An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic/The Yale Tablet
YALE TABLET.
| Transliteration. | Translation. |
(About ten lines missing.)
Col. I.
.................. [ib]-ri(?) |
.................. (my friend?)
|
[mi-im-ma(?) šá(?)]-kú-tu wa(?)-ak-rum |
[Something] that is exceedingly difficult,
|
[am-mi-nim] ta-aḫ-ši-iḫ |
[Why] dost thou desire
|
[an-ni]-a-am [e-pi]-šá-am |
[to do this?]
|
| 15 ...... mi-im[-ma šá-kú-tu(?)]ma- |
.... something (?) that is very [difficult (?)],
|
di-iš |
[Why dost thou] desire
|
[am-mi]-nim [taḫ]-ši-iḫ |
[to go down to the forest]?
|
[ur(?)]-ta-du-ú [a-na ki-i]š-tim |
A message [they carried] among [men]
|
ši-ip-ra-am it-[ta-šú]-ú i-na [nišê] |
They carried about.
|
| 20 it-ta-áš-šú-ú-ma |
They made a ....
|
i-pu-šú ru-ḫu-tam |
.............. they brought
|
.................. uš-ta-di-nu |
..............................
|
............................. bu |
..............................
|
(About 17 lines missing.)
| 40 .............. nam-........ |
.............................
|
.................... u ib-[ri] ..... |
................... my friend
|
.............. ú-na-i-du ...... |
................ they raised .....
|
[zi-ik]-ra-am ú-[tí-ir]-ru |
answer [they returned.]
|
[a-na] ḫa-ri-[im]-tim |
[To] the woman
|
| 45 [i]-pu(?)-šú a-na sa-[ka]-pu-ti |
They proceeded to the overthrowing
|
Col. II.
(About eleven lines missing)
... šú(?)-mu(?) ............... |
.......... name(?) .............
|
ma-ḫi-ra-am [šá i-ši-šú] |
[The one who is] a rival [to him]
|
šú-uk-ni-šum-[ma] ............... |
subdue and ................
|
| 60 la-al-la-ru-[tu] .................. |
Wailing ................
|
um-mi d-[Giš mu-di-a-at ka-la-ma] |
The mother [of Gišh, who knows everything]
|
i-na ma-[ḫar dŠamaš i-di-šá iš-ši] |
Before [Shamash raised her hand]
|
šá ú |
Who
|
i-na- an(?)-[na am-mi-nim] |
Now(?) [why]
|
| 65 ta-[aš-kun(?) a-na ma-ri-ia li-ib-bi la] |
hast thou stirred up the heart for my son,
|
ṣa-[li-la te-mid-su] |
[Restlessness imposed upon him (?)]
|
............................. |
............................
|
(About four lines missing.)
i-na [šá dEn-ki-dũ im-la-a] di-[im-tam] |
The eyes [of Enkidu filled with tears].
|
il-[pu-ut li]-ib-ba-šú-[ma] |
[He clutched] his heart;
|
[zar-biš(?)] uš-ta-ni-[iḫ] |
[Sadly(?)] he sighed.
|
| 75 [i-na šá dEn]-ki-dũ im-la-a di-im-tam |
[The eyes of En]kidu filled with tears.
|
[il-pu-ut] li-ib-ba-šú-ma |
[He clutched] his heart;
|
[zar-biš(?)] uš-ta-ni-[iḫ] |
[Sadly(?)] he sighed.
|
[dGiš ú-ta]-ab-bil pa-ni-šú |
The face [of Gišh was grieved].
|
[iz-za-kar-am] a-na dEn-ki-dũ |
[He spoke] to Enkidu:
|
| 80 [ib-ri am-mi-nim] i-na-ka |
[“My friend, why are] thy eyes
|
[im-la-a di-im]-tam |
[Filled with tears]?
|
[il-pu-ut li-ib-bi]-ka |
Thy [heart clutched]
|
[zar-biš tu-uš-ta]-ni-iḫ |
Dost thou sigh [sadly(?)]?”
|
[dEn-ki-dũ pi-šú i-pu-šá]-am-ma |
[Enkidu opened his mouth] and
|
| 85 iz-za-[kàr-am] a-na dGiš |
spoke to Gišh:
|
ta-ab-bi-a-tum ib-ri |
“Attacks, my friend,
|
uš-ta-li-pa da-[1]da-ni-ia |
have exhausted my strength(?).
|
a-ḫa-a-a ir-ma-a-ma |
My arms are lame,
|
e-mu-ki i-ni-iš |
my strength has become weak.”
|
| 90 dGiš pi-šú i-pu-šá-am-ma |
Gišh opened his mouth and
|
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dEn-ki-dũ |
spoke to Enkidu:
|
(About four lines missing.)
Col. III.
..... [a-di dḪu]-wa-wa da-pi-nu |
..... [until] Ḫuwawa, [the terrible],
|
.................. ra-[am(?)-ma] |
........................
|
................ [ú-ḫal]- li-ik |
............ [I destroyed].
|
[lu-ur-ra-du a-na ki-iš-ti šá] iserini |
[I will go down to the] cedar forest,
|
| 100 ............ lam(?) ḫal-bu |
................... the jungle
|
............ [li]-li-is-su |
............... tambourine (?)
|
.............. lu(?)-up-ti-šú |
................ I will open it.
|
dEn-ki-dũ pi-šú i-pu-šá-am-ma |
Enkidu opened his mouth and
|
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dGiš |
spoke to Gišh:
|
| 105 i-di-ma ib-ri i-na šadî(-i) |
“Know, my friend, in the mountain,
|
i-nu-ma at-ta-la-ku it-ti bu-lim |
when I moved about with the cattle
|
a-na ištên(-en) kas-gíd-ta-a-an nu-ma-at ki-iš-tum |
to a distance of one double hour into the heart of the forest,
|
[e-di-iš(?)] ur-ra-du a-na libbi-šá |
[Alone?] I penetrated within it,
|
d[Ḫu-wa]-wa ri-ig-ma-šú a-bu-bu |
[To] Ḫuwawa, whose roar is a flood,
|
| 110 pi-[šú] dBil-gi-ma |
whose mouth is fire,
|
na-pi-iš-šú mu-tum |
whose breath is death.
|
am-mi-nim ta-aḫ-ši-iḫ |
Why dost thou desire
|
an-ni-a-am e-pi-šá-am |
To do this?
|
ga-[ba]-al-la ma-ḫa-ar |
To advance towards
|
| 115 [šú]-pa-at dḪu-wa-wa |
the dwelling(?) of Ḫuwawa?”
|
(d)Giš pi-šú i-pu-šá-am-ma |
Gišh opened his mouth and
|
[iz-za-k]àr-am a-na dEn-ki-dũ |
[spoke to Enkidu:
|
....... su(?)-lu-li a-šá-ki[2]-šá |
”... [the covering(?)] I will destroy.
|
............. [i-na ki-iš]-tim |
....[in the forest]
|
| 120 ............................... |
....................
|
ik(?) ......................... |
....................
|
a-na .......................... |
To .................
|
mu-šá-ab [dḪu-wa-wa] ....... |
The dwelling [of Ḫuwawa]
|
ḫa-aṣ-si-nu ................. |
The axe ..........
|
| 125 at-ta lu(?) ................. |
Thou ..........
|
a-na-ku lu-[ur-ra-du a-na ki-iš-tim] |
I will [go down to the forest].”
|
dEn-ki-dũ pi-šú i-pu-[šá-am-ma] |
Enkidu opened his mouth and
|
iz-za-kàr-am a-na [dGiš] |
spoke to [Gish:]
|
ki-i ni[il]-la-ak [iš-te-niš(?)] |
“When [together(?)] we go down
|
| 130 a-na ki-iš-ti [šá iṣerini] |
To the [cedar] forest,
|
na-ṣi-ir-šá dGiš muḳ-[tab-lu] |
whose guardian, O warrior Gish,
|
da-a-an la ṣa[-li-lu(?)] |
a power(?) without [rest(?)],
|
dḪu-wa-wa dpi-ir-[ḫu ša (?)] |
Ḫuwawa, an offspring(?) of ....
|
dAdad iš .......... |
Adad ......................
|
| 135 šú-ú .................. |
He ........................
|
Col. IV.
áš-šúm šú-ul-lu-m[u ki-iš-ti šáiṣerini] |
To keep safe [the cedar forest],
|
pu-ul-ḫi-a-tim 7 [šú(?) i-šim-šú dEnlil] |
[Enlil has decreed for it] seven-fold terror.”
|
dGiš pi-šú i-pu [šá-am-ma] |
Gish [opened] his mouth and
|
iz-za-kàr-am a-na [dEn-ki-dũ] |
spoke to [Enkidu]:
|
| 140 ma-an-nu ib-ri e-lu-ú šá-[ru-ba(?)] |
“Whoever, my friend, overcomes (?) [terror(?)],
|
i-ṭib-ma it-ti dŠamaš da-ri-iš ú-[me-šú] |
it is well (for him) with Shamash for the length of [his days].
|
a-we-lu-tum ba-ba-nu ú-tam-mu-šá-[ma] |
Mankind will speak of it at the gates.
|
mi-im-ma šá i-te-ni-pu-šú šá-ru-ba |
Wherever terror is to be faced,
|
at-ta an-na-nu-um-ma ta-dar mu-tam |
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
|
| 145 ul iš-šú da-na-nu ḳar-ra-du-ti-ka |
Thy prowess lacks strength.
|
lu-ul-li-ik-ma i-na pa-ni-ka |
I will go before thee.
|
pi-ka li-iš-si-a-am ṭi-ḫi-e ta-du-ur |
Though thy mouth calls to me; “thou art afraid to approach.”
|
šum-ma am-ta-ḳu-ut šú-mi lu-uš-zi-iz |
If I fall, I will establish my name.
|
dGiš mi[3]-it-ti dḪu-wa-wa da-pi-nim |
Gish, the corpse(?) of Ḫuwawa, the terrible one,
|
| 150 il(?)-ḳu-ut iš-tu |
has snatched (?) from the time that
|
i-wa-al-dam-ma tar-bi-a i-na šam-mu(?) Il(?) |
My offspring was born in ......
|
iš-ḫi-it-ka-ma la-bu ka-la-ma ti-di |
The lion restrained (?) thee, all of which thou knowest.
|
it- ku(?) ..... [il(?)]-pu-tu-(?) ma ..... |
........................
|
.............. ka-ma |
.............. thee and
|
| 155 .............. ši pi-ti |
................ open (?)
|
............ ki-ma re’i(?) na-gi-la sa-rak-ti |
........ like a shepherd(?) .....
|
.... [ta-šá-s]i-a-am tu-lim-mi-in li-ib-bi |
[When thou callest to me], thou afflictest my heart.
|
[ga-ti lu]-uš-ku-un-ma |
I am determined
|
[lu-u-ri]-ba-am iṣerini |
[to enter] the cedar forest.
|
| 160 [šú-ma sá]-ṭa-ru-ú a-na-ku lu-uš-ta-ak-na |
I will, indeed, establish my name.
|
[pu-tu-ku(?)] ib-ri a-na ki-iš-ka-tim lu-mu-ḫa |
[The work(?)], my friend, to the artisans I will entrust.
|
[be-le-e li-iš-]-pu-ku i-na maḫ-ri-ni |
[Weapons(?)] let them mould before us.”
|
[pu-tu]-ku a-na ki-iš-ka-ti-i i-mu-ḫu |
[The work(?)] to the artisans they entrusted.
|
wa-áš-bu uš-ta-da-nu um-mi-a-nu |
A dwelling(?) they assigned to the workmen.
|
| 165 pa-ši iš-pu-ku ra-bu-tim |
Hatchets the masters moulded:
|
ḫa-aṣ-si-ni 3 biltu-ta-a-an iš-tap-ku |
Axes of 3 talents each they moulded.
|
pa-aṭ-ri iš-pu-ku ra-bu-tim |
Lances the masters moulded;
|
me-še-li-tum 2 biltu-ta-a-an |
Blades(?) of 2 talents each,
|
ṣi-ip-ru 30 ma-na-ta-a-an šá a-ḫi-ši-na |
A spear of 30 mina each attached to them.
|
| 170 išid(?) pa-aṭ-ri 30 ma-na-ta-a-an ḫuraṣi |
The hilt of the lances of 30 mina in gold
|
[d]Giš ù [dEn-ki-]dũ 10 biltu-ta-a-an šá-ak-nu] |
Gish and [Enki]du were equipped with 10 talents each
|
.... ul-la . .[Uruk]ki 7 i-di-il-šú |
.......... in Erech seven its ....
|
...... iš-me-ma um-ma-nu ib-bi-ra |
....... the people heard and ....
|
[uš-te-(?)]-mi-a i-na sûḳi šá Urukki ri-bi-tim |
[proclaimed(?)] in the street of Erech of the plazas.
|
| 175 ...... [u-še(?)]-ṣa-šú dGis |
..... Gis [brought him out(?)]
|
[ina sûḳi šá(?) Urukki] ri-bi-tim |
[In the street (?)] of Erech of the plazas
|
[dEn-ki-dũ(?) ú]-šá-ab i-na maḫ-ri-šú |
[Enkidu(?)] sat before him
|
..... [ki-a-am(?) i-ga]-ab-bi |
..... [thus] he spoke:
|
[........ Urukki ri]-bi-tim |
“........ [of Erech] of the plazas
|
| 180 [ma-ḫa-ar-šú] |
............ [before him]
|
Col. V.
dGiš šá i-ga-ab-bu-ú lu-mu-ur |
Gish of whom they speak, let me see!
|
šá šú-um-šú it-ta-nam-ma-la ma-ta-tum |
whose name fills the lands.
|
lu-uk-šú-su-ma i-na ki-iš-ti iṣerini |
I will lure him to the cedar forest,
|
ki-ma da-an-nu pi-ir-ḫu-um šá Urukki |
Like a strong offspring of Erech.
|
| 185 lu-ši-eš-mi ma-tam |
I will let the land hear (that)
|
ga-ti lu-uš-ku-un-ma lu-uk-[šú][4]-su-ma iṣerini |
I am determined to lure (him) in the cedar (forest)[5].
|
šú-ma šá-ṭa-ru-ú a-na-ku lu-uš-tak-nam |
A name I will establish.”
|
ši-bu-tum šá Urukki ri-bi-tim |
The elders of Erech of the plazas
|
zi-ik-ra ú-ti-ir-ru a-na dGiš |
brought word to Gish:
|
| 190 ṣi-iḫ-ri-ti-ma dGiš libbi-ka na-ši-ka |
“Thou art young, O Gish, and thy heart carries thee away.
|
mi-im-ma šá te-te-ni-pu-šú la ti-di |
Thou dost not know what thou proposest to do.
|
ni-ši-im-me-ma dḪu-wa-wa šá-nu-ú bu-nu-šú |
We hear that Huwawa is enraged.
|
ma-an-nu-um [uš-tam]-ḫa-ru ka-ak-ki-šú |
Who has ever opposed his weapon?
|
a-na ištên(-en) [kas-gíd-ta-a]-an nu-ma-at kišti |
To one [double hour] in the heart of the forest,
|
| 195 ma-an-nu šá [ur-ra]-du a-na libbi-šá |
Who has ever penetrated into it?
|
dḪu-wa-wa ri-ig-ma-šú a-bu-bu |
Ḫuwawa, whose roar is a deluge,
|
pi-šú dBil-gi-ma na-pi-su mu-tum |
whose mouth is fire, whose breath is death.
|
am-mi-nim taḫ-ši-iḫ an-ni-a-am e-pi-šá |
Why dost thou desire to do this?
|
ga-ba-al-la ma-ḫa-ar šú-pa-at dḪu-wa-wa |
To advance towards the dwelling (?) of Ḫuwawa?”
|
| 200 iš-me-e-ma dGiš zi-ki-ir ma-li-[ki]-šú |
Gish heard the report of his counsellors.
|
ip-pa-al-sa-am-ma i-ṣi-iḫ a-na ib-[ri-šú] |
He saw and cried out to [his] friend:
|
i-na-an-na ib-[ri] ki-a-am [a-ga-ab-bi] |
“Now, my friend, thus [I speak].
|
a-pa-al-aḫ-šú-ma a-[al-la-ak a-na kišti] |
I fear him, but [I will go to the cedar forest(?)];
|
[lu]ul-[lik it-ti-ka a-na ki-iš-ti iṣerini(?)] |
I will go [with thee to the cedar forest].
|
(About five lines missing)
| 210 ........................ -ma |
...............................
|
li ............... -ka |
May ................... thee
|
ilu-ka li(?) ..............-ka |
Thy god may (?) ........ thee;
|
ḫarrana li-šá-[tir-ka a-na šú-ul-mi] |
On the road may he guide [thee in safety(?)].
|
a-na kar šá [Urukki ri-bi-tim] |
At the rampart of [Erech of the plazas],
|
| 215 ka-mi-is-ma dGiš [ma-ḫa-ar dŠamaš(?)] |
Gish kneeled down [before Shamash(?)],
|
a-wa-at i-ga-ab- [bu-šú-ma] |
A word then he spoke [to him]:
|
a-al-la-ak dŠamaš katâ-[ka a-ṣa-bat] |
“I will go, O Shamash, [thy] hands [I seize hold of].
|
ul-la-nu lu-uš-li-ma na-pi-[iš-ti] |
When I shall have saved [my life],
|
te-ir-ra-an-ni a-na kar i-[na Urukki] |
Bring me back to the rampart [in Erech].]
|
| 220 ṣi-il-[la]m šú-ku-un [a-na ia-a-ši(?)] |
Grant protection [to me ?]!”
|
iš-si-ma dGiš ib-[ri.....] |
Gish cried, ”[my friend] ......
|
te-ir-ta-šú .......... |
His oracle ..................
|
is(?) .............. |
........................
|
tam ................ |
........................
|
| 225 ........................ |
........................
|
i-nu(?)-[ma] .................. |
When (?)
|
(About two lines missing)
Col. VI.
[a-na-ku] dGiš [i-ik]-ka-di ma-tum |
”[I(?)] Gish, the strong one (?) of the land.
|
| 230 ........... ḫarrana šá la al-[kam] ma-ti-ma |
...... A road which I have never [trodden];
|
.... a-ka-lu ..... la(?) i-di |
........ food ...... do not (?) know.
|
[ul-la-nu] lu-uš-li-[mu] a-na-ku |
[When] I shall have succeeded,
|
[lu-ud-lul]-ka i-na [ḫ]u-ud li-ib-bi |
[I will praise] thee in the joy of my heart,
|
...... [šú]-ḳu-ut-[ti] la-li-ka |
[I will extol (?)] the superiority of thy power,
|
| 235 [lu-še-šib(?)] - ka i-na kussêmeš |
[I will seat thee] on thrones.”
|
....................... ú-nu-su |
.................. his vessel(?)
|
[bêlêmeš(?)ú-ti-ir]-ru ra-bu-tum |
The masters [brought the weapons (?)];
|
[ka-aš-tum] ù iš-pa-tum |
[bow] and quiver
|
[i-na] ga-ti iš-ku-nu |
They placed in hand.
|
| 240 [il-]te-ki pa-ši |
[He took] the hatchet.
|
....... -ri iš-pa-as-su |
................. his quiver.
|
..... [a-na] ili šá-ni-tam |
..... [to] the god(?) a second time
|
[it-ti pa(?)] - tar-[šú] i-na ši-ip-pi-šú |
[With his lance(?)] in his girdle,
|
........ i-ip-pu-šú a-la-kam |
......... they took the road.
|
| 245 [ša]-niš ú-ga-ra-bu dGiš |
[Again] they approached Gish!
|
[a-di ma]-ti tu-ut-te-ir a-na libbi Urukki |
”[How long] till thou returnest to Erech?”
|
[ši-bu]-tum i-ka-ra-bu-šú |
[Again the elders] approached him.
|
[a-na] ḫarrani i-ma-li-ku dGiš |
[For] the road they counselled Gis:
|
[la t]a-at-kal dGiš a-na e-[mu]-ḳi-ka |
“Do [not] rely, O Gish, on thy strength!
|
| 250 [a-]ka-lu šú-wa-ra-ma ú-ṣur ra-ma-an-ka |
Provide food and save thyself!
|
[li]-il-lik dEn-ki-dũ i-na pa-ni-ka |
Let Enkidu go before thee.
|
[ur-ḫa]-am a-we-ir a-lik ḫarrana(-na) |
He is acquainted with the way, he has trodden the road
|
[a-di] šá kišti ni-ri-bi-tim |
[to] the entrance of the forest.
|
['šá(?)] [d]Ḫu-wa-wa ka-li-šú-nu ši-ip-pi-iḫ(?)-šú |
of Ḫuwawa all of them his ......
|
| 255 [ša(?)a-lik] maḫ-ra tap-pa-a ú-šá-lim |
[He who goes] in advance will save the companion.
|
[ḫarrana](-na)-šú šú-wa-ra-[ma ú-ṣur ra-ma-na-ka] |
Provide for his [road] and [save thyself]!
|
[li-šak-šid]-ka ir-[ni-ta]-ka dŠamaš |
(May) Shamash [carry out] thy endeavor!
|
[ta]-ak-bi-a-at pi-ka li-kal-li-ma i-na-ka |
May he make thy eyes see the prophecy of thy mouth.
|
li-ip-ti-ḳu pa-da-nam pi-ḫi-tam |
May he track out (for thee) the closed path!
|
| 260 ḫarrana li-iš-ta-zi-ik a-na ki-ib-si-ka |
May he level the road for thy treading!
|
šá-di-a li-iš-ta-zi-ik a-na šêpi-ka |
May he level the mountain for thy foot!
|
mu-ši-it-ka aw-a-at ta-ḫa-du-ú |
During thy night[6] the word that wilt rejoice
|
li-ib-la-ma dLugal-ban-da li-iz-zi-iz-ka |
may Lugal-banda convey, and stand by thee
|
i-na ir-ni-ti-ka |
in thy endeavor!
|
| 265 ki-ma ṣi-iḫ-ri ir-ni-ta-ka-ma luš-mida(-da) |
Like a youth may he establish thy endeavor!
|
i-na na-ri šá dḪu-wa-wa šá tu-ṣa-ma-ru |
In the river of Ḫuwawa as thou plannest,
|
mi-zi ši-pi-ka |
wash thy feet!
|
i-na bat-ba-ti-ka ḫi-ri bu-ur-tam |
Round about thee dig a well!
|
lu-ka-a-a-nu mê ellu i-na na-di-ka |
May there be pure water constantly for thy libation
|
| 270 [ka-]su-tim me-e a-na dŠamaš ta-na-di |
Goblets of water pour out to Shamash!
|
[li-iš]ta-ḫa-sa-as dLugal-ban-da |
[May] Lugal-banda take note of it!”
|
[dEn-ki-]dũ pi-su i-pu-šá-am-ma, iz-za-kàr a-na dGiš |
[Enkidu] opened his mouth and spoke to Gish:
|
[is(?)]-tu(?) ta-áš-dan-nu e-pu-uš a-la-kam |
”[Since thou art resolved] to take the road.
|
[la pa]la-aḫ libbi-ka ia-ti tu-uk-la-ni |
Thy heart [be not afraid,] trust to me!
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| 275 [šú-ku-]un i-di-a-am šú-pa-as-su |
[Confide] to my hand his dwelling(?)!”
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[ḫarrana(?)]šá dḪu-wa-wa it-ta-la-ku |
[on the road to] Ḫuwawa they proceeded.
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.......... ki-bi-ma te-[ir]-šú-nu-ti |
....... command their return
|
Three lines missing.)
L. E.
.............. nam-ma-la |
............... were filled.
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............... il-li-ku it-ti-ia |
.......... they will go with me.
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............... ba-ku-nu-ši-im |
...............................
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......... [ul]-la(?)-nu i-na ḫu-ud li-ib-bi |
.................. joyfully.
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| 285 [i-na še-me-e] an-ni-a ga-ba-šú |
[Upon hearing] this word of his,
|
e-diš ḫarrana(?) uš-te-[zi-ik] |
Alone, the road(?) [he levelled].
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a-lik dGiš lu-[ul-lik a-na pa-ni-ka] |
“Go, O Gish [I will go before thee(?)].
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li-lik il-ka .......... |
May thy god(?) go .........
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li-šá-ak-lim-[ka ḫarrana] ...... |
May he show [thee the road !] .....
|
| 290 dGiš ù[dEn-ki-dũ] ....... |
Gish and [Enkidu]
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mu-di-eš .......... |
Knowingly ....................
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bi-ri-[su-nu] ........ |
Between [them] ................
|