Epic of Zimri-Lim (Guichard 2014)

(o i 1) Zimrī-Lîm, the wild bull of battle, I want to praise

(o i 2) the hero, for ever I want to repeat his name,

(o i 3) Zimrī-Lîm, the heir of Yaḫdun-Lîm, the foremost of Ḫanû,

(o i 4) [the one who destroys] the wall of the enemy.

(o i 5) [...] Mêr1 I want to exalt. Hear,

(o i 6) [listen attentively (to)] my words (about) the one who chases the foes,

(o i 7) [(about) the one who subdues] his enemies,

(o i 8) [the hero] who opens a spear (...),

(o i 9) [the one who takes a land] after a land,

(o i 10) Zimrī-Lîm, who opens a spear (...),

(o i 11) who takes a land after a land.

(o i 12) In the precious heart, the gods have chosen his name,

(o i 13) may the command of Anu be pure, the wild bull of his land,

(o i 14) Zimrī-Lîm, the gods have chosen his name,

(o i 15) may the command of Anu be pure, the wild bull of his land.

(o i 16) Oh I2 want to praise the famous king!

(o i 17) He has made the enemies of Enlil his enemies.

(o i 18) Between Ḫābur and Euphrates,

(o i 19) in the place (where) Storm-god has judged his judgement,

(o i 20) (where) he has raised his roar, (where) he has scattered his clan,

(o i 21) to the four quarters (of the world) he has dispersed his will.

(o i 22) The land looted properties of his (enemy?) hand,

(o i 23) pure gold in the town of Bisan.

(o i 24) He has torn the enemy like a knot of a rope,

(o i 25) the earth has drunk the blood of warriors.

(o i 26) Annunītum has walked by his right side,

(o i 27) the Storm-God has laid down the loudness of his cry,

(o i 28) he has laid down his cry, he has broken the spear of the enemy,

(o i 29) he has poured his poison onto the land,

(o i 30) Zimrī-Lîm, who has broken the spear of the enemy,

(o i 31) has poured his poison on his enemies.

(o i 32) (At) the front of the (battle) outburst (?), the fire of battle has broke out

(o i 33) Who is above you that he puts it (the fire) down?

(o i 34) You have opened a narrow pass of the mountains,

(o i 35) of which(?) a bolt has shut the door (of) stone panels.

(o i 36) Zimrī-Lîm, who has opened the doors of the fortress(?)

(o i 37) of which(?) a bolt has shut the door with stone bars(?).

(o i 38) [...] land in its entirety.

(o i 39) [...] you have released her power.

(o i 40) [... the whole] humanity (was) numerous.

(o i 41) [...] for eternity you have established your name.

(o i 42) [...] pre-eminent lady

(o i 43) [...] you have placed

(o i 44) [...] yours(?)

(o ii 1) Zimrī-Lîm [...]

(o ii 2) like an equid [...]

(o ii 3) in front of the contingent [...]

(o ii 4) rider on the steed [...]

(o ii 5) Before him, [there is] nothing opposing him.

(o ii 6) May the enemy be soaked like [a clay in the water (?)]

(o ii 7) In the back, no deserter escaped,

(o ii 8) in the opening of two [...]3

(o ii 9) The kid4 killed his haters,

(o ii 10) the dust storm has turned against them.

(o ii 11) He did not fear (thanks to?) the one walking on his right side [and his left side.]

(o ii 12) The son of Enlil, Lāgamal, the lord,

(o ii 13) and his reinforcements have prevented the fleeing of warriors.

(o ii 14) He harvested his (enemy?) troops like a reed,

(o ii 15) the warriors were caused to be fallen like a tamarisk.

(o ii 16) The earth has drunk his5 blood.

(o ii 17) As the Storm-God was made resplendent forever

(o ii 18) Zimrī-Lîm, the leopard of battles,

(o ii 19) the strong one, who binds the evil, the one who destroys the enemy,

(o ii 20) opened his mouth, saying,

(o ii 21) speaking to his men:

(o ii 22) "A womb has created you,

(o ii 23) a mother, just like you, has given a birth to me!

(o ii 24) The same battle is upon me! My face has changed!(?)

(o ii 25) The four quarters (of the world) are hostile to you

(o ii 26) and the land (...) Get prepared for me!6

(o ii 27) The enemy is assembled (...)

(o ii 28) To the battle, [the action(?), I] want to get ready!"

(o ii 29) [The wild bull] of kings, the firm one, just as he [achieved his goal] (?)

(o ii 30) Zimrī-Lîm, the firm one, just as he [achieved] his goal (?)

(o ii 31) he ordered his sukkallu,

(o ii 32) (his) sugāgū he commanded:

(o ii 33) "My warriors, the Ḫananeans, may they come close to me,

(o ii 34) my herdsmen, may they report for duty before me,

(o ii 35) in conscript,7 the inhabitants of the Banks of Euphrates.

(o ii 36) Let me act according to your counsel!"

(o ii 37) Having heard this speech of his,

(o ii 38) Ašmad, the merʾû, speaks to him:

(o ii 39) "Why do you worry (about) the Šubarean?

(o ii 40) The fire of your battle cannot be repelled.

(o ii 41) (There is) a chilling fear (in) the shadows of the forest trees

(o ii 42) their tree-trunks, to the appearance (there is) no digging of an axe blade.

(o ii 43) Subartu is scattered like a sheep on the pasture.

(o ii 44) There, for a soldier a travel provision is placed,

(o ii 45) Zimrī-Lîm, may they see your heroism,

(o ii 46) may [the people for] ever praise your name."

(o ii 47) [The king rejoiced over] the word of the merʾû, his servant.

(o ii 48) [... like] a harvestor of a field(?)

(o ii 49) [...] covered

(o ii 50) [...]

(o ii 51) [...]

(o ii 52) [...]

(o ii 53) [...]

(r iii 1) (With) their reinforcements he filled up the steppe.

(r iii 2) Clothed with armour, to ask for mercy (was) a taboo of his,

(r iii 3) Everyone who faced him is felled,

(r iii 4) the donkeys seem ruined and scattered,

(r iii 5) the warriors are (left) fallen, each by himself,

(r iii 6) the environ is covered in their blood.

(r iii 7) Until the king has achieved his goal,

(r iii 8) and Ida-Maraṣ was subjected under his feet,

(r iii 9) he (only) drank water of water-skins,

(r iii 10) counted with the soldiers, everything was torture.

(r iii 11) Great (were) the huntsmen who went with him,

(r iii 12) like an onager (eating) straw in the steppe,

(r iii 13) his men ate meat,

(r iii 14) they gained courage; they gained strength.

(r iii 15) Zimrī-Lîm goes at the front like a (divine) emblem,

(r iii 16) having turned to the one who was without power, he encourages him:

(r iii 17) "Be strong and enter(?),

(r iii 18) the enemy sees your valour!"

(r iii 19) Their bodies are taken up with fire,

(r iii 20) their stomachs know burning!8

(r iii 21) They are equipped with daggers, swords and spears,

(r iii 22) at their sides (...)9 axes.

(r iii 23) [For] removing (?) (what is) left of the steppe.

(r iii 24) Walking [at the front] (was) the most able Ištar.

(r iii 25) When (...)

(r iii 26) He appointed his governors [on the banks] of the river.

(r iii 27) Those of gods who were not called, [he requested them to] accompany (him).

(r iii 28) Quickly, they answered the king: "Yes!"

(r iii 29) The heartland was kindled with a battle.

(r iii 30) The hero does not go on a campaign by himself,

(r iii 31) the king, by the command of Dagān, the lord,

(r iii 32) he (...)10 on/over the men, his family,

(r iii 33) Zimrī-Lîm, by the command of Dagān, the lord,

(r iii 34) his support (is) Itūr-Mêr, the warrior.

(r iii 35) Oh, he saw his sign, (revealed by?) the āpilu, the hero of his land,

(r iii 36) the king gained his courage (and) strength,

(r iii 37) Addu goes on his left,

(r iii 38) Erra, the savage, on his right.

(r iii 39) He placed his contingents on the banks of the Ḫābur river,

(r iii 40) At night, he stepped in front of them,

(r iii 41) he summoned the diviners, he purified:

(r iii 42) "Šamaš, the hero, answered me,

(r iii 43) this very day, I will capture the enemy,

(r iii 44) my heroes, be intent (and with) strength11

(r iii 45) beat up your enemy like [a ...]"

(r iii 46) His warriors heard the speech [of his lips. (?)]

(r iii 47) Like one (large) bird-trap they entrapped [their enemy,]

(r iii 48) who escaped [...],

(r iii 49) who passed by was crooked [...].

(r iii 50) Zimrī-Lîm [...]

(r iii 51) (in?) the centre of enemies [...]

(r iii 52) (...) [...]

(r iii 53) the king [...]

(r iii 54) (...) [...]

(r iv 1) [...] he broke

(r iv 2) [...] he caused to establish

(r iv 3) [...] he filled the land

(r iv 4) [those who] answered Zimrī-Lîm (with) hostility,

(r iv 5) they did not live, they died.

(r iv 6) Once the king has accomplished his goal,

(r iv 7) he entered before Nunamnir,

(r iv 8) in Ekisiqqa he sacrificed his sacrifice,

(r iv 9) in the midst of Terqa, the beloved (city) of Dagān,

(r iv 10) life, abundance and strength

(r iv 11) from Dagān, Zimrī-Lîm requested.