He fashioned for him his beloved standard, wrote his name on it and then entered before the warrior who loves gifts,
before his master lord Nin-jirsu in E-ninnu-the-white-Anzud-bird together with his beloved drum, Ucumgal-kalama, his famous instument to which he keeps listening.
He joyfully brought the drum to him in the temple. Gudea came out of the shrine E-ninnu with a radiant face.
Thereafter the house was the concern of all the days and all the nights that he made pass by.
He levelled what was high, rejected chance utterances (?), he removed the sorcerers' spittle (?) from the roads. Facing Cu-galam , the fearful place, the place of making judgments, from where Nin-jirsu keeps an eye on all lands,
the ruler had a fattened sheep, a fat-tail sheep, and a grain-fed kid rest on hides of a virgin kid.
He put juniper, the mountains´ pure plant, onto the fire, and raised smoke with cedar resin, the scent of gods.
He rose to his master in public and prayed to him; he went to him in the Ubcukkina and saluted him: ´My master Nin-jirsu, lord who has turned back the fierce waters, true lord, semen ejaculated by the Great Mountain, noble young hero who has no opponent, Nin-jirsu ;
I am going to build up your house for you, but I lack an ominous sign.
Warrior, you asked for perfection, but, son of Enlil , lord Nin-jirsu ,you did not let me know your will as to how to achieve it.
Your will, ever-rising as the sea, crashing down as a destructive flood, roaring like gushing waters, destroying cities (?) like a flood-wave, battering against the rebel lands like a storm; my master, your will, gushing water that no one can stem; warrior, your will inconceivable as the heaven - can I learn anything about it from you, o son of Enlil , lord Nin-jirsu ?´
Afterwards, Nin-jirsu stepped up to the head of the sleeper, briefly touching him:
"You who are going to build it for me, you who are going to build it for me, ruler, you who are going to build my house for me, Gudea,
let me tell you the ominous sign for building my house, let me tell you the pure stars of heaven indicating my regulations (?).
As if at the roaring of the Anzud bird, the heavens tremble at my house, the E-ninnu founded by An, the powers of which are the greatest, surpassing all other powers, at the house whose owner looks out over a great distance. Its fierce halo reaches up to heaven, the great fearsomeness of my house settles upon all the lands.
In response to its fame all lands will gather from as far as heaven´s borders, even Magan and Meluha will come down from their mountains.
I am Nin-jirsu who has turned back the fierce waters, the great warrior of Enlil´s realm, a lord without opponent. My house the E-ninnu , a crown, is bigger than the mountains;
my weapon the Car-ur subdues all the lands. No country can bear my fierce stare, nobody escapes my outstretched arms.
Because of his great love, my father who begot me called me King, Enlil´s flood, whose fierce stare is never lifted from the mountains, Nin-jirsu , warrior of Enlil' , and endowed me with fifty powers.
I lay the ritual table and perform correctly the hand-washing rites.
My outstretched hands wake holy An from sleep.
My father who begot me receives the very best food from my hands.
An , king of the gods, called me therefore Nin-jirsu , king, lustration priest of An .
I founded the Tirac shrine with as much majesty as the Abzu. Each month at the new moon the great rites (?), my "Festival of An", are performed for me perfectly in it.
Like a fierce snake, I built E-huc , my fierce place, in a dread location. When my heart gets angry at a land that rebels against me - unutterable idea (?) - it will produce venom for me like a snake that dribbles poison.
In the E-babbar, where I issue orders, where I shine like Utu , there I justly decide the lawsuits of my city like Ictaran . In the E-bagara , my dining place, the great gods of Lagac gather around me.
When you, true shepherd Gudea , really set to work for me on my house, the foremost house of all lands, the right arm of Lagac , the Anzud bird roaring on the horizon, the E-ninnu , my royal house, I will call up to heaven for humid winds so that plenty comes down to you from heaven and the land will thrive under your reign in abundance.
Laying the foundations of my temple will bring immediate abundance: the great fields will grow rich for you, the levees and ditches will be full to brim for you, the water will rise for you to heights never reached by the water before. Under you more oil than ever will be poured and more wool than ever will weighed in Sumer .
When you drive in my foundation pegs for me, when you really set to work for me on my house, I shall direct my steps to the mountains where the north wind dwells and make the man with enormous wings, the north wind, bring you wind from the mountains, the pure place, so that this will give vigour to the land, and thus one man will be able to do as much work as two. At night the moonlight, at noon the sun will send plentiful light for you so the day will build the house for you and the night will make it rise for you.
I will bring halub and nehan trees up from the south, and cedar, cypress and juniper together will be brought for you from the uplands. From the ebony mountains I will have ebony trees brought for you,
in the mountains of stones I will have the great stones of the mountain ranges cut in slabs for you.
On that day I will touch your arm with fire and you will know my sign.´
Gudea rose - it was sleep; he shuddered - it was a dream. Accepting Nin-jirsu ´s words, he went to perform extispicy on a white kid. He performed it on the kid and his omen was favourable. Nin-jirsu ´s intention became as clear as daylight to Gudea .
He is wise, and able too to realize things. The ruler gave instructions to his city as to one man. The land of Lagac became of one accord for him, like children of one mother. He opened manacles, removed fetters; established ......, rejected legal complaints, and locked up (?) those guilty of capital offences (instead of executing them).
He undid the tongue of the goad and the whip, replacing them with wool from lamb-bearing sheep. No mother shouted at her child. No child answered its mother back. No slave who ...... was hit on the head by his master, no misbehaving slave girl was slapped on the face by her mistress. Nobody could make the ruler building the E-ninnu , Gudea , let fall a chance utterance. The ruler cleansed the city, he let purifying fire loose over it. He expelled the persons ritually unclean, unpleasant to look at, and ...... from the city.
In respect of the ...... of the brick-mould he had a kid lie down, and he requested from the kid an omen about the brick. He looked at the excavated earth (?) approvingly, and the shepherd, called by his name by Nance , ...... it with majesty. After making a drawing on the ...... of the brick mould and ...... the excavated earth with majesty, he made the Anzud bird, the standard of his master, glisten there as a banner.
The citizens were purifying an area of 24 iku for him, they were cleansing that area for him. He put juniper, the mountains´ pure plant, onto the fire and raised smoke with cedar resin, the scent of gods. For him the day was for praying, and the night passed for him in supplications. In order to build the house of Nin-jirsu , the Anuna gods of the land of Lagac stood by Gudea in prayer and supplication, and all this made the true shepherd Gudea extremely happy.
Now the ruler imposed a levy on his land. He imposed a levy on his realm of abundant ......, on Nin-jirsu ´s Gu-edina . He imposed levy on his built-up cities and settlements, on Nance ´s Gu-jicbara .
There was a levy for him on the clans of Nin-jirsu"Rampant fierce bull which has no opponent" and"White cedars surrounding their master", and he placed Lugalkurdub , their magnificent standard, in front of them.
There was a levy for him on the clan of Nance"Both river banks and shores rising out of the waters, the huger river, full of water, which spreads its abundance everywhere", and he placed the holy pelican (?), the standard of Nance , in front of them.
There was a levy for him on the clans of Inana"The net suspended for catching the beasts of the steppe" and"Choice steeds, famous team, the team beloved by Utu", and he placed the rosette, the standard of Inana , in front of them.
order to build the house of Nin-jirsu ,
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The Elamites came to him from Elam , the Susians came to him from Susa. Magan and Meluha loaded wood from their mountains upon their shoulders for him, and to build the house of Nin-jirsu , they gathered for Gudea at his city Jirsu .
Nin-zaga was commanded and he made his copper, as much as if it were a huge grain transport, reach Gudea , the man in charge of building the house. Nin-sikil was also instructed and she made large halub logs, ebony, and aba wood reach the ruler building the E-ninnu .
Nin-jirsu has directed Gudea into the impenetrable mountain of cedars and he cut down its cedars with great axes and carved the Car-ur, the right arm of Lagac , his master´s flood-storm weapon, out of it.
It was like a giant serpent floating on the water as, for lord Nin-jirsu , Gudea had the long rafts floating downstream moor at the main quay of Kasura : logs of cedar wood from the cedar hills, logs of cypress wood from the cypress hills, logs of zabalum wood from the zabalum hills, tall spruce trees, plane trees, and eranum trees.
Nin-jirsu directed Gudea into the impenetrable mountains of stones, and he brought back great stones in the form of slabs. For lord Nin-jirsu , Gudea had ships with hauna dock there, and ships with gravel, with dried bitumen, ......-bitumen, and gypsum from the hills of Madga , cargoes like boats bringing grain from the fields.
Great things came to the succour of the ruler building the E-ninnu : a copper mountain in Kimac revealed itself to him. He mined its copper into baskets (?). To the man in charge of building his master´s house, the ruler, gold was brought in dust form from its mountains. For Gudea refined silver was brought down from its mountains. Translucent cornelian from Meluha was spread before him. From the alabaster mountains alabaster was brought down to him.
The shepherd was going to build the house with silver, so he sat together with silversmiths. He was going to build the E-ninnu with precious stone, so he sat with jewellers. He was going to build it with copper and tin, so Nintu-kalama directed before him the chief of the smiths.
The heavy hammer-stones roared for him like a storm. The dolerite, the light hammer-stone, ...... two ...... three. ...... like a huge mass of water gushing forth,
(2 lines missing or unclear)
He ...... the days (?). Gudea prolonged the nights (?) for Nin-jirsu . Because of building the house for his master, he neither slept at night, nor did he rest his head during the siesta.
For the one looked on with favour by Nance , for the favourite of Enlil , for the ruler ...... by Nin-jirsu , for Gudea , born in the august sanctuary by Jatumdug , Nisaba opened the house of understanding and Enki put right the design of the house.
Towards the house whose halo reaches to heaven, whose powers embrace heaven and earth, whose owner is a lord with a fierce stare, whose warrior Nin-jirsu is expert at battle, towards E-ninnu-the-white-Anzud-bird, Gudea went from the south and admired it northwards. From the north he went towards it and admired it southwards. He measured out with rope exactly one iku. He drove in pegs at its sides and personally verified them. This made him extremely happy.
When the night fell, he went to the old temple to pray, so that the inclination of the one from the dais of Jirnun i.e. Nin-jirsu would become favourable for Gudea . When day broke, he took a bath and arranged his outfit correctly. Utu let abundance come forth for him. Gudea left Iri-kug a second time; he sacrificed a perfect bull and a perfect kid. He went to the house and saluted it.
He ...... the holy basket and true fated brick mould ...... the E-ninnu . As he ...... and walked proudly, Lugal-kur-dub walked in front of him, Ig-alim directed him and Nin-jiczida , his personal god, held him by the hand throughout the time.
He poured clear water into the ...... of the brick mould - adab, sim and ala drums were playing for the ruler. He prepared the excavated earth for making (?) the brick, and hoed honey, ghee and precious oil into it. He worked ambergris and essences from all kinds of trees into the paste. He lifted up the holy carrying-basket and put it next to the brick mould. Gudea placed the clay into the brick mould and acted exactly as prescribed, bringing the first brick of the house into existence in it, while all the bystanders sprinkled oil or cedar perfume. His city and the land of Lagac spent the day with him in joy.
He shook the brick mould and left the brick to dry. He looked at the ...... with satisfaction. He anointed it with cypress essence and ambergris. Utu rejoiced over the brick put into the mould by Gudea , and king Enki ...... the ...... rising like great river. ...... and Gudea went into into the house.
He raised the brick out of the ...... of the mould, and it looked as a holy crown worn by An . He lifted up the brick and went around among his people: it was like Utu ´s holy team tossing (?) their heads. The brick lifting its head toward the house was as if Nanna ´s cows were eager to be tethered in their pen. He put down the brick, entered the house and as if he himself were Nisaba knowing the inmost secrets (?) of numbers, he started setting down (?) the ground plan of the house. As if he were a young man building a house for the first time, sweet sleep never came into his eyes. Like a cow keeping an eye on its calf, he went in constant worry to the house. Like a man who takes but little food into his mouth, he went around untiringly. The intention of his master had become clear for him, the words of Nin-jirsu had become as conspicuous as a banner. In (?) his heart beating loudly because of building the house, someone ...... a propitious ominous remark. This made him extremely happy.
He performed extispicy on a kid and his omen was favourable. He cast grain on to ...... and its appearance was right. Gudea lay down for a dream oracle, and while he was sleeping a message came to him: in the vision he saw his master´s house already built, the E-ninnu separating heaven and earth. This made him extremely happy.
He stretched out lines in the most perfect way; he set up (?) a sanctuary in the holy uzga. In the house, Enki drove in the the foundation pegs, while Nance , the daughter of Eridu , took care of the oracular messages. The mother of Lagac , holy Jatumdug , gave birth to its bricks amid cries (?), and Bau , the lady, first-born daughter of An , sprinkled them with oil and cedar essence. En and lagar priests were detailed to the house to provide maintenance for it. The Anuna gods stood there full of admiration.
Gudea , in charge of building the house, placed on his head the carrying-basket for the house, as if it were a holy crown. He laid the foundation, set the walls on the ground. He marked out a square, aligned the bricks with a string. He marked out a second square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is the line-mark for a topped-off jar of 1 ban capacity (?)´. He marked out a third square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is the Anzud bird enveloping its fledgling with its wings´. He marked out a fourth square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is a panther embracing a fierce lion´. He marked out a fifth square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is the blue sky in all its splendour´. He marked out a sixth square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is the day of supply, full of luxuriance´. He marked out a seventh square on the site of the temple, saying, ´It is the E-ninnu bathing the country with moonlight at dawn´.
They inserted the wooden door frames, which were like a crown worn in the blue sky. As Gudea sat down at a wooden door frame, from there it was like a huge house embracing heaven. As he built the house and laid wooden scaffolding against it, it was like Nanna ´s lagoon attended by Enki . They made the house grow as high as the hills, they mad it float in the midst of heaven as a cloud, they made it lift its horns as a bull and they made it raise its head above all the lands, like the jicgana tree over the Abzu. As the house had been made to lift its head so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth like the hills, it was like a luxuriant cedar growing among high grass (?); E-ninnu was decorated most alluringly among Sumer ´s buildings.
As they placed wooden beams on the house, they looked like dragons of the Abzu coming out all together, they were like ...... of heaven ......, they were like huge serpents of the foothills ....... The reeds cut for the house were like mountain snakes sleeping together. Its upper parts were covered with luxuriant cedar and cypress, and they put white cedars in its inner room of cedar, marvellous to behold. They treated them with with good perfume and oil. The mud-wall of the house was covered with the abundance (?) of the Abzu and they tied its ...... to it. The shrine of E-ninnu was thus placed in the ...... hand of An .
The ruler built the house, he made it high, high as a great mountain. Its Abzu foundation pegs, big mooring stakes, he drove into the ground so deep they could take counsel with Enki in the E-engur . He had heavenly foundations pegs surround the house like warriors, so that each one was drinking water at the libation place of the gods. He fixed the E-ninnu , the big mooring stake, he drove in its pegs shaped like praying wizards. He planted the pleasant poplars of his city so that they cast their shadow. He embedded its Car-ur weapon beside Lagac like a big standard, placed it in its dreadful place, the Cu-galam , and made it emanate fearsome radiance. On the dais of Jirnun , on the place of making judgments, the provider of Lagac lifted his horns like a mighty bull.
It took one year to bring the great stones in slabs and it took another year to fashion them, although not even two or three days did he let pass idly. Then it needed a day's work to set up each one but by the seventh day he had set them all up around the house. He laid down the trimmings from the slabs as stairs, or fashioned basins from them, and had them stand in the house.
The stela which he set up in the great courtyard he named as.........."The king who ...... the courtyard, lord Nin-jirsu , has recognized Gudea from the Jirnun."
The stela which he set up at the Kasura gate he named as
.........."The king, Enlil ´s flood storm, who has no opponent, lord Nin-jirsu , has looked with favour at Gudea." <>
The stela which he set up facing the rising sun he named as
.........."The king, the roaring storm of Enlil , the lord without rival, lord Nin-jirsu , has chosen Gudea with his holy heart." <>
The stela which he set up facing Cu-galam he named as
.........."The king, at whose name the foreign countries tremble, lord Nin-jirsu , has made Gudea ´s throne firm." <>
The stela which he set up facing E-uru-ga he named as
........."The lord Nin-jirsu has decided a good fate for Gudea."
The stela which he set up by the inner room (?) of Bau he named as
........The eyes of An know the E-ninnu , and Bau is the life source of Gudea."
He built his master´s house exactly as he had been told to. The true shepherd Gudea made it grow so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth, had it wear a tiara shaped like the new moon, and had its fame spread as far as the heart of the highlands. Gudea made Nin-jirsu ´s house come out like the sun from the clouds, had it grow to be like hills of lapis lazuli and had it stand to be marvelled at like hills of white alabaster.
He made its door-sockets stand like wild bulls and he flanked them with dragons crouching on their paws like lions. He had its terraced tower (?) grow on a place as pure as the Abzu. He made the metal tops of its standards twinkle as the horns of the holy stags of the Abzu. Gudea made the house of Nin-jirsu stand to be marvelled at like the new moon in the skies.
The built-in door-sockets of the house are lahama deities standing by the Abzu. Its timber store (?) looks like waves (?) of an enormous lagoon where snakes have dived (?) into the water. Its ...... is ...... full of fearsomeness. Its ...... is a light floating in the midst of heaven.
On the"Gate where the king enters" an eagle is raising its eyes toward a wild bull. Its curved wooden posts joining above the gate are a rainbow stretching over the sky.
Its upper lintel of the gate like (?) the E-ninnu stands among rumbling, roaring storms.
Its awe-inspiring eyebrow-shaped arch (?) meets the admiring eyes of the gods. His white shrine ...... of the house is a firmly founded lapis lazuli mountain connecting heaven and earth.
They installed the great dining hall for the evening meals: it was as if An himself were setting out golden bowls filled with honey and wine. They built the bedchamber: it is the Abzu´s fruit-bearing holy mes tree among innumerable mountains. He finished with the building, which made the hearts of the gods overflow with joy.
The true shepherd Gudea is wise, and able too to realize things. In the inner room (?) where the weapons hang, at the"Gate of Battle" he had the warriors Six-headed wild ram and ......-head take their stand. Facing the city, its place laden with awe, he had the Seven-headed serpent take its stand. In Cu-galam , its awesome gate, he had the Dragon and the Date palm take their stand. Facing the sunrise, where the fates are decided, he erected the standard of Utu , the Bison head, beside others already there. At the Kasura gate, at its lookout post, he had the Lion, the terror of the gods, take its stand. In the Tar-sirsir, where the orders are issued, he had the Fish-man and the Copper take their stand.
In Bau ´s inner room (?), where the heart can be soothed, he had the Magilum boat and the Bison take their stand. Because these were warriors slain by Nin-jirsu , he set their mouths towards libation places. Gudea , the ruler of Lagac , made their names appear among those of the gods.
The cedar doors installed in the house are Ickur roaring above. The locks of the E-ninnu are bisons, its door-pivots are lions, from its bolts horned vipers and fierce snakes are hissing at wild bulls. Its jambs, against which the door leaves close, are young lions and panthers lying on their paws.
The shining roof-beam nails hammered into the house are dragons gripping a victim. The shining ropes attached to the doors are holy Nirah parting the Abzu. Its ...... is pure like Kec and Aratta , its ...... is a fierce lion keeping an eye on the country; nobody going alone can pass in front of it.
The fearsomeness of the E-ninnu covers all the lands like a garment. The house! It is founded by An on refined silver, it is painted with kohl, and comes out as the moonlight with heavenly splendour. The house! Its front is a great mountain firmly grounded, its inside resounds with incantations and harmonious hymns, its exterior is the sky, a great house rising in abundance, its outer assembly hall is the Anuna gods´ place of rendering judgments, from its ...... words of prayer can be heard, its food supply is the abundance of the gods, its standards erected around the house are the Anzud bird spreading its wings over the bright mountain. E-ninnu ´s clay plaster, harmoniously blended clay taken from the Edin canal, has been chosen by Lord Nin-jirsu with his holy heart, and was painted by Gudea with the splendours of heaven as if kohl were being poured all over it.
From its cow-pen cream and milk are brought in. From its huge oven, great cakes and croissants come. Its ...... feeds cattle and sheep. Its house of food rations ...... an uzga shrine. Its regular offerings are a mountain oozing wine, from its brewery as much beer comes as the Tigris at high water.Its storehouse is full of gems, silver and tin. Its coach-house is a mountain set on the ground. Its drum hall is a roaring bull.
Its courtyard resounds with holy prayers, sim and ala drums.
Its stone stairs, laid before the house, are like a mountain range lying down in princely joy. Its upper stairs leading (?) to the roof are like a light clearly visible as far as the mountains. Its vineyard "Black garden in the steppe", planted near the house, is a mountain oozing wine and grows in a place with fearsome radiance.
The seven stones surrounding the house are there to take counsel with its owner. Its chapel for funerary offerings is as pure as the clean Abzu. The stone basins set up in the house are like the holy room of the lustration priest where water never ceases to flow. Its high battlements where pigeons live is ...... Eridu ....... E-ninnu offers rest to pigeons, it is a protective cover with large branches and a pleasant shade, with swallows and other birds chirping loudly there. It is Enlil ´s E-kur when a festival takes place in it. The house´s great awesomeness settles upon the whole Land, its praise reaches to the highlands, the awesomeness of the E-ninnu covers all lands like a garment.
The house has been built most sumptuously by its lord. It was built on a pedestal by Ningiczida . Its foundation pegs were driven in by Gudea , the ruler of Lagac .
For the restoration of E-ninnu , the house that rises like the sun over the country, stands like a great bull in the ...... sand, illuminates the assembly like delightful moonlight, is as sumptuous as lush green foothills, and stands to be marvelled at, praise be to Nin-jirsu !
This is the middle of the hymn "The building of Nin-jirsu ´s house".
House, mooring post of the land, grown so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth, E-ninnu , the true brickwork, for which Enlil determined a good fate, green hill standing to be marvelled at, standing out above all the lands.
The house is a great mountain reaching up to the skies. It is Utu filling the midst of the heaven; E-ninnu is the white Anzud bird spreading its talons upon the mountain land.
All the people were placed (?) before it, the whole country was detailed (?) to it. The Anuna gods stood there in admiration. The ruler, who is wise, who is knowledgeable, kissed the ground before that godly company. He touched the ground in prostration (?), with supplications and prayers; the ruler, the god of his city prayed.
For the bread-consuming house he added more and more bread, for the suppers in need of mutton he added sheep. In front of the house he lined up bowls like ...... abundance .......
He went to the Anuna gods and prayed to them:
´O all you Anuna gods, admired by the land of Lagac , protectors of all the countries, whose command, a massive breach in a dam, carries away any who try to stop it.
The worthy young man on whom you have looked will enjoy a long life. I, the shepherd, built the house, and now I will let my master enter his house. O Anuna gods, may you pray on my behalf!´
The true shepherd Gudea is wise, and able too to realize things. His friendly guardian went before him and his friendly protecting genius followed him. For his master, lord Nin-jirsu Gudea gave numerous gifts to the house of yore, the old house, his dwelling place. He went into the E-ninnu to the lord, and prayed to him:
´My master Nin-jirsu , lord who has turned back the fierce waters, lord whose commands take precedence, male child of Enlil , warrior, I have carried out faithfully what you have ordered me to do. Nin-jirsu , I have built up your house for you; now I shall let you enter it in joy! My goddess Bau , I have set up your E-mi quarters for you: take up pleasant residence in them.´ His call was heard, his master Lord Nin-jirsu accepted from Gudea his prayer and supplication.
The year ended and the month was completed. A new year started, a month began and three days elapsed in that month. As Nin-jirsu arrived from Eridu , beautiful moonlight shone illuminating the land, and the E-ninnu competed with the new-born Suen .
Gudea made a paste with cornelian and lapis lazuli and applied it to the corners. He sprinkled the floor with precious oil. He made the ......, who worked there (?), leave the house. Syrup, ghee, wine, sour milk, jipar fruit, fig-cakes topped with cheese, dates, ...... and small grapes, things untouched by fire, these were the foods for the gods which he prepared with syrup and ghee.
On the day when the true god was to arrive, Gudea was busy with the evening meal from early morning. Asari cared for the maintenance of the house. Nin-mada took care of its cleaning. King Enki gave oracular pronouncements concerning it. Nin-dub , the chief purification priest of Eridu, filled it with the smoke of incense.
The lady of precious rites, Nance , versed in singing holy songs, sang songs for the house.
They sheared the black ewes and milked the udder of the cow of heaven. They cleaned the E-ninnu , they polished it with brooms of tamarisk and ....... The ruler made the whole city kneel down, made the whole land prostrate itself. He levelled what was high, rejected chance utterances (?); the sorcerers´ spittle (?) was removed from the roads. In the city only the mother of a sick person administered a potion. The wild animals, creatures of the steppe, all had crouched together. The lions and the dragons of the steppe were lying in sweet sleep.
The day was for supplication, the night was for prayer. The moonlight ...... early morning. Its master ......
Warrior Nin-jirsu entered the house, the owner of the house had arrived.
He was an eagle raising its eyes toward a wild bull. The warrior´s entering his house was a storm roaring into battle. Nin-jirsu entered his house and it became the shrine of Abzu when there is a festival. The owner came out of his house and he was Utu rising over the land of Lagac . Bau ´s going to her E-mi quarters was a true woman´s taking her house in hand. Her entering her bedroom was the Tigris at high water. When she sat down beside her ......, she was the lady, the daughter of holy An , a green garden bearing fruit.
The daylight came out, the fate had been decided. Bau entered her E-mi quarters, and there was abundance for the land of Lagac . The day dawned. Utu of Lagac lifted his head over the land.
The house received fattened oxen and sheep. Bowls were set up in the open air and were filled with wine. The Anuna gods of the land of Lagac gathered around Nin-jirsu . In the house the purification had been completed, the oracular pronouncements had been taken care of.
Wine was poured from big jars while ...... was heaped up in the E-ninnu . Nin-dub caused the sanctuary to be full of clatter and noise (?) and with fresh bread and hind´s milk available day and night,
he woke from sleep the noble one, the beloved son of Enlil, the warrior Nin-jirsu . Nin-jirsu raised his head with all the great powers, and ...... rituals, ...... for (?) the sanctuary E-ninnu .
With his divine duties, namely to guide the hand of the righteous one; to force the evil-doer´s neck into a neck stock; to keep the house safe; to keep the house pleasant; to instruct his city and the sanctuaries of Jirsu ; to set up an auspicous throne; to hold the sceptre of never-ending days; to raise high the head of Nin-jirsu ´s shepherd, Gudea , as if he wore a blue crown; and to appoint to their offices in the courtyard of E-ninnu the skin-clad ones, the linen-clad ones and those whose head is covered, Gudea introduced Ig-alim , the Great Door (ig gal), the Pole (dim) of Jirnun , the chief bailiff of Jirsu , his beloved son to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to keep the house clean; to let hands always be washed; to serve water to the lord with holy hands; to pour beer into bowls; to pour wine into jars; to make emmer beer in the brewery fizz like the water of the Papsir canal, the house of pure strength; to make certain that faultless cattle and goats, grain-fed sheep, fresh bread and hind´s milk are available day and night;
to wake from sleep the noble one, Enlil ´s beloved son, warrior Nin-jirsu by offering (?) food and drink, Gudea introduced Cul-caga , the lord of the pure hand-washings (cu-luh), the first-born son of E-ninnu to Nin-jirsu .
"We even have a mention at a later date of a similar custom in connection with the cult in Jerusalem, where certain Levites, called me'oreim, 'arousers,' sang (every morning?) this verse from Ps 44:23: "Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever."
"The Hithpa'el of nb', in the ancient texts, refers to ecstasy and delirium rather than to the emission of a 'prophecy,' 1 Sam. 10:5; 18:10; 19:20f). (de Vaux, p. 243) The Talmud tells us that John Hyrcanus suppressed the practice because it recalled too readily a pagan custom." (de Vaux, p. 247)."The priest stands on the threshold (of the temple) and awakens the god calling to him in the Egyptian language." This is how Arnobius mocks the ritual of Isis:' Why these revels you sing each morning to awaken him, accompanying your songs on the flute? Do the gods go to sleep, then, that they need to be awakened?' At Delphi the Thyads went to waken the young Dionysus, just as at Rhodes Bacchus woke gently from his sleep to the sound of the hydraulic organ." (de Vaux, Roland, The Bible and the Ancient Near East, Doubleday, p. 246).
"From (the Ugaritic text) come references to a class of Temple personnel designated by the term serim, who exercised functions similar to those of the Hebrew singers during the monarchy and later times. Some of the servants of David who were designated in 1 Kings 4:31 by (a) term meaning 'aboriginal' or 'native sons,' and who possessed Canaanite names such as Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, were engaged in various forms of musical activity.
As such they were described by the phrase 'sons of Mahol,' a Hebrew term closely related to (the Greek), used of a semi-circular area in which the Greek chorus danced, and meaning 'members of the orchestral guild.'
A further reflection of this musical interest became apparent when Megiddo was excavated and the treasure room of the royal palace was uncovered. From this area was recovered a plaque inlaid with ivory, depicting a royal personage seated on a throne. He was drinking from a small bowl, and was being entertained by a court musician who stood before him plucking the strings of a lyre." (Harrison, R. K., Introduction to the Old Testament, Eerdmans, p. 335, see p. 411).
With his divine duties, namely to carry the seven-headed mace; to open the door of the an-kara house, the gate of battle; to hit exactly with the dagger blades, with the mitum mace, with the "floodstorm" weapon and with the marratum club, its battle tools; to inundate Enlil ´s enemy land, Gudea introduced Lugalkurdub , the warrior Carur, who in battle subdues all the foreign lands, the mighty general of the E-ninnu , a falcon against the rebel lands, his general, to lord Nin-jirsu .
After the heavenly mitum mace had roared against the foreign lands like a fierce storm - the Carur, the flood storm in battle, the cudgel for the rebel lands - after the lord had frowned at the rebellious land, the foreign country, hurled at it his furious words, driven it insanethe text here seems to be corrupt, and there may be some lines missing,
With his divine duties, Gudea introduced the lord´s second general, Kur-cuna-buruam to the son of Enlil .
With his divine duties, namely to send entreaties on behalf of the land of Lagac ; to perform supplications and prayers for it, propitious ones; to greet pleasantly the warrior departing for Eridu ; and until (?) Nin-jirsu comes from Eridu , to keep the throne of the built-up city firm; to pray, with hand placed before the nose, together with Gudea , for the life of the true shepherd, Gudea introduced his adviser, Lugal-sisa , to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to request; to command; to co-operate with the one speaking straightforwardly; to ...... the one speaking evil; to inform Nin-jirsu , the warrior sitting on a holy dais in the E-ninnu , Gudea introduced Cakkan , the wild ram, the minister of the E-duga , his ......, to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to clean with water; to clean with soap; to ...... with oil from white bowls and with (?) soap; to urge him to sweet sleep on his bed strewn with fresh herbs; to let him enter the E-duga , his bed chamber, from outside (?) and to make him not wish to leave it, Gudea introduced Kinda-zid , the man in charge of the E-duga , to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to yoke up the holy chariot decorated with stars; to harness the donkey stallion, Pirij-kase-pada , before it; to ...... a slender donkey from Eridu ......;
to have stallions joyfully transport their owner Nin-jirsu , Gudea introduced En-signun , who roars like a lion, who rises like a flood storm, Nin-jirsu´s hurrying bailiff, his donkey herd, to lord Nin-jirsu.
With his divine duties, namely, to make the fat abundant; to make the cream abundant; to see that the fat and the milk of the holy goats, the milking goats, and the hind, the mother of Nin-jirsu , do not cease to flow in the E-ninnu sanctuary, Gudea introduced En-lulim, the herdsman of the hinds, to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to tune properly the sweet-toned tigi instrument; to fill the courtyard of E-ninnu with joy; to make the algar and miritum, instruments of the E-duga ,
<>offer their best in the E-ninnu to the warrior with an ear for music,
Gudea introduced his beloved musician, Ucumgal-kalama, to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to soothe the heart, to soothe the spirits; to dry weeping eyes; to banish mourning from the mourning heart; to ...... the heart of the lord that rises like the sea, washes away like the Euphrates, that hits like a flood storm, that has overflowed with joy after inundating a land which is Enlil ´s enemy,
Gudea introduced his balaj drum, Lugal-igihuc, to lord Nin-jirsu .
Eat, Drink and Be Merry: End-time Sign
[Again, musical instruments WERE IDOLS or the homes of the Gods. Therefore,]
> "For nonliterate peoples, music often serves purposes other than entertainment or aesthetic enjoyment. Certain wind instruments are closely associated with the supernatural, and their sounds connote powerful magic. Australian Aborigines, for instance, identify the sound of a bull-roarer with the voices of supernatural beings; for the Plains Indians, the same sound signifies an awesome natural phenomenon, such as thunder. Wind instruments are often among a group's most important ritual objects, and in some cultures they are specially venerated. The Kamairua Indians of the Amazon rain forest keep their giant flutes (three to four feet long), wherein spirits are believed to dwell, in a special shrine where they are worshiped. The flutes and drums of New Guinea are similarly housed and worshiped.
"Wind instruments in primitive cultures also serve nonreligious functions. In New Guinea, bamboo trumpets were once played
to frighten an enemy during battle and
to alert a village that the victorious warriors were coming home with the corpses of the foes."Conch-shell trumpets are used for signaling in the Pacific coastal regions of Columbia and in the Ecuadoran highlands.
Trumpets also may be associated with the office of king or chief, as in West Africa,
where their use is strictly controlled by tribal law. "wind instrument" Encyclopædia Britannica Online."According to the system which Nimrod was the grand instrument in introducing, men were led to believethat a real spiritual change of heart was unnecessary, and that so far as change was needful,
they could be regenerated by mere external means.> Looking at the subject in the light of the Bacchanalian orgies (Read Ephesus and Corinth), which, as the reader has seen, commemorated the history of Nimrod, it is evident that he led mankind to seek their chief good in sensual enjoyment, and showed them how they might enjoy the pleasures of sin, without any fear of the wrath of a holy God.
In his various expeditions he was always accompanied by troops of women; and by music and song, and games (ritual drama) and revelries, and everything that could please the natural hearts, he commended himself to the good graces of mankind." (Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, p. 55, Loizeaux Brothers)
> From the story of Wen Amun to see how feminine and effeminate musicians are used to STEAL YOUR PROPERTY.
The phrase, like many examples of music, shows disrespect for the will of God--
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' Luke 12:19
"He went and told it to the prince. The prince began to weep at the evil words which they spoke to him. He sent out his letter-scribe to me and brought me two jars of wine and a ram.
<>He sent to me, Tento, an Egyptian singer (feminine), who was with him,
..........saying: 'Sing for him; let not his heart feel apprehension.' <>
He sent to me, saying: 'Eat, drink, and let not they heart feel apprehension.
..........Thou shalt hear all that I have to say unto thee in the morning.""Lastly, the way one of the noble youths became frenzied and prophesied, is quite parallel to the way in which Saul 'stripped off his clothes and prophesied... and lay down naked all that day and all that night' (1 Sam. 19:24). The heed which Zakar-Baal gave to this youth shows that at Gebal, as in Israel, such ecstatic or frenzied utterances were thought to be of divine origin.
Later in Israel this sort of prophecy became a kind of profession, or trade. The members of these prophetic guilds were called "sons of the prophets.'
The great literaty prophets of Israel had nothing to do with them. Amos is careful to say that he is not a 'son of a prophet' (Amos 7:14)."
From: Barton, George A., Archaeology and the Bible, p. 453, American Sunday-school Union
This repeats the common model: "Let us sing and eat" so that we feel comfortable. Never mind, we will speak the truth some other day!
The phrase "eat, drink, and be merry" was part of a religious ritual common throughout the region-
"The traditional founder of Tarsus was Sardanapalus, who was worshipped, along with Semiramis, with licentious rites which resembled those of the Feast of Tabernacles. Paul had probably witnessed this feastival, and had seen, at the neighboring town of Anchiale, the statue of Sardanapalus, represented as snapping his fingers, and with the inscription upon the pedestal, 'Eat, drink, enjoy thyself. The rest is nothing." (Vincent, p. 278)
"neither the gospels nor the epistolary literature display any particular interest in the ritual and the liturgy of the temple. It might even be said that the apostles considered the institution of the temple as a panel for religious disputation at best, as a seat of corruption at worst. They all came from the synagogue and were at home there. They had no use for hierarchial traditions and were, in this respect at least, in accord with the Pharisees, opposed to the ruling class of the Sadducees, who dominated the temple."
"Aside from the customary music of temple and synagouge (vocal kls) the books of the NT speak of music mainly as an integral part of the daily life of palestine and the Hellenistic communities." (Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, p. 466, Abingdon).
The phrase, like many examples of music, shows disrespect for the will of God--
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' Luke 12:19
The feminine Egyptian music was to soothe Wen Amon so that he would lose his concern about his property while the prince could delay any truth-telling until later. This was identical to Laban who also wanted to steal Jacob's property during a feast with music but Jacob choose to obey God's command and not stay around for the going-away party with music.
The BLIND HARPER leading the spiritually blind CLAPPER SINGERS who MOCKED their gods.
"We know something of the Egyptian music through Pfeiffer who says that: 'The harp was the favorite instrument of the Egyptians. In the temple of Hatshepsut at Karnak there is a relief of a blind harper." During the Twelfth Dynasty society existed much as it did in Israel when Amos warned the people about their false worship and disregard for the social ill. For instance, in Egypt The Song of the Harper says-
"Increase still more the good things which you possess, and stop worrying. Do what you feel inclined to do and will give you pleasure. Enjoy yourself while you are here, and don't worry until the end comes. Enjoy each day to the fullest. For be sure no one can take what he possesses with him, and no one who has passed can return." (Fairservis, p. 118).
The Purpose Driven Cult wants to turn church into "theaters of holy entertainment" and remove any NEGATIVE feelings from the children! Their blind harpers even lead their children INTO CANAAN land in some churches as the meet AT THE PILLARS.
God claimed that Irael was WORSE THAN THE NATIONS. However, not even the vilest pagan religions allowed the MUSICIANS into the Holy Place representing the church of Christ! In the Apostolic Constitutions a deacon who took up playing an instrument was disfellowshiped because music pushes that magical SEXUAL button.In some places in Egypt, for the song of Linus or Osiris (Soprano Singing as opposed to reciting), a peculiar melody seems to have been used. Savary says that, in the temple of Abydos,
"the priest repeated the seven vowels in the form of hymns,
and that musicians were forbid to enter it." (Letters) Strabo, whom Savary refers to, calls the god of that temple Memnon, but we learn from Wilkinson that Osiris was the great god of Abydos, whence it is evident that Memnon and Osiris were only different names of the same divinity."The public was able to ask the gods for favors and consult them,
but there was no way they could reach the most sacred place in a temple and see the idol.
The only way they could see him was when he came out to them at least once a year where crowds of those who believed in him watched out for such an important chance.
They received him with happiness playing flutes and drums and singing."Women took part in priesthood where there were priestesses in some temples. The queen was considered the head priestess of "Amoun" and the wife of the god while the other priestesses were his concubines and their role in serving god was just music playing.
The Hebrew word for Solomon's musicians also means "concubines." As part of the royal family, Miriam was automatically a prophetess of Hathor: her name speaks of bitter waters.
Zazaru , Ickur-pa-ed , Ur-agrunta-ea , He-girnuna , He-caga , Zurju and Zarju , who are Bau´s septuplets, the offspring of lord Nin-jirsu , his beloved lukur maidens, who create plenty for the myriads, stepped forward to lord Nin-jirsu with friendly entreaties on behalf of Gudea .
With his divine duties, namely to see that the great fields grow rich; to see that the levees and ditches of Lagac will be full to the brim; to see that Acnan , the bright and long one, the pure stalk, will raise its head high in the furrows in Gu-edina , the plain befitting its owner; to see that after the good fields have provided wheat, emmer and all kinds of pulses, the numerous grain heaps - the yield of the land of Lagac - will be heaped up, Gudea introduced Jicbar-ed , Enlil ´s surveyor, the farmer of Gu-edina , to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to make sure that Imin-catam, the messenger of Gu-edina , informs Nin-jirsu about the amount of carp and perch yielded by the marshes, and about the quantity of new shoots of reed yielded by the green reedbeds, Gudea introduced Lama , the inspector of the fisheries of Gu-edina , to lord Nin-jirsu .
With his divine duties, namely to administer the open country, the pleasant place; to give directions concerning the Gu-edina , the pleasant open country; to make its birds propagate (?); to have them lay their eggs in nests (?); to have them rear their young; to see that the multiplication of the beasts of Nin-jirsu ´s beloved countryside does not diminish, Gudea introduced Dimgal-abzu , the herald of Gu-edina , to lord Nin-jirsu.
With his divine duties, namely to erect cities; to found settlements; to build guard-houses for the wall of the Iri-kug ; to have its divine resident constable, the mace of white cedar with its enormous head, patrol around the house, Gudea introduced Lugal-ennu-irikugakam to lord Nin-jirsu .
Holy An made the location appropriate. Enlil wound (?) a turban (?) round its top. Nin-hursaj looked at it approvingly. Enki , the king of Eridu, drove in its foundation pegs. The true lord with a pure heart, Suen , made its powers the largest in heaven and on earth. Nin-jirsu chose it among shrines of sprouting seeds with his heart. Mother Nance cared for it especially among the buildings of the land of Lagac . But it was the god of most reliable progeny who built the house and made its name famous.
The mighty steward of Nance , the accomplished shepherd of Nin-jirsu, is wise, and able too to realize things; the man in charge of building the house, Gudea the ruler of Lagac, was to make presents for the house.
Gudea , the ruler in charge of building the house, presented it with the chariot "It makes the mountains bow down", which carries awesome radiance and on which fearsomeness rides and with its donkey stallion, Ud-gu-dugduga , to serve before it; with the seven-headed mace, the fierce battle weapon, the weapon unbearable both for the North and for the South, with a battle cudgel, with the mitum mace, with the lion-headed weapon made from nir stone, which never turns back before the highlands, with dagger blades, with nine standards, with the "strength of heroism,"
with his bow which twangs like a mes forest, with his angry arrows which whizz like lightning flashes in battle and with his quiver, which is a like a lion, a pirij lion, or a fierce snake sticking out its tongue - strengths of battle endued with the power of kingship.
Toxeuma arrow, the distance of a bow-shot. missile of any kind, metaphor of songs and words, kardias [heart] toxeumata [arrows]
Pindar, Odes Isthmian Odes Pi.I.5(4).47; My swift tongue has many arrows, to shout the praises of these heroes.
Kardias [heart] toxeumata [arrows] S.Ant.1085 ; Sophocles, Antigon
[1080] All the cities are stirred up in hostility, whose mangled corpses the dogs [Cynics or homosexual priests], or the wild beasts or some winged bird buried,
........ carrying an unholy stench to the city that held each man's hearth.There, now, are arrows for your heart, since you provoke me, [1085] launched at you, archer-like, in my anger. They fly true--you cannot run from their burning sting.
Sting is akis, barb of an arrow or hook, stings of desire. Pikros pointed, sharp, keen, metaph., glôssês pikrois kentroisi of sound, piercing, shrill, phthongos, embittered, angry, relentless, pedantically, harshly, bitterly, vindictively
Kentron, to, ( [kenteô] ) any sharp point, a symbol of sovereignty a. sting of bees and wasps, Ar.V.225, 407 (lyr.), al.; of scorpions,
Kentron (g2759) ken'-tron; from kenteo, (to prick); a point ("centre"), i.e. a sting (fig. poison) or goad (fig. divine impulse): - prick, sting
Of the locusts or MUSICAL PERFORMERS:
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. Re.9:10
After disturbing "each man's hearth" they just can't quit STINGING those who were long ago MARKED with the Words of Christ in songs and sermons.
Along with copper, tin, slabs of lapis lazuli, refined silver and pure Meluha cornelian, he set up (?) huge copper cauldrons, huge ...... of copper, shining copper goblets and shining copper jars worthy of An, for laying (?) a holy table in the open air ...... at the place of regular offerings (?). Nin-jirsu gave his city, Lagac ....... He set up his bed within the bedchamber, the house´s resting place; and everyone (?) rested like birds in the streets with the son of Enlil .
With his duties, namely to fill the channels with flowing water; to make the marshes full with carp and perch (?) and to have the inspector of fisheries and the inspector of dykes stand at their posts; to fill the great waters with boats carrying grain; to see that tons, heaps and tons - the yield of the land of Lagac - will be piled up; to see that cattle-pens and sheepfolds will be erected; to see that lambs abound around healthy ewes; to have the rams let loose on the healthy ewes; to see that numerous calves stand beside healthy cows; to see that breed bulls bellow loudly among them;
to have the oxen properly yoked and to have the farmers and ox drivers stand beside them; to have donkeys carry packsaddles and to have their drivers, who feed them, follow behind them;
to see that large copper ...... will be strapped onto jackasses; to see that the principal mill will produce (?); to ...... the house of Nin-jirsu´s young slave women; to ......; to set ...... right;
to see that the courtyard of the E-ninnu will be filled with joy;to see that the ala drums and balaj drum will sound in perfect concert with the sim drums,
and to see that his beloved drum Ucumgal-kalama will walk in front of the procession,the ruler who had built the E-ninnu , Gudea , himself entered before lord Nin-jirsu .
"Music was understood to drive away hostile chthonic demons who loved tranquility and quiet. this concept of music's magical power is found in the formula of a love spell published by S. Eitrem:
<>"The harmful screaming of those who were to be killed in sacrifices was particularly attractived to the wicked demons with whom the pagans believed the air (1 Corinthians 14:9) was filled."X.X. is bound with the tendons of the holy phoenix so that you will love N.N. with your whole heart and no barking dog or braying ass, cock or conjurer, the clash of cymbals or the noise of flutes or anything else under the heavens will ever set you free."
Consequently, music was found to be especially appropriate at the time of sacrifice as a means of driving away the evil spirits who would destroy its efficacy. From this it can also be seen why music had to be uninterrupted during the actio. It was not necessary, then, that music drown out cries of pain but rather that it simply drive away the demons who had been attracted by those cries." (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, pgs 16-17)
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons (who distribute fortunes or gifts of spirits), not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 1 Corinthians10:20
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 1 Corinthians 14:9
"In Greek ritual the sacrifice was accompanied by the invocatory cries of women. Their purpose was to call the good gods so that they cound enjoy the sacrifice.
Music had the same character of epiclesis. It was understood to "call down" the good gods. Menander attests to the attribution of this significance to music. According to Plutarch, the inhabiants of Argos
blew trumpets on the feast of Dionysos so as to call the god up from the depths of the river Lerne for the sacrifice.
Because song and music increased the efficacy of the epiclesis the words of epiclesis were nearly always sung to instrumental accompaniment.
Thus the Dionysian fellowship used the ritual of women in order to obtain the appearance of their god. Arnobius alludes to such songs of the pagans performed to flute accompaniment, and he mockingly asks whether the sleeping deities will be awakened by them." (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, p. 17)
Epiclesis: (Greek: "invocation"), in the Christian eucharistic prayer (anaphora), the special invocation of the Holy Spirit; in most Eastern Christian liturgies it follows the words of institution--the words used, according to the New Testament, by Jesus himself at the Last Supper--"This is my body . . . this is my blood" and has a clearly consecratory character. The epiclesis specifically asks that bread and wine be made the body and blood of Christ, and the actual change (Greek: metabole) is attributed to the Holy Spirit.
L. Durr rejects this view with good reason in arguing the balag does not mean a drum but rather a gong or bell with which the bell-player was thought to call the gods. It seems impossible to determine clearly the exact meaning of the word. However, both explanations speak of music in terms of epiclesis, although the words "instruments of sweet entreaty and humble imploring" neeed clarification." Quasten p. 18.
This emphasis on brass or copper as associated with bells or cymbals or other metallic instruments is directely related to the "serpent" in the garden of Eden who was a musical enchanter or seducer:
Nachuwsh (h5153) naw-khoosh'; appar. pass. part. of 5172 (perh. in the sense of ringing, i. e. bell-metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent [5175, as denom.] when hissing); coppery, i. e. (fig.) hard: - of brass.
Nachash (h5182) naw-khash'; a prim. root; prop. to hiss, i. e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate: - * certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) * enchantment, learn by experience, * indeed, diligently observe.
Nechash (h5154) nekh-awsh'; corresp. to 5154; copper: - brass.
Nachash (h5175) naw-khawsh'; from 5172; a snake (from its hiss): - serpent.
The temple towered upwards in full grandeur, unparallelled in fearsomeness and radiance. Like a boat it ...... and ....... Its owner, warrior Nin-jirsu , came out as the daylight on the dais of Jirnun . Its ...... resting on supports was like the blue sky in all its splendour. Its standards and their caps (?) were Nin-jirsu himself emanating fearsomeness; their leather straps stretched out in front of them were bathing snakes with yellow mouths.
Its owner, warrior Nin-jirsu, stood like Utu in his most fascinating blue chariot. Its throne, standing in the guena hall, was An ´s holy seat which is sat upon joyfully. Its bed, standing in the bedroom, was a young cow kneeling down in its sleeping place. On its quilt (?), strewn with fresh herbs, mother Bau was resting comfortably with lord Nin-jirsu .
Large bronze plates (?) offered all sorts of food (?). In the good house ...... were cooked in shining bronze vessels (?). Its pure bowls standing in the great dining-hall were troughs in various sizes that never lack water, and the goblets beside them were the Tigris and Euphrates continually carrying abundance.
He had everything function as it should in his city. Gudea had built the E-ninnu , made its powers perfect. He brought fat and cream into its dairy and provided its ...... with bread (?).
He had debts remitted and made all hands clear.
When his master entered the house, for seven days the slave woman was allowed to became equal to her mistress and the slave was allowed to walk side by side with his master.
But the ritually unclean ones could sleep only at the border of his city. He silenced the evil-speaking tongue and locked up evil.
He paid attention to the justice of Nance and Nin-jirsu . He provided protection for the orphan against the rich, and provided protection for the widow against the powerful. He had the daughter become the heir in the families without a son. A day of justice dawned for him. He set his foot on the neck of evil ones and malcontents.
Like Utu, he rose on the horizon for the city. He wound (?) a turban (?) on his head. He made himself known by the eyes of holy An . He entered the shrine of E-ninnu with raised head like a bull and sacrificed there faultless oxen and kids.
He set bowls in the open air and filled them full with wine. Ucumgal-kalama was accompanied by tigi drums, and ala drums roared for him like storm.
The ruler stepped onto the outer wall (?) and his city looked up to him in admiration.
(6 lines missing)
...... made abundance come forth for him. The earth produced mottled barley for him. Lagac thrived in abundance with the ruler.
For the warrior who entered his new house, for Nin-jirsu , he arranged a rich banquet. He seated An at the place of honour for him, he seated Enlil next to An and Nin-mah next to Enlil .
(13 lines missing or unclear)
Rejoicing over the the house, the owner determined a fate for the brickwork of E-ninnu : ´O brickwork of E-ninnu , let there be a good fate determined, brickwork of E-ninnu , let there be a fate determined, brickwork of E-ninnu , let there be a good fate determined! House! Mountain founded by An , built in grandeur!´
(16 lines missing)
...... determined a fate for the brickwork of E-ninnu : ´O brickwork of E-ninnu , let there be a fate determined, brickwork of E-ninnu , let there be a good fate determined! House ...... embers (?) ...... embracing heaven. ...... holy .......´
(15 lines missing or unclear)
´On your behalf, numerous cow-pens will be erected and many sheepfolds be renewed! The people will lie down in safe pastures, enjoying abundance under you. The eyes of Sumer and all the countries will be directed toward you. An will elevate your house of Anzud for you.´
(14 lines missing or unclear)
´Grown as tall as Gilgamec . No one shall remove its throne set up there. Your god Nin-jiczida is the grandson of An ; your divine mother is Ninsun, the bearing mother of good offspring, who loves her offspring; you are a child born by the true cow. You are a true youth made to rise over the land of Lagac by Nin-jirsu ; your name is established from below to above. Gudea , nobody ...... what you say. You are ...... a man known to An . You are a true ruler, for whom the house has determined a good fate. Gudea , son of Nin-jiczida , you will enjoy a long life!´
The house reaches up to heaven like a huge mountain and its fearsomeness and awesome radiance have settled upon the land. An and Enlil have determined the fate of Lagac ; Nin-jirsu´s authority has become known to all the countries; E-ninnu has grown so high as to fill the space between the heaven and the earth. Nin-jirsu be praised!
The Spirit of Christ was very careful to NEVER LET the SINGERS OR MUSICIANS into the Holy Place even if its CARNAL REPLACEMENT for the TENT was a CARNAL type of the SPIRITUAL fulfilment as the church of Christ.
The musicians MAKE NOISE and DO HARD BONDAGE out IN THE WORLD as they MOCK and try to defeat Jesus as they would a dead bull. However, in all temple symbolism they CAN NEVER ENTER the holy precincts as the CHURCH which Jesus Christ built over which HE is the Teacher and Singer through His Word. And only those in the Holy Place can direct their prayers of INCENSE beyond the now-opened curtain.
