| 1 | A lullaby whispered to the young children of old. |
| 2 | Of dead gods and their armies, |
| 3 | their battles and wars. |
| 4 | Yet through these mere specks of time and tale unfolds |
| 5 | For much truth to tell: |
| 6 | EN.KI was fetched into his presence |
| 7 | AN, king of the sky was present, |
| 8 | Enki, king of the Apsu attended. |
| 9 | The great AN.NUN.AKI were present. |
| 10 | EL.LIL got up and the case was put. |
| 11 | EL.LIL made his voice heard |
| 12 | And spoke to the great gods: |
| 13 | Is it against me that they have risen? |
| 14 | Shall I do battle...? |
| 15 | What did I see with my own eyes? |
| 16 | A rabble was running around my door! |
| 17 | Anu made his voice heard |
| 18 | And spoke to the warrior EL.LIL |
| 19 | Let Nusku go out |
| 20 | And find out the word of the IG.IGI Who have surrounded your door. |
| 21 | A command shall be issued to retreat and obey |
| 22 | To the rabble that had assembled |
| 23 | EL.LIL made his voice heard |
| 24 | And spoke to the vizier Nusku, |
| 25 | Nusku, open your door, |
| 26 | Take up your weapons and stand before me! |
| 27 | In the assembly of all the gods, |
| 28 | Bow, then stand and tell them, |
| 29 | Your father AN.U, |
| 30 | Your guard, warrior EL.LIL, |
| 31 | Your warden Ninurta |
| 32 | And your canal-controller Ennugi |
| 33 | Have sent me to say, |
| 34 | Who is in charge of the rabble? |
| 35 | Who is in charge of the fighting? |
| 36 | Who declared war? |
| 37 | Who ran to the door of EL.LIL? |
| 38 | Nusku opened his door, |
| 39 | Took up his weapons, went from EL.LIL |
| 40 | In the assembly of all the gods |
| 41 | He bowed, then stood and told the message. |
| 42 | Your father AN.U, |
| 43 | Your guard warrior EL.LIL, |
| 44 | Your warden Ninurta, |
| 45 | And your canal controller Ennugi |
| 46 | Have sent me to say |
| 47 | Who is in charge of the rabble? |
| 48 | Who is in charge of the fighting? |
| 49 | Who declared war? |
| 50 | Who ran to the door of EL.LIL? |
| 51 | EL.LIL heard his answer from the gods |
| 52 | Every single one of us declared war! |
| 53 | We have put a stop to the digging. |
| 54 | The load is excessive, it is killing us! |
| 55 | Our work is too hard, the trouble too much! |
| 56 | So every single one of us gods |
| 57 | Has agreed to complain to EL.LIL |
| 58 | Nusku took his weapons |
| 59 | Went and returned to EL.LIL |
| 60 | My lord, you sent me to call upon the rabble |
| 61 | I went and spoke as your command |
| 62 | I explained your plea but they called in unison |
| 63 | Saying every single one of us gods |
| 64 | Declared war |
| 65 | We have put a stop to the digging. |
| 66 | The load is excessive, it is killing us! |
| 67 | Our work is too hard, the trouble too much, |
| 68 | So every single one of us gods |
| 69 | Has agreed to complain to EL.LIL! |
| 70 | Ellil listened to that speech. |
| 71 | His tears flowed. |
| 72 | EL.LIL spoke guardedly, |
| 73 | Addressed the warrior AN.U, |
| 74 | Noble one, take a decree |
| 75 | With you to the sky, show your strength- |
| 76 | While the Anunnaki are sitting before you |
| 77 | Call up one god and let them cast him for destruction |
| 78 | Ea made his voice heard |
| 79 | And spoke to the gods his brothers, |
| 80 | Why are we blaming them? |
| 81 | Their work was too hard, their punishment was too much. |
| 82 | Every day the earth resounded. |
| 83 | The warning signal was loud enough, we kept hearing the noise. |
| 84 | There is balance restored in the sacrifice of blood for many. |
| 85 | Belet-ili the womb goddess is present- |
| 86 | Let her create a mortal man |
| 87 | So that he may bear the yoke... |
| 88 | So that he may bear the yoke, the work of Ellil, |
| 89 | Let man bear the load of the gods! |
| 90 | Belet-ili the womb goddess is present, |
| 91 | Let the womb goddess create offspring, |
| 92 | And let them bear the load of the gods! |
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Book III - Elohim