A hymn to Nisaba (Nisaba A)
Lady who shines with the many colours of the stars of heaven, lady who holds a perfect tablet of lapis lazuli! Nisaba, who is the mighty wild cow born of the mother goddess, the great wild sheep raised on the righteous holy milk, my lady, you are blessed with 50 majestic divine powers, and you are revered amongst the gods of the house E-kur!
Great dragon of the heavens, you emerge at your festivals in a blaze of glory. Mother of the land, your cool water soothes the hearts of men. In your infinite wisdom, bestowed by Enlil, you bring abundance to all the lands. You are the scribe who records all the decisions of An and Enlil on your tablet of lapis lazuli.
In order that flax and barley may grow abundantly in the furrows of the land, in order to provide the land with the finest corn, in order that the seven great thrones of heaven may be abundantly provided for at the most holy harvest festival of Enlil, princely Nisaba has cleansed her body and draped herself in the holy garment of her priestly office.
So that great offerings of the firstfruits will be piled up where once no offerings were made, so that great libations of beer will poured out where once there were none, so that the stately heart of Enlil may be moved, so that Kusu and Ezina may be moved to compassion - she will choose for herself a high priest, she will establish festivals in her name. She will choose a high priest to rule the land in her name.
Enki comes before young Nisaba, to pray in her name. He makes to her the most holy offerings of food, he opens up her great temple of scribal knowledge, and he places the great tablet of lapis lazuli on her knee, that she may consult the wisdom and knowledge of the cosmos. In the city of Aratta the great house E-zagin is given into her hands. Lady Nisaba, you have raised the city of Ereš to abundance, and granted it wisdom in your sight.
In the house E-abzu, the great seat of the city of Eridug, where the divine powers of the gods are divided up, where temples and shrines are assigned - where Enki, majestic farmer of the fearsome temple, carpenter of Eridug, king of the holy dwelling place, king of the high priest's powers, sits in the house E-engura, and raises up the E-abzu in Eridug - his lips speak the praise of Nisaba:
"Nisaba, lady of righteousness, lady of holiness, lady born under the mountains! May you be the butter in the cattlefolds, the cream in the sheep-pens! May you ever be the seal bearer in the treasury of the great gods, may you ever be the righteous administrator of the palace, may you ever heap up the grain in the grain stores!"
Because the Prince of Heaven is pleased to praise Nisaba - Father Enki, your praise is sweet!
Great dragon of the heavens, you emerge at your festivals in a blaze of glory. Mother of the land, your cool water soothes the hearts of men. In your infinite wisdom, bestowed by Enlil, you bring abundance to all the lands. You are the scribe who records all the decisions of An and Enlil on your tablet of lapis lazuli.
In order that flax and barley may grow abundantly in the furrows of the land, in order to provide the land with the finest corn, in order that the seven great thrones of heaven may be abundantly provided for at the most holy harvest festival of Enlil, princely Nisaba has cleansed her body and draped herself in the holy garment of her priestly office.
So that great offerings of the firstfruits will be piled up where once no offerings were made, so that great libations of beer will poured out where once there were none, so that the stately heart of Enlil may be moved, so that Kusu and Ezina may be moved to compassion - she will choose for herself a high priest, she will establish festivals in her name. She will choose a high priest to rule the land in her name.
Enki comes before young Nisaba, to pray in her name. He makes to her the most holy offerings of food, he opens up her great temple of scribal knowledge, and he places the great tablet of lapis lazuli on her knee, that she may consult the wisdom and knowledge of the cosmos. In the city of Aratta the great house E-zagin is given into her hands. Lady Nisaba, you have raised the city of Ereš to abundance, and granted it wisdom in your sight.
In the house E-abzu, the great seat of the city of Eridug, where the divine powers of the gods are divided up, where temples and shrines are assigned - where Enki, majestic farmer of the fearsome temple, carpenter of Eridug, king of the holy dwelling place, king of the high priest's powers, sits in the house E-engura, and raises up the E-abzu in Eridug - his lips speak the praise of Nisaba:
"Nisaba, lady of righteousness, lady of holiness, lady born under the mountains! May you be the butter in the cattlefolds, the cream in the sheep-pens! May you ever be the seal bearer in the treasury of the great gods, may you ever be the righteous administrator of the palace, may you ever heap up the grain in the grain stores!"
Because the Prince of Heaven is pleased to praise Nisaba - Father Enki, your praise is sweet!