Page:BabylonianPenitentialPsalms.djvu/14

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BABYLONIAN PENITENTIAL PSALMS

May the fold be wide, and the enclosures spacious!
Receive the abasement of my countenance, give ear unto my prayer,
In truth look upon me favourably, and [accept my supplication]!
How long, O my lady, wilt thou be angry, and thy face be turned away?
How long, O my lady, wilt thou rage, and thy soul be in anger?
Incline thy neck, which [is turned] away, let a word of race be before thy face;
As by the solving waters of the river, may thy soul be dissolved!
My oppressors, may I trample them like the clay;
And they that are wroth with me, subdue them, and crush them beneath my feet!
Let my prayer and supplication come unto thee,
And let thy great mercy be upon me,
That they who see me in the street may magnify thy name,
And I will glorify thy godhead and thy might before men.
Ishtar is exalted! Ishtar is queen!
The lady is exalted! The lady is queen!
Irnini, the valiant daughter of Sin, hath no rival.

PRAYER OF THE RAISING OF THE HAND TO ISHTAR

This is the (magical) ritual; thou shalt kneel at the foot, a green bow shalt thou sprinkle with pure water; four bricks saḫḫu shalt thou set up;
A lamb shalt thou take; with ṣarbatu-wood shalt thou fill [the censer], and thou shalt set fire [thereto]; sweet-scented unguents, fine meal (?) and some cypress-wood,
Shalt thou heap thereon; a drink-offering shalt thou offer, but thou shalt not bow thyself down. This incanta-