. nij2-gen6-na ka-ga14 jal2-la-me-en
89. si sa2 da-ri2 nu-ha-lam-e-me-en
90. di-kud ka-ac bar-re-da inim si sa2-e-me-en
91. kur-kur-re a2 aj2-je26-e gal-zu-me-en
92. nij2-si-sa2 ki-en-gi ki-uri-a mu-ni-jar su kalam-ma mu-dug3
93. nij2-gen6-na-ju10-uc a-na mu-da-cub
94. nun dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2-me-en uj3-e si bi2-sa2
95. si sa2-ju10-uc a-na ja2-la im-mi-dag
96. kalag-ga-me-en nij2-nam pa bi2-i-e3
97. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
98. e2-gal nam-lugal-la ki-tuc kug dug3-ga-ja2
99. nitalam-ju10 kug dinana-ke4
100. jicgu-za-ja2 suhuc-bi ma-ni-in-ge-en
101. su3-ra2 ud ul-le2-a-ac gu2-da hu-mu-ni-in-la2
102. ki-nu2 {nij2 dug3} {(1 ms. has instead:) za-gin3} ki cag4 hul2-le-da
103. in-nin9-ra ud ga-mu-un-di-ni-ib-zal-e
104. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 ibila kalag-ga-me-en
105. lugal nij2-si-sa2 pa e3 ak-a-me-en
106. mu-ju10 kur-kur-ra zid-de3-ec hu-mu-un-pad3-de3
107. dli-pi2-it-ec4-tar2 dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
108. za3-mi2-ju10 dug3-ga-am3

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL c.2.5.5.1), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Accessed 2026-03-21.

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