d of men.
7 To the door of the sick man she comes.
8 The sick man listens!
9 Who is there? Who comes?
10 It is Ishtar daughter of the Moon-god Sin:
11 It is the god (...) Son of Bel:
12 It is Marduk, Son of the god (...).
13 They approach the body of the sick man.
(The next line, 14, is nearly destroyed.)
15 They bring a _khisibta_[1] from the heavenly treasury.
16 They bring a _sisbu_ from their lofty storehouse:
17 into the precious _khisibta_ they pour bright liquor.
18 That righteous man, may he now rise on high!
19 May he shine like that _khisibta_!
20 May he be bright as that _sisbu_!
21 Like pure silver may his garment be shining white!
22 Like brass may he be radiant!
23 To the Sun, greatest of the gods, may he ascend!
24 And may the Sun, greatest of the gods, receive his soul
into his holy hands![2]

[Footnote 1: Probably a cup or drinking-vessel.]

[Footnote 2: There is a fine inscription not yet fully translated,
describing the soul in heaven, clothed in a white radiant garment, seated
in the company of the blessed, and fed by the gods themselves with
celestial food.]

PENITENTIAL PSALMS

(These lamentations seem frequently to be incoherent. A few specimens are
taken from the same work as the preceding. [Footnote: "Trans. Soc. Bib.
Arch.," vol. ii. p. 60.])

O my Lord! my sins are many, my trespasses are great; and the wrath of the
gods has plagued me with disease and with sickness and sorrow.

I fainted: but no one stretched forth his hand!

I groaned: but no one drew nigh!

I cried aloud: but no one heard!

O Lord! do not abandon thy servant!

In the waters of the great storm, seize his hand!

The sins which he has committed, turn thou to righteousness!

ELSEWHERE WE FIND

1 O my god! my sins are seven times seven!
2 O my goddess! my sins are seven times seven!

(And then a prayer follows, that those sins may be pardoned as a father
and mother would pardon them!)

AN ADDRESS TO SOME DEITY

In heaven who is great? Thou alone art great!
On earth who is great? Thou alone art great!
When thy voice resounds in heaven, the gods fall prostrate!
When thy voice resounds on earth, the genii kiss the dust!

ELSEWHERE [Footnote: Ibid., vol. ii. p. 51.]

O Thou; thy words who can resist? who can rival them?
Among the gods thy brothers, thou hast no equal!

A PRAYER [Footnote: Idem.]

The god my creator, may he stand