CTMMA 2, 008 (MMA 86.11.346+) [Lament accompanied by the Balag-instrument]

(Sum) The temple(?) that once floated in water, water flows far away from it (Akk) The temple(?) that stands in the water, the water has (now) become distant to it

(Sum) That which once floated in water, water flows away from it (Akk) That which stands in the water, the temple that stands in the water, the water has (now) become distant to it

(Sum) At Eridu, the sweet place, ... (Akk) At(?) Eridu, the sweet place, ...

Temple which once floated in great waters, water flows away from it (Akk) Temple which stands it great waters, water flows away from it

(Sum) Its river/canal does not yield water, emptily it is formed(?) (Akk) Its river/canal does not yield water, it has been abandoned in an empty state

Like a river/canal cursed by Enki, silt filled up its source (Akk) Like a river/canal cursed by Ea, its source has been filled up with mud

(Sum) Utu, appear to the shellfish(?) (so that) they destroy its banks (Akk) Šamaš has appeared to its shellfish(?), its bank(s) were destroyed

(Sum) In its midst boxthorn of the mountain and bramble(?) grow (Akk) In its midst boxthorn of the mountain and brambles have grown

(Sum) The "long cross bar"(?) of the [bank?] "bent (its) head"(?), (no one) ventures(?) on the path (Akk) The gištalgiddû of the riverbank is sealed up, (no one) sets forth on the path

(Sum) Its thickets have be stripped, its wells and orchards have been ... (Akk) Its thickets have been stripped, its fruit orchards have dried up

(Sum) Its date palm(s) ..., it is covered at the front (Akk) Its date palm(s) are ..., face down they are covered

(Sum) [The waters?] are distant(?), mixed in(?) with emptiness(?)its (Akk) [The waters?] have become distant, its meadowlands have contracted

(Sum) ... is destroyed, the defiling(?) mulgana plant grows (there) (Akk) [In?] its cultivated land, salinity is coming out malevolently

(Sum) ..., its livestock are brought to an end (Akk) Its ... is paralyzed, its livestock have been brought to an end

Its ... withdrew

(Sum) ... they opened ... (Akk) ... [from?] their ... the remainder has been drunk

(Sum) ..., ... does not smell... (Akk) ... is not strewn about, (its) scent is (one which is) not smelled

(Sum) ... covers (Akk) ... covers

(Sum) ... It is a phantom, it howled (Akk) ... flits about

(Sum) ... who does not pass (Akk) ... does not pass

They set up/emitted ... (Akk) They have set up/emitted ...

... may the lord come back to him/it (var. turn back) and look at him/it

... may ... come back to him/it (var. turn back) and have mercy for him

(Sum) ... spent the day in painful lament (Akk) ... in grievous lament the day has ended for him/it

... weeps for its lady

... its mercy ...

... utters a cry for the city

... utters a cry for the city

At Eridu, the sweet place, very quickly ...

... spent the day in painful lament

Where is the future like the past? Where will I go?

Like a cow, she cries out for Eridu over and over

(Sum) For the ... temple, for Eridu, like a cow she cries out (Akk) For the exalted(?) temple, for Eridu, like a cow she cries out over and over

The mother of the Emah temple, Damgalnana cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

(Sum) The bride of the deep waters, Papnunanki cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over (Akk) The bride of the Abzu, Papnunanki cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

Namma, the great mother of the deep waters, cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over (Akk) Namma, the great mother of the Abzu, cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

Nanše, the eldest daughter of Eridu, cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

(Sum) The good lady Ningikuga cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

The bride of the Esaŋil temple, the daughter of Uraš cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

(Sum) The udug spirit of the temple, Hedimekuga cries out for Eridu like a cow (Akk) The lurker of the temple, Hedimmekuga cries out for Eridu like a cow over and over

Like a cow in its pen, she cries out over and over

Like ... she cries out painfully

Like a cow separated from her calf, she cries out with compassion

For her temple which was destroyed, she weeps painfully

For he true city which was destroyed, she wails

(Sum) For her property that was plundered, she scratches (her) cheeks (Akk) For its property which was plundered, she is made to bend over

(Sum) For her treasure which was carried away, she ... plucking (Akk) For its treasure which was carried away, (her hair) is plucked out

(Sum) For her possessions which were robbed, she beats her breast

For her people who were heaped up, she utters a lament

For her land, which was brought to an end, she makes heaven tremble

(Sum) She does not sleep, she does not sleep (Akk) She does not lie down, she does not fall asleep

(Sum) She does not cool down with sleep, she does not relax with sleep (Akk) She does not rest, she does not relax

(Sum) She shouts painfully over and over, the voice ... (Akk) She shouts painfully, her voice gets loud(er and louder?)

She shouts and makes heaven tremble

The woman roars and shakes the earth

(Sum) The gods shake (Akk) The gods shook ...

The Anuna tremble

They speak the "Alas!" of your angry heart to ...

(Sum) They speak by means of the "Alas!" of your angry ... liver to ... (Sum) They speak the "Alas!" of your troubled liver to ...

For its brickwork ...

... extract of the balaŋ composition a abzu-ŋu₁₀, not finished, extracted for singing, ...

..., son of Nanna-utu. Hand of ...

... Babylon, month of ..., ... day, 127th year ...