RA 22, 170f. (Ištar Ammī-ditāna)

1           Sing of the goddess, (most) awe-inspiring of goddesses;

2           Let the mistress of people, great(est) of the Igigi be praised;

3           Sing of Ištar, (most) awe-inspiring of goddesses; Let

4           the mistress of women, great(est) of the Igigi be praised.

5           She of joy is clothed in charm;

6           She is adorned with seductiveness, cosmetics and appeal;

7           Ištar of joy is clothed in charm;     

8           She is adorned with seductiveness, cosmetics and appeal.

9           She is sweet-lipped, her mouth is life;

10          Laughter blooms on her features;

11          She is glorious, carcanets placed upon her head;

12          Beautiful are her colors, splendid her eyes (and) iridescent.

13          The goddess – with her there is (good) advice;

14          She holds the destinies of all in her hands;

15          At her glance prosperity is created –

16          Dignity, splendor, protective spirit (and) genius.

17          She alone controls mutual love, obedience, passion, good will

18          and harmony;

19          A girl who ... will acquire a mother;

20          One mentions her among the people/women, calls her name.

21          Who is it? Who can equal her greatness?

22          Strong, august (and) brilliant are her divine powers;

23          Ištar – Who can equal her greatness?

24          Strong, august (and) brilliant are her divine powers.

25          She is the spokeswoman among the gods, her position is foremost;

26          Weighty is her word, she/it prevails over them;

27          Ištar – her position is foremost among the gods;

28          Weighty is her word, she/it prevails over them.

29          They give thought to the orders of her queen.

30          All of them kneel before her;

31          They proceed towards her luminary;

32          Women and men revere her.

rev.

33          Noble in their assembly is her speech, foremost;

34          She sits among them as an equal to Anum, their king;

35          In intelligence, wisdom (and) understanding she is wise;

36          They take counsel with each other, she and her family head.

37          They dwell together on the dais;

38          In the temple, an abode of joy,

39          the gods stand before them;

40          They eagerly wait for their speech to begin.

41          The king, their favourite, their hearts’ beloved

42          does ever proudly perform for them his pure offering.

43          Ammī-ditāna makes a pure offering from his hands

44          resplendent before them: fat bulls and rams.

45          From Anum, her husband, she has requested for him

46          a life long and everlasting.

47          Numerous years of life for Ammī-ditāna

48          has Ištar granted (and) given.

49          Due to her order she subjugated for him

50           the four regions of the world at his feet

51          and the whole of the inhabited world

52          she has harnessed to his yoke.

53          Her heart's desire, the song of her beauty

54          are suitable for his mouth, he executed Ea's words for her.

55          He has heard her praise and rejoiced in him;

56          "May his king live! May his king love him forever!"

57          O Ištar, grant Ammī-ditāna, the king who loves you

58          a long, everlasting life!

59          May he live!

60          (Its antiphon)