STT 1, 033 [Ludlul 2]

(o 1) One year and the next, the appointed time has passed.

(o 2) I turned round: (everywhere was) evil, it was evil indeed.

(o 3) My misfortune keeps increasing; I will not find righteousness.

(o 4) I called out to my (own) god, but he did not pay attention to me.

(o 5) I appeal to my goddess, (but) she does not support me.

(o 6) The diviner, through divination, has not determined (the future).

(o 7) With the incense, my dream interpreter did not proclaim the sentence.

(o 8) I supplicated Zaqiqu but he did not inform me.

(o 9) The incantation priest, during the rituals, did not loosen the wrath (of the gods).

(o 10) What machinations, for one year, in all lands!

(o 11) I look at my legacy: (all) persecution and conflict!

(o 12) Like the one who has not set up his offerings to the god and during (whose) meals the goddess was not invoked; (like the one who) has not changed [...], (who) has not experienced prostration;

(o 15) [...] prayers (and) petitions have been discontinued; (like the one who) has ceased ... of the god, (who) has become neglectful (during) the eššēšu-festival;

(o 17) (like the one who) is negligent; (the one who) has neglected their purification (rituals);

(o 18) (like the one who) never had his kin learn reverence (for the gods and) observance (of the rites);

(o 19) (like the one who) has not invoked his god (when) he ate his bread;

(o 20) (like the one who) has abandoned his goddess; (like the one who) has not brought his mashātu-offering;

(o 21) like (lit. for) the one who raved; (like the one who) forgets about his lord;

(o 22) (like the one who) swears [...] on the life of his respected god: I am indeed (their) equal.

(o 23) I mentioned myself in prayers and petitions;

(o 24) Petitions were common sense (for me); sacrifices were my rites.

(o 25) The days when I was revering the god were a contentment for me; the day of Ištar's procession were my profit, my gain; prayer for the king: that was my joy! And his joyful song was turned into [...].

(o 29) I directed my land to the observance of [...]; I continually instructed my kin to honour the goddess's name.

(o 31) I rendered the praise for the king equal to the god's and I had the common people learn respect for the palace.

(o 33) Let me know these (things) that are always acceptable for the gods!

(o 34) [...] oneself (is) sin to the god;

(o 35) [...] is wretched, is good to his god.

(o 36) [...] will learn [...] inside heavens?

(o 37) Who will understand [...]?

(o 38) [...] the god's way [...] humanity.

(o 39) The one who lived with strength is dying [...].

(o 40) Quickly, they become dark [...] they merrily create noise.

(o 41) At one moment, they sing a cheerful song; in the next instant, [...] they are very loud.

(o 43) Their opinions are as contradictory as opening and closing.

(o 44) When they are hungry, they become like corpses; when they are replete, they rival (with) their gods.

(o 46) When they are in good condition, they speak (of) climbing up to heavens; when they are confused, they claim to descend to the Underworld.

(o 48) I have thought about these; I have not understood their meanings.

(o 49) [...] as for me, miserable, a storm pursues (me).

(o 50) Debilitating illness advances over me.

(o 51) A destructive winds blow [...] (from) the sky.

(o 52) My Headache springs up from bowels of the earth.

(o 53) An evil cough emerges from its Apsu.

(o 54) [...] not [...] comes out from the Ekur.

(o 55) [...] descended from inside the mountains.

(o 56) [...] (from) the flood, the frost ... [...]

(o 61) my neck [...]

(o 62) [...] they struck [...]

(o 63) they lashed my flesh [...]

(o 64) [...] the top of my belly [...]

(o 65) They disturbed my bowels [...].

(o 66) They afflicted (me) [...], causing the flowing of phlegm.

(o 67) They afflicted my limbs; they shifted [...].

(o 68) They brought down my tall body [...].

(o 69) They flattened my wide figure like rushes.

(o 70) As a dried fig is overturned, (I am) face down [...].

(o 71) The alû-demon has clothed himself (with) my body (as) a garment.

(o 72) [...] covered me like a battle net.

(r 1) [...] are staring but do not see.

(r 2) [...] are open but do not hear.

(r 3) Paralysis has taken all my body.

(r 4) A stroke has affected my flesh.

(r 5) A skin disease has seized my arms.

(r 6) Debility has affected my knees.

(r 7) My feet have forgotten (how) to move.

(r 8) A blow has overcome (me): I choke suddenly.

(r 9) Death has recovered my face.

(r 10) [...] I will answer.

(r 11) [...] I did not have [...].

(r 13) [...] my lips

(r 14) [...] my watering places [...]

(r 15) [...] ... [...]

(r 16) If [...] I swallowed (it) up like a foetid plant

(r 17) [...] subsistence for the people, [...] on me

(r 18) moreover, my sickness has become long.

(r 19) Without meal, my face [...].

(r 20) My flesh has become loose; my blood has ebbed away [...].

(r 21) My bones are etched, covered [...].

(r 22) My veins are swollen; jaundice strikes me.

(r 23) I took to my bed; my way out is (in) moaning.

(r 24) My (own) house turned into my jail.

(r 25) Handcuffs of my (own) flesh are laid (around) my arms.

(r 26) Chains (all around) myself; my feet are wasted through disease, .

(r 27) My beatings are very painful; my wound is strong.

(r 28) A whip, covered with thorns, beats me.

(r 29) A goad pricks me; stings [...].

(r 30) All day long, a persecutor pursues me.

(r 31) [...] (at) night, they do not let me breathe.

(r 32) [...] being inverted, [...] is released.

(r 33) [...] are scattered; they are dropped in equal shares.

(r 34) I spent the night [...] like an ox.

(r 35) [...] (in) my excrement.

(r 36) [...] the incantation priest, and my omens have confused [...].

(r 38) The exorcist did not reveal the nature of my illness and the diviner did not give a fixed date for (the end of) my sickness.

(r 40) (My own) god did not rush to help; he did not seize my hand; my (own) goddess was not merciful to me; she did not walk on my side.

(r 42) (My) grave is open; my ornaments are ready.

(r 43) Before my death, the mourning for me was completed.

(r 44) All my country said: "How wronged he has been!".

(r 45) Those who gloat over me hear (this) and their faces brighten; they deliver pleasant news to the woman who gloats over me, her mood becomes cheerful.

(r 47) Dark is the day for all my family; amongst my friends, their sun has become dark.6

(r 49) After this: "His hand is heavy: I cannot lift it."

(r 50) Written and checked according to its original; written document of Iddi-Meslamtaea, scribal apprentice, descendant of Ašu, the priest.

(r 52) May Nudimmud take away whoever takes away this tablet! May Lugalira the mightiest of the gods, the most powerful of the gods, the most murderous of the gods - slaughter with his furious weapon whoever steals (it) by theft or removes it by force.

(r 55) In the time of Sennacherib, king of Assyria; in the month of Arahsamnu (VIII), day 3; eponym [...] governor of Til-Barsibi.

(r 57) Nabu, may he who trusts in you not be ashamed!