BMS 11[via caspo]

[Incantation: O war]rior Marduk, whose anger (is) a flood,

Whose [forg]iving (is that of) a merciful father.

[Spe]aking without hearing has stirred me,

[Cal]ling out without reply has slighted me.

(This situation) has expelled the [stre]ngth of my heart,

Like an old man, it has bowed me low.

O great [lord], Marduk, merciful god!

Hum[an b]eings, by whatever name—

Who (among them) can ascertain their [ow]n [sin]?

[. . .] has not sinned?

[Wh]o can ascertain [. . .]?

[. . .] lest I acquire [s]in

I ought assiduously to search out [. . . of li]fe,

(But) it is decreed by the gods to go about tasks [. . .],

For a man to bear the [. . .] of the god.

As for me, your [servant], though I have committed sins,

Though I have transgressed (lit., crossed the [bou]ndary of the god),

Disregard [that (i.e., the sins) fr]om my youth, whatever ones (lit., known, unknown).

May (it) not cause concern (lit., may it not throb [in] your [heart]); (rather) forgive my guilt, cancel my punishment.

Illuminate my [c]onfusion,

Clear my consternation.

May the [g]uilt of my father, my grandfather, (the guilt) of my mother, my grandmother,

(the guilt) of my family, kin, and clan,

Not draw near [t]o me. Let it go elsewhere.

(If?) my god causes me to find favor, purify me like grass!

Entrust me to the favorable hands of my (personal) god and goddess for well-being and life.

May I stand before you perpetually with prayers, requests, and petitions.

Let the abundant people of the well-organized land

praise you! Forgive my guilt, cancel my guilt.

O warrior Marduk, forgive my guilt, cancel my guilt.

O great lady Zarpanitu, forgive my guilt, cancel my guilt.

O excellent name Nabu, forgive my guilt.

O great lady Tashmetu, forgive my guilt.

O warrior Nergal, forgive my guilt.

O gods who dwell in Anu (i.e., the heavens), forgive my guilt.

The great guilt that I have committed since (the days of) my youth,

Disperse (it), forgive (it) sevenfold.

May your heart, like the father who engendered me,

And (like) the mother who gave birth to me, return to normal.

O [war]rior Marduk, let me resound your praises!

It is the [wor]ding of a lifted hand prayer to Marduk.

Its [rit]ual: In front of Marduk you place a censer with juniper.

[You set] up [a portable altar]. You set out a mersu-cake, honey, (and( ghee.

[You lib]ate [first-class beer]. The seed of mashtakal-plant you toss into the oil.

[Before Mard]uk you set (it). You say a recitation, and you smear the oil.

[Incantation: O greatest one], exalted, perfect, splendid.

[Palace of Ashurbanipal], great king, strong king,

king of the totality, king of Assyria, who, with Marduk, king of the gods,

[. . .] his eyes. He wrote (and) checked (it) for an aide-to-memory (and) for reading.

He deposited (this tablet) [in the midst] of his palace. Whoever trusts in you, O Nabu, shall not be put to shame.