Wise king, sagacious creator

(9.6.1:0)

(9.6.1:1) Incantation: “Wise king, sagacious creator,

(9.6.1:2) exalted leader, one befitting Eʾabzu,

(9.6.1:3) competent Enlilbanda, reverently greeted,

(9.6.1:4) hero of Eridu, sage of the Igigi,

(9.6.1:5) lord of Eʾengura (var.: Engura), protection of Eʾunir,

(9.6.1:6) who brings flooding ((and)) plenty, who makes the rivers rejoice.

(9.6.1:7) In the seas and reed-thickets you let abundance flourish,

(9.6.1:8) on the fields you provide the sustenance ((of the people)), ((grain)).

(9.6.1:9) Anu ((and)) Enlil are joyfully exulting over you,

(9.6.1:10) the Anunnaki greet you in their shrines,

(D₁_obv_11) [ ... ] of all the gods,

(D₁_obv_12) [ ... ] who created men,

(D₁_obv_13) [ ... ] who created the womb,

(D₁_obv_14) (the following three lines in D₁ are too fragmentary for translation; D₁ then breaks)

(9.6.1:11) the people of the land praise your honoured name.

(9.6.1:12) You give advice to the great gods.

(9.6.1:13) Ea, through your life-giving spell the dying man recovers!

(C_obv_14) I am Banītu-tēreš, son of his god,

(C_obv_15) [whose g]od is Sîn, [whose] goddess is Nikkal.

(C_obv_16) [On account of the e]vil of the evil (and) unfavourable signs (and) omens

(C_obv_17) [that] have occurred [in] my house,

(C_obv_18) [I am frightened], scared (and) constantly terrified.

(9.6.1:14) Raise my head, call out my name!

(9.6.1:15) At your command, may my words be heeded,

(9.6.1:16) by your desire, may I obtain good fortune,

(9.6.1:17) give me life so that I may endure forever!

(9.6.1:18) May my speech be sweet to god and king,

(9.6.1:19) may god and king do what I say,

(9.6.1:20) may mouth and tongue pray devoutly for me.

(9.6.1:21) May 22anything evil, anything bad 21not ... , 22not reach me (var.: not approach me)!

(9.6.1:23) And as for them, the sorcerous devices of the warlock and witch:

(9.6.1:24) O Ea, may anything evil, anything unfavourable flee through your life-giving spell! (thus mss. A, B and D2; mss. C, e and f have instead: “May their evil and bad witchcraft, magic (and) sorcery flee!”)

(9.6.1:25) May the incantation of Eridu release the bond of warlock ((and)) witch, (thus mss. A, B, C, D2 and e; ms. f has instead: “May [the bo]nd of warlock and witch be released by [the incantation of Eridu]!”)

(9.6.1:26) may the sage of the gods, Marduk, release their evil bonds (var.: [t]raps)!

(9.6.1:27) May my body be clear (of illness), may my limbs be in good health for me!

(9.6.1:28) May the heavens be joyful over you, may the subterranean ocean rejoice over you, ((may the gods of the entire (pantheon) bless you)),

(9.6.1:29) may the great gods hail you in a lordly fashion, (thus mss. A, B and f; mss. C and e have instead: “may the great gods make your heart glad”.)

(9.6.1:30) may the Igigi gods say good things about you!”

(9.6.1:31) ((Wording of)) a šuʾila prayer to Ea (var.: Marduk).

(9.6.1:32) You perform (this) [either with a ritual arrangement] or with a censer.