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Enūma eliš

Tablet VII

Translated by L. W. King, The Seven Tablets of Creation, vol. 1 (1902), pp. 93–115

125 lines

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The Seven Tablets of Creation, vol. 1 (1902)

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Lines from fragments whose place in the tablet is unknown are printed without numbers and cited by fragment, for example VII.K12830.1.

  1. p. 93see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  2. 1O Asari, “Bestower of planting,” “[Founder of sowing],”
  3. 2“Creator of grain and plants,” “who caused [the green herb to spring up]!”
  4. 3O Asaru-alim, “who is revered in the house of counsel,” “[who aboundeth in counsel],”
  5. 4The gods paid homage, fear [took hold upon them]!
  6. 5O Asaru-alim-nuna, “the mighty one,” “the Light of [the father who begat him],”
  7. 6“Who directeth the decrees of Anu, Bel, [and Ea]!”
  8. 7He was their patron, he ordained [their . . . ];
  9. 8He, whose provision is abundance, goeth forth [ . . . ]!
  10. 9Tutu [is] “He who created them anew;”
  11. p. 95see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  12. 10Should their wants be pure, then are they [satisfied];
  13. 11Should he make an incantation, then are the gods [appeased];
  14. 12Should they attack him in anger, he withstandeth [their onslaught]!
  15. 13Let him therefore be exalted, and in the assembly of the gods [let him . . . ];
  16. 14None among the gods can [rival him]!
  17. 15Tutu is Zi-ukkina, “the Life of the host [of the gods],”
  18. 16Who established for the gods the bright heavens.
  19. 17He set them on their way, and ordained [their path (?)];
  20. 18Never shall his [ . . . ] deeds be forgotten among men.
  21. p. 97see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  22. 19Tutu as Zi-azag thirdly they named, “the Bringer of Purification,”
  23. 20“The God of the Favouring Breeze,” “the Lord of Hearing and Mercy,”
  24. 21“The Creator of Fulness and Abundance,” “the Founder of Plenteousness,”
  25. 22“Who increaseth all that is small.”
  26. 23“In sore distress we felt his favouring breeze,”
  27. 24Let them say, let them pay reverence, let them bow in humility before him!
  28. 25Tutu as Aga-azag may mankind fourthly magnify!
  29. 26“The Lord of the Pure Incantation,” “the Quickener of the Dead,”
  30. 27“Who had mercy upon the captive gods,”
  31. 28“Who removed the yoke from upon the gods his enemies,”
  32. p. 99see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  33. 29“For their forgiveness did he create mankind,”
  34. 30“The Merciful One, with whom it is to bestow life!”
  35. 31May his deeds endure, may they never be forgotten
  36. 32In the mouth of mankind whom his hands have made!
  37. 33Tutu as Mu-azag, fifthly, his “Pure Incantation” may their mouth proclaim,
  38. 34“Who through his Pure Incantation hath destroyed all the evil ones!”
  39. 35Šag-zu, “who knoweth the heart of the gods,” “who seeth through the innermost part!”
  40. 36“The evil-doer he hath not caused to go forth with him!”
  41. 37“Founder of the assembly of the gods,” “[who . . . ] their heart!”
  42. 38“Subduer of the disobedient,” “[ . . . ]!”
  43. 39“Director of Righteousness,” “[ . . . ],”
  44. 40“Who rebellion and [ . . . ]!”
  45. p. 101see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  46. 41Tutu as Zi-si, “the [ . . . ],
  47. 42“Who put an end to anger,” “[who . . . ]!”
  48. 43Tutu as Suḫ-kur, thirdly, “the [Destroyer of the foe],”
  49. 44“Who put their plans to confusion,” “[ . . . ],”
  50. 45“Who destroyed all the wicked,” “[ . . . ],”
  51. 46[ . . . ] let them [ . . . ]!
  52. 47[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ]
  53. K12830.1[He named the four quarters (of the world)], mankind [he created],
  54. Note King, p. 101: "The following lines are taken from the fragment K. 12,830, but their position in the text is uncertain." In his note 6 King adds that the fragment belongs to a copy of the Seventh Tablet, and that its exact place in the gap between lines 47 and 105 is not certain. These lines have no line numbers in King, so they are cited by fragment and order (VII.K12830.1 and so on).
  55. K12830.2[And upon] him understanding [ . . . ]
  56. K12830.3[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ]
  57. K12830.4[ . . . ] Tiamat [ . . . ]
  58. K12830.5[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ]
  59. K12830.6[ . . . ] distant [ . . . ]
  60. K12830.7[ . . . ] may [ . . . ]
  61. p. 103see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  62. K13761.1[ . . . ]
  63. Note King, p. 103: "The following lines are taken from the fragment K. 13,761." The fragment marks every tenth line in its margin, and King prints that mark, "(10)", beside the lines cited here as VII.K13761.2 and VII.K13761.12; it is the scribe's count, not a line number of the poem.
  64. K13761.2[ . . . ]
  65. K13761.3“The mighty one [ . . . ]!”
  66. K13761.4Agi[l . . . ],
  67. K13761.5“The Creator of [the earth . . . ]!”
  68. K13761.6Zulummu . . . [ . . . ],
  69. K13761.7“The Giver of counsel and of whatsoever [ . . . ]!”
  70. K13761.8Mummu, “the Creator [of . . . ]!”
  71. K13761.9Mulil, the heavens [ . . . ],
  72. K13761.10“Who for . . . [ . . . ]!”
  73. K13761.11Giškul, let [ . . . ],
  74. K13761.12“Who brought the gods to naught [ . . . ]!”
  75. K13761.13Lugal-ab-[ . . . ],
  76. K13761.14“Who in [ . . . ]!”
  77. K13761.15Pap-[ . . . ],
  78. K13761.16“Who in [ . . . ]!”
  79. K13761.17[ . . . ]
  80. p. 105see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  81. K8519.1[ . . . ].
  82. Note King, p. 105: "The following lines are taken from the fragment K. 8,519 and its duplicate K. 13,337; this portion of the text was not separated by much from that preserved by K. 13,761."
  83. K8519.2[ . . . ] . . .
  84. K8519.3[ . . . “the Chief (?) of] all lords,”
  85. K8519.4[ . . . supreme] is his might!
  86. K8519.5[Lugal-durmaḫ, “the King] of the band of the gods,” “the Lord of rulers,”
  87. K8519.6“Who is exalted in a royal habitation,”
  88. K8519.7“[Who] among the gods is gloriously supreme!”
  89. K8519.8[Adu-nuna], “the Counsellor of Ea,” who created the gods his fathers,
  90. K8519.9Unto the path of whose majesty
  91. p. 107see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  92. K8519.10[No] god can ever attain!
  93. K8519.11[ . . . in] Dul-azag he made it known,
  94. K8519.12[ . . . ] pure is his dwelling!
  95. K8519.13[ . . . the . . . ] of those without understanding is Lugal-dul-azaga!
  96. K8519.14[ . . . ] supreme is his might!
  97. K8519.15[ . . . ] their [ . . . ] in the midst of Tiamat,
  98. K8519.16[ . . . ] . . . of the battle!
  99. 105[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ] him,
  100. Note King, p. 107: "The numbering of the following lines is based on the marginal numbers upon No. 91,139 + 93,073."
  101. 106[ . . . ] . . . the star, which [shineth in the heavens].
  102. 107May he hold the Beginning and the Future, may they pay homage unto him,
  103. 108Saying, “He who forced his way through the midst of Tiamat [without resting],
  104. p. 109see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  105. 109“Let his name be Nibiru, ‘the Seizer of the Midst’!
  106. 110“For the stars of heaven he upheld the paths,
  107. 111“He shepherded all the gods like sheep!
  108. 112“He conquered Tiamat, he troubled and ended her life,”
  109. 113In the future of mankind, when the days grow old,
  110. 114May this be heard without ceasing, may it hold sway for ever!
  111. 115Since he created the realm (of heaven) and fashioned the firm earth,
  112. p. 111see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  113. 116“The Lord of the World,” the father Bēl hath called his name.
  114. 117(This) title, which all the Spirits of Heaven proclaimed,
  115. 118Did Ea hear, and his spirit was rejoiced, (and he said):
  116. 119“He whose name his fathers have made glorious,
  117. 120“Shall be even as I, his name shall be Ea!
  118. 121“The binding of all my decrees shall he control,
  119. 122“All my commands shall he make known!”
  120. 123By the name of “Fifty” did the great gods
  121. 124Proclaim his fifty names, they made his path pre-eminent.

  122. Epilogue

  123. 125Let them be held in remembrance, and let the first man proclaim them;
  124. p. 113see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  125. 126Let the wise and the understanding consider them together!
  126. 127Let the father repeat them and teach them to his son;
  127. 128Let them be in the ears of the pastor and the shepherd!
  128. 129Let a man rejoice in Marduk, the Lord of the gods,
  129. 130That he may cause his land to be fruitful, and that he himself may have prosperity!
  130. 131His word standeth fast, his command is unaltered;
  131. 132The utterance of his mouth hath no god ever annulled.
  132. 133He gazed in his anger, he turned not his neck;
  133. 134When he is wroth, no god can withstand his indignation.
  134. 135Wide is his heart, broad is his compassion;
  135. p. 115see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
  136. 136The sinner and evil-doer in his presence [ . . . ].
  137. 137They received instruction, they spake before him,
  138. 138[ . . . ] unto [ . . . ].
  139. 139[ . . . ] of Marduk may the gods [ . . . ];
  140. 140[May] they [ . . . his] name [ . . . ]!
  141. 141[ . . . ] they took and [ . . . ];
  142. 142[ . . . ]!

Source: L. W. King, trans., The Seven Tablets of Creation, vol. 1 (London: Luzac and Co., 1902), pp. 93–115. Public domain in the United States (published 1902). Transcribed by AKASHA Archive from the page images (archive.org); last revised 2026-11-10.

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