RA 012, 073-084 (Bod S 302) [The Elevation of Ishtar]

(o 1) May the arrowhead, piercer of heart and lungs, fly like a shuttle!

(o 2) Ištar, make war and battle whirl around like a skipping rope!

(o 3) Like ball and mallet, lady of battle, let battles clash!

(o 4) Goddess of strife, pursue battle like playing with dolls!

(o 5) Lady, where weapons clash, play with the chaos like knucklebones!

(o 6) Inana, when you establish the formations of battle like a mighty storm (Šulpae/Jupiter),

(o 7) When you exert your terrible frightfulness with the mitum weapon, axe, sword, and arrows,

(o 8) (Sum) When you gird on the furious armor, may there be a rage! (Akk) When you gird on the furious armor, may a flood rage!

(o 9) When you get the bow and shield ready, may storm winds whirl for you!

(o 10) May the rising of your eradicating hand strike the wicked with lightning like Erra!

(o 11) Lady, when you open your arms where weapons and standards clash, no one is able to desert.

(o 12) My daughter, wherever it is pleasing to you to raise high or bring low, to pull taut or slacken,

(o 13) May you not have limits where you are determining (fate), may your command be as great as my command!

(o 14) During festivals, ancient rites, self-debasement, making obeisance and invocation of the name (of a god),

(o 15) the man whose god had become angry at him and whose goddess had become jealous of him,

(o 16) as long as he does not search for the place of your divine forgiveness, any god will be unwilling (to listen to) his prayer.

(o 17) In my city, the mountain of Sumer and Akkad, the protective shade of the universe,

(r 1) In Duranki, the bond of heaven and earth, the city that is the foundation of the entire inhabited world,

(r 2) (Sum) At my royal dais reposing like an elephant at the obeisances of the gods, (Akk) At my royal dais reposing like a wild bull at the obeisances of the gods,

(r 3) (Sum) At my shrine Nippur, the cultic place of supreme divinity, great wall of the land, (Akk) At my shrine Nippur, the cultic place of supreme divinity, the support of the land,

(r 4) At the dais the tranquil dwelling, that is called after my name,

(r 5) May your rule be made manifest there, for your name may be called "Queen of Nippur."

(r 6) (Sum) The good udug spirit, the eloquent god who stands in attendance of An, (Akk) The good udug spirit, the eloquent god who stands in attendance of me,

(r 7) The expert, bond of the Ekur temple, discoverer of advice, planning, and finest oil,

(r 8) (Sum) For those against whom your anger is great and your triumph is achieved, may she (Ninimma) be your foremost one. (Akk) For those against whom your anger is great and your triumph is achieved, may she (Ninimma) be your guardian.

(r 9) May wise Ninimma, calm your mood with heart-warming conversation!

(r 10) Lady, my weighty command, the divine power that cannot be asked for (by anyone else), whatever is mine I have assigned to you.

(r 11) Like me, may Enki, king of the Abzu, care for you faithfully.

(r 12) Prince Nudimmud rejoiced because of this, his liver rose in joy.

(r 13) Long tablet of Iqiša, son of Ištar-šuma-ereš, descendant of Ea-zakir the incantation priest, hand of Ištar-šuma-ēreš, his son.

(r 14) The one who fears Anu, Ellil, and Ea will not take it away, he will not deliberately let it be lost.

(r 15) On the same evening he should return it to the house of its owner. Whoever takes it away, may Adad and Šala take him away.

(r 16) Month of Nisannu, 23rd day, 8th year of Philip, king of the lands.