STT 1, 009 [Enuma Eliš 6]

[...] ... [...]

[...] mankind, he imposed the gods' work (on them) and set the gods free.

[...] the wise Ea [...] (and) imposed the work of the gods on them,

[... not] suitable for understanding

[...] of Marduk, Nudimmud created.

[...] divided the gods,

[...], all of them, above and below.

[... to] Anu the guarding of his instructions,

[...] he installed as watch.

[...] he planned the ways of the Underworld.

In [heaven and] the Underworld, he settled 600 (gods).

After he had given all of them (their) instructions

(and) divided their shares to the Anunnaku of heaven and Underworld,

the Anunnaku opened their mouths

to speak to Marduk, their lord:

"Now, lord, who brought about our freedom,

"what good things can we do for you?

"Let us build a cult dais whose name is called.

"Your cella shall be our stopping place; we shall rest therein.

"We shall lay out the cult dais (and) install its emplacement. On the date that we achieve (this), we shall rest therein."

When Marduk heard this, his appearance brightened greatly, like the day, (and he said):

"Build Babylon and (do) the work that you request! May its brickwork be moulded and build the cult dais high!"

The Anunaku wielded the hoe. The first year they made bricks.

When the second year arrived, they raised the upper part of Esaggil, a copy of the Apsu,

and built the upper ziggurat of the Apsu.

For the gods [...] and Anu, they established his ... as dwelling.

In majesty he sat before them and its (Esaggil's) horns faced the foundations of Ešara.

After they had done the work of the Esaggil, all the Anunnaku created their own cult daises.

The 300 (lit. 5 sixties) Igigi of the heavens (and) the 600 of the Apsu all gathered.

The lord, on the exalted dais which they had created as his dwelling,

seated the gods, his fathers, at his banquet (saying): "This is Babylon, the seat of your love.

"Sing joyfully at this place so that they shall speak of its joy!"

The great gods sat down.

They put down zarbābu-vessels (and) sat down at the banquet.

After they had performed a joyful nigûtu-song inside it (Esaggil),

they performed the taqribtu-ritual in the awe-inspiring Esaggil.

All the instructions and plans were established.

All the gods divided the positions of heaven and Underworld.

The great gods, fifthy of them, sat down and

the seven gods of destinies were established firmly to (give) decisions.

The lord presented the bow, his weapon, and laid it down before them.

The gods, his fathers, examined the net which he had made,

they saw how skilful the bow's appearance was

(and) praised the deeds which he had done, his fathers.

Anu raised it (the bow) in the assembly of the gods and said

and kissed the bow: "May this be my daughter!"

He named the names of the bow thus:

'Longwood' shall be the first, the second shall be [...]

its third name, 'Bow-star', he revealed in heaven.

He established its station with the gods, [its] companions.

After Anu had determined the destinies of the bow,

he erected the throne of kingship which was the highest among the gods.

Anu placed it in the assembly of the gods.

The great gods assembled, they raised Marduk's destiny above their own (and) prostrated themselves.

They spoke a curse to themselves,

with water and oil they swore (and) grasped (their) throats.

They gave him the exercise of kingship over the gods,

they established him firmly for the lordship of the gods of heaven and Underworld.

Anšar gave him his additional name Asalluhi (saying):

"At the mention of his name, we shall show submission,

"(at) his utterances, the gods shall pay attention,

"his speech shall be supreme above and below.

"The son, our avenger, shall be very exalted.

"His lordship shall be supreme, he shall have no rival.

"He shall perform the shepherdship of the black-headed people, his creations.

"so that they may speak of his ways for posterity, without forgetting.

"He shall establish great food offerings for his fathers,

"He shall exercise the role of provisioner for them (and) care for their chapels.

"He shall have (them) smell the incense offering (and) rejoice at their sustenance.

"He shall do on earth the equivalent of what he did in heaven.

"He shall appoint the black-headed people to revere him.

"May the people be mindful (and) invoke their gods.

"At his command, may they pay attention to their goddesses,

"(and) may food offerings be brought to their gods and goddesses.

"Let it not be forgotten (and) care for their gods. They shall make their sacred precincts glorious (and) build their daises.

"The black-headed people may be divided (as to) gods,

"to us, whatever name we call (him), he shall be our god.

"Let us pronounce his fifty names,

"that his ways be made transparent, his deeds equal.

"MARDUK whom his father Anu named from his birth

"provider of pasture and watering places, the one who enriches every stable,

"who, with his weapon, the flood, bound the enemies

"(and) spared the gods, his fathers, from hardship.

"He shall be the son, the sun god of the gods, the shining one,

"so that they may always wander in his bright light.

"On the people whom he created, the living creatures,

"he imposed the gods' work, so that they could achieve peace.

"Creation, destruction, reconciliation (and) punishment,

"[shall] happen at his command and they shall gaze at him.

"[...]: he is indeed the god who created them,

"[...] Anunnaku, the one who allows the Igigi to rest.

"MARUTUKKU: he shall be the trust of his land, city and people.

"[... may] the people praise him for ever after.

"[...] ...

[...] (and) may they quake in (their) dwelling.