1-11 In those days, in the days when heaven and earth were created; in those nights, in the nights when heaven and earth were created; in those years, in the years when the fates were determined; when the Anuna gods were born; when the goddesses were taken in marriage; when the goddesses were distributed in heaven and earth; when the goddesses ...... became pregnant and gave birth; when the gods were obliged (?) ...... their food ...... for their meals; the senior gods oversaw the work, while the minor gods were bearing the toil. The gods were digging the canals and piling up the silt in Harali. The gods, dredging the clay, began complaining about this life.

12-23 At that time, the one of great wisdom, the creator of all the senior gods, Enki lay on his bed, not waking up from his sleep, in the deep engur, in the flowing water, the place the inside of which no other god knows. The gods said, weeping: "He is the cause of the lamenting!" Namma, the primeval mother who gave birth to the senior gods, took the tears of the gods to the one who lay sleeping, to the one who did not wake up from his bed, to her son: "Are you really lying there asleep, and ...... not awake? The gods, your creatures, are smashing their ....... My son, wake up from your bed! Please apply the skill deriving from your wisdom and create a substitute (?) for the gods so that they can be freed from their toil!"

24-37 At the word of his mother Namma, Enki rose up from his bed. In Hal-an-kug, his room for pondering, he slapped his thigh in annoyance. The wise and intelligent one, the prudent, ...... of skills, the fashioner of the design of everything brought to life birth-goddesses (?). Enki reached out his arm over them and turned his attention to them. And after Enki, the fashioner of designs by himself, had pondered the matter, he said to his mother Namma: "My mother, the creature you planned will really come into existence. Impose on him the work of carrying baskets. You should knead clay from the top of the abzu; the birth-goddesses (?) will nip off the clay and you shall bring the form into existence. Let Ninmah act as your assistant; and let Ninimma, Cu-zi-ana, Ninmada, Ninbarag, Ninmug, ...... and Ninguna stand by as you give birth. My mother, after you have decreed his fate, let Ninmah impose on him the work of carrying baskets." 6 lines fragmentary

44-51 Enki ...... brought joy to their heart. He set a feast for his mother Namma and for Ninmah. All the princely birth-goddesses (?) ...... ate delicate reed (?) and bread. An, Enlil, and the lord Nudimmud roasted holy kids. All the senior gods praised him: "O lord of wide understanding, who is as wise as you? Enki, the great lord, who can equal your actions? Like a corporeal father, you are the one who has the me of deciding destinies, in fact you are the me."

52-55 Enki and Ninmah drank beer, their hearts became elated, and then Ninmah said to Enki: "Man's body can be either good or bad and whether I make a fate good or bad depends on my will."

56-61 Enki answered Ninmah: "I will counterbalance whatever fate -- good or bad -- you happen to decide." Ninmah took clay from the top of the abzu in her hand and she fashioned from it first a man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands. Enki looked at the man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king.

62-65 Second, she fashioned one who turned back (?) the light, a man with constantly opened eyes (?). Enki looked at the one who turned back (?) the light, the man with constantly opened eyes (?), and decreed his fate allotting to it the musical arts, making him as the chief ...... in the king's presence.

66-68 Third, she fashioned one with both feet broken, one with paralysed feet. Enki looked at the one with both feet broken, the one with paralysed feet and ...... him for the work of ...... and the silversmith and ....... ( 1 ms. has instead: She fashioned one, a third one, born as an idiot. Enki looked at this one, the one born as an idiot, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king.)

69-71 Fourth, she fashioned one who could not hold back his urine. Enki looked at the one who could not hold back his urine and bathed him in enchanted water and drove out the namtar demon from his body.

72-74 Fifth, she fashioned a woman who could not give birth. Enki looked at the woman who could not give birth, and decreed her fate: he made (?) her belong to the queen's household. ( 1 ms. has instead: ...... as a weaver, fashioned her to belong to the queen's household.)

75-78 Sixth, she fashioned one with neither penis nor vagina on its body. Enki looked at the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body and give it the name "Nibru eunuch (?)", and decreed as its fate to stand before the king.

79-82 Ninmah threw the pinched-off clay from her hand on the ground and a great silence fell. The great lord Enki said to Ninmah: "I have decreed the fates of your creatures and given them their daily bread. Come, now I will fashion somebody for you, and you must decree the fate of the newborn one!"

83-91 Enki devised a shape with head, ...... and mouth in its middle, and said to Ninmah: "Pour ejaculated semen into a woman's womb, and the woman will give birth to the semen of her womb." Ninmah stood by for the newborn ....... and the woman brought forth ...... in the midst ....... In return (?), this was Umul: its head was afflicted, its place of ...... was afflicted, its eyes were afflicted, its neck was afflicted. It could hardly breathe, its ribs were shaky, its lungs were afflicted, its heart was afflicted, its bowels were afflicted. With its hand and its lolling head it could not not put bread into its mouth; its spine and head were dislocated. The weak hips and the shaky feet could not carry (?) it on the field -- Enki fashioned it in this way.

92-101 Enki said to Ninmah: "For your creatures I have decreed a fate, I have given them their daily bread. Now, you should decree a fate for my creature, give him his daily bread too." Ninmah looked at Umul and turned to him. She went nearer to Umul asked him questions but he could not speak. She offered him bread to eat but he could not reach out for it. He could not lie on ......., he could not ....... Standing up he could not sit down, could not lie down, he could not ...... a house, he could not eat bread. Ninmah answered Enki: "The man you have fashioned is neither alive nor dead. He cannot support himself (?)."

102-111 Enki answered Ninmah: "I decreed a fate for the first man with the weak hands, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who turned back (?) the light, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man with broken, paralysed feet, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who could not hold back his urine, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the woman who could not give birth, I gave her bread. I decreed the fate for the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body, I gave it bread. My sister, ......." 2 lines fragmentary

112-121 Ninmah answered Enki: 9 lines fragmentary

122-128 (Ninmah's answer continues) "You (?) entered ....... Look, you do not dwell in heaven, you do not dwell on earth, you do not come out to look at the Land. Where you do not dwell but where my house is built, your words cannot be heard. Where you do not live but where my city is built, I myself am silenced (?). My city is ruined, my house is destroyed, my child has been taken captive. I am a fugitive who has had to leave the E-kur, even I myself could not escape from your hand."

129-139 Enki replied to Ninmah: "Who could change the words that left your mouth? Remove Umul from your lap ....... Ninmah, may your work be ......, you ...... for me what is imperfect; who can oppose (?) this? The man whom I shaped ...... after you ......, let him pray! Today let my penis be praised, may your wisdom be confirmed (?)! May the enkum and ninkum ...... proclaim your glory ....... My sister, the heroic strength ....... The song ...... the writing (?) ....... The gods who heard ...... let Umul build (?) my house ......."

140-141 Ninmah could not rival the great lord Enki. Father Enki, your praise is sweet!

Creation of Man Tablet Fragment

¹ud re-a-ta ud an ki-bi-ta ba-an-[dim₂-ma-ba]
²ji₆ re-a-ta ji₆ an ki-bi-ta /ba\-[an-dim₂-ma-ba]
³[mu re]-a-/ta\ mu nam ba-[tar-ra-ba]
⁴[^da]-/nun\-na-ke₄-ne ba-tu-ud-da-a-ba
^5dama-^dinana nam-NIR.PA-ce₃ ba-tuku-a-ba
^6dama-^dinana an ki-a ba-hal-hal-la-a-ba
^7dama-^dinana [...] ba-a-pec u₃-tu-da-a-ba
⁸dijir kurum₆-ma-bi A X X unu₂^?-bi-ce₃ ba-ab-KEC₂-a-<ba>
⁹dijir car₂-car₂ kij₂-ja₂ al-sug₂-ge-ec dijir tur-tur du₂-lum im-il₂-il₂-e-ne
¹⁰dijir id₂ <im> dun-dun-u₃-ne sahar-bi ha-ra-li im-dub-dub-be₂-ne
¹¹ dijir im-ur₅-ur₅-re-ne zi-bi inim am₃-ma-jar-re-ne
¹²ud-ba jectug₂ dajal mud dijir car₂-car₂ jal₂-jal₂
¹³en-ki-ke₄ engur buru₃ a sur-ra ki dijir na-me cag₄-bi u₆ nu-um-me
¹⁴ki-nu₂-ni i₃-nu₂ u₃ ku nu-um-zi-zi
¹⁵dijir er₂-ra im-pad-pad-ne a-nir jal₂ i₃-ak im-me-ne
¹⁶lu₂ ku-ra i₃-nu₂-a-ra ki-nu₂-bi nu-um-zi-zi-<ra>
^17dnamma-ke₄ ama palil u₃-tu dijir car₂-car₂-ra-ke₄-ne
¹⁸er₂-ra dijir-re-e-ne dumu-ni-ir ba-ci-in-de₆
¹⁹X mu-un-ci-nu₂-u₃-nam u₃ mu-un-ci-ku-ku-na-nam
²⁰[X]-TE BA [... nu-mu-un]-zi-zi
²¹dim₃-mi-ir cu dim₂-dim₂-ma-zu X gu₂^?-bi im-tu₁₀-tu₁₀-ne
²²du₅-mu-ju₁₀ ki-nu₂-zu zig₃-ga [i₃-bi₂]-ma-al-la-zu-ta na-aj₂-kug-zu u₃-mu-e-kij₂-ja₂
²³kij₂-sig₁₀ dim₃-mi-ir-e-ne-ke₄ u₃-mu-[e]-dim₂ du₂-lum-bi ha-ba-tu-lu-/ne\
^24den-ki-ke₄ inim ama-na ^dnamma-ke₄ ki-nu₂-na ba-ta-zig₃
²⁵hal-an-kug nijin₂ cag₄ kuc₂-u₃-da-na hac im-mi-/ni\-[ra]
²⁶jectug₂ jizzal en₃ tar [...] nam-kug-zu mud me-dim₂ nij₂-nam-ma SIG₇.EN.SIG₇.DUG₃ im-ta-an-e₃
^27den-ki-ke₄ a₂-ni ba-ci-in-de₆ jectug₂ i₃-ninni₂-e
^28den-ki-ke₄ mud me-dim₂ ni₂-te-a-na cag₄-bi jectu₂-ta u₃-mu-ni-ri-ge
²⁹ama-ni ^dnamma-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
³⁰ama-ju₁₀ mud mu-jar-ra-zu i₃-jal₂-la-am₃ zub-sig₃ dijir-re-e-ne KEC₂-i₃
³¹cag₄ im ugu abzu-ka u₃-mu-e-ni-in-car₂
³²SIG₇.EN.SIG₇.DUG₃ im mu-e-kir₃-kir₃-re-ne za-e me-dim₂ u₃-mu-e-ni-jal₂
^33dnin-mah-e an-ta-zu he₂-ak-e
^34dnin-imma ^dcu-zi-an-na ^dnin-ma-da ^dnin-barag {^dnin-barag}
^35dnin-mug ^dCAR.CAR.GABA ^dnin-gun₃-na
³⁶tu-tu-a-zu ha-ra-gub-bu-ne
³⁷ama-ju₁₀ za-e nam-bi u₃-mu-e-tar ^dnin-mah zub-sig₃-bi he₂-KEC₂
³⁸[...] i₃-du₃ nam-lu₂-ulu₃ [...]
³⁹[...]-ke₄^? nam-lu₂-ulu₃ am₃-[ma- ...]
⁴⁰[...] HA^? saj-e saj am₃-/ma\-[ ...]
⁴¹[...] dim₂-zu unu₆-RI-zu ga-a-/am₃\
⁴²[...] SAR-e jic-nu₁₁ mi-ni-in-il₂ nam-lu₂^?-[...]
⁴³[...] SIG₁₁ numun₂-e mi-ni-in-ri u₃-tu na-bi mu-ri
^44den-ki-ke₄ kij₂ ninni₂-da [X] mi-ni-in-la₂ cag₄-bi ba-hul₂
⁴⁵ama-ni ^dnamma ^dnin-mah-ce₃ jicbun na-am₃-ma-ni-in-jar
⁴⁶gu₂ SIG₇.EN.SIG₇.DU nun-ne-ke₄ nam-tar gi-saj ninda i-im-gu₇-e
⁴⁷an-e ^den-lil₂-bi en ^dnu-dim₂-mud-e mac kug i-im-cej₆-cej₆
⁴⁸dijir car₂-car₂-ra-ke₄-e-ne ka-tar i-im-si-il-le-ne
⁴⁹en jectug₂ dajal-la a-ba-a jectug₂ i₃-ri-ge
⁵⁰en gal ^den-ki-ke₄ nij₂-ak-ak-zu-ce₃ a-ba-a i₃-sig₁₀-ge
⁵¹a-a tu-da-gin₇ me nam tar-tar-ra me za-e al-me-en-na
^52den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-e kac im-na₈-na₈-ne cag₄-bi ul mu-un-te
^53dnin-mah-e ^den-ki-ra gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
⁵⁴me-dim₂ na-aj₂-lu₂-ulu₃-ta sag₉-ge hul ma-al-la-a-kam
⁵⁵ki cag₄-gi₄-a-ju₁₀ na-aj₂-tar bi₂-ib-sig₁₀-ge bi₂-ib-hul-e
^56den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-e mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
⁵⁷nam-tar cag₄-ge de₆-a-zu sag₉-ge hul ma-al ga-am₃-ci-ib₂-la₂
^58dnin-mah-e im ugu abzu-a cu-ni mu-ni-in-ti
⁵⁹lu₂ gi cu cu₂-cu₂ sa₂-sa₂-de₃ nu-gam lu₂-u₃ am₃-ma-ni-in-dim₂
^60den-ki-ke₄ lu₂ gi cu cu₂-cu₂ sa₂-sa₂-de₃ nu-gam igi du₈-a-ni-ta
⁶¹nam-bi i-ni-in-tar saj lugal-la-ke₄ am₃-ma-ni-in-gub
⁶²gi₄-bi jic-nu₁₁ gi₄-gi₄ lu₂ u₆ e am₃-ma-ni-in-dim₂
^63den-ki-ke₄ jic-nu₁₁ gi₄-gi₄ lu₂ u₆ e igi [du₈-a-ni-ta]
⁶⁴nam-bi i-ni-in-tar nam-nar mi-ni-in-ba
⁶⁵[X]-gal ucumgal-la igi lugal-la-ke₄ am₃-[ma]-ni-in-[gub]
⁶⁶pec-bi [jiri₃ 2] hum jiri₃ dab₅-ba-a [am₃-ma-ni-in-dim₂]
(1 ms. has instead: [lu₂] pec-bi lu₂-lil u₃-tu-bi lu₂-u₃ am₃-ma-[...])
^67den-[ki-ke₄] jiri₃ 2^! hum jiri₃ dab₅-ba igi [du₈-a-ni-ta]
(1 ms. has instead: ^den-ki-ke₄ lu₂-lil u₃-tu-bi lu₂-u₃ igi du₈-a-ni-/ta\)
⁶⁸kij₂-[...] ku₃-babbar-dim₂ me-lem₄-ma-ni /am₃\-[ma]-ni-in-[X]
(1 ms. has instead: nam-bi i-ni-/in-tar\ saj lugal-la-ke₄ im-ma-ci-in-gub)
⁶⁹pec-gi lu₂ a sur-sur-ra am₃-[ma]-ni-dim₂
^70den-ki-ke₄ lu₂ a sur-sur-ra igi du₈-a-ni-ta
⁷¹a tu₆-tu₆ mi-ni-in-tu₅ nam-tar su-bi am₃-ma-ni-in-zig₃
⁷²pec-pec-gi munus nu-u₃-tu am₃-ma-ni-in-dim₂
^73den-ki-ke₄ munus nu-u₃-tu igi du₈-a-ni-ta
⁷⁴nam-bi /mi\-ni-in-tar e₂-mi₂-a-ke₄ am₃-ma-ni-in-du₃ (1 ms. has instead: uc-bar mu-ni-in-du₈ e₂-mi₂-a-kam am₃-ma-ci-in-dim₂)
⁷⁵pec-bal-gi lu₂ su-ba jic₃ nu-jar gal₄-la nu-jar am₃-ma-ni-dim₂
^76den-ki-ke₄ lu₂ su-ba jic₃ nu-jar gal₄-la nu-jar igi du₈-a-ni-ta
^77dnibru^ki tiru(GAL.TE^?)-e mu-e mu-ni-in-sa₄-a
⁷⁸igi lugal-la-ke₄ gub-bu-de₃ nam-bi a-ma-ni-in-tar
^{79 d}nin-mah-e im nijin₂ cu-na ki-a mu-un-cub lul-ac lib mu-un-jar (1 ms. has instead: ^den-ki-ke₄ im cu nijin₂-na ki-a in-cub lul-ac i₃-ni-gi)
⁸⁰en gal ^den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-a-ra gu₃ mu-un-[na]-de₂-e
⁸¹lu₂ cu dim₂-ma-zu-ce₃ nam-bi i-ni-in-tar ninda i-ni-in-cum₂
⁸²je₂₆-e ga-na ga-mu-ra-ab-dim₂ za-e u₃-tu-bi nam-bi tar-ra-ab
^83den-ki-ke₄ me-dim₂ saj-ja₂ X-ga^? ka cag₄-ba a-ma-ni-dim₂
^84dnin-mah-a-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
⁸⁵a jic₃-ak cag₄ munus-a-ka ri-a (1 ms. has instead: a gan cag₄ munus-a-ka) a cag₄-ga-na munus-bi mu-un-u₃-tu
^86dnin-mah [...] u₃-tu-bi-ce₃ am₃-mi-ni-gub
⁸⁷munus-bi ud-bi [...] ga AC X KA cag₄-ba i-in-cub (1 ms. has instead: saj-bi-ic [ba]-/ra\-an-ed₂)
^dnin-[mah] [...] i₃-si-ig
⁸⁸gi₄-bi u₄-mu-ul a-za-ad-bi gig-ga ki-nam-X-bi gig-ga igi-bi gig-ga gu₂-bi gig-ga
⁸⁹zi til-til ti sur-sur mur gig-ga cag₄ gig-ga lipic gig-ga
⁹⁰cu-bi^!(ni) a-za-ad la₂-la₂ ka-bi-ce₃ ninda nu-jar murgu₂ [saj]-du ze₂-re
⁹¹zag-ce sur jiri₃ sur-sur a-gar₃ nu-DU am₃-ma-ni-/in\-dim₂
^92den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-ra gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
⁹³lu₂ cu dim₂-ma-zu nam i-ni-in-tar ninda mi-ni-[cum₂]
⁹⁴za-e lu₂ cu dim₂-ju₁₀-uc nam-bi tar-ra-ab ninda he₂-[...-cum₂]
^95dnin-mah-e u₄-mu-ul igi [du₈-a-ni-ta e-ne]-ce₃ ba-e-gi₄
⁹⁶u₄-mu-ul mu-na-te en₃ mu-na-tar-tar-re du₁₁-ga nu-zu-e
⁹⁷ninda gu₇-a-ni-ce₃ mu-na-ab-de₆ cu nu-mu-na-da-gid₂-/de₃\
^98jicgur₈-u₆ cag₄^? nu-mu-na-nu₂ nu-mu-da-an-jal₂-jal₂
⁹⁹gub [nu]-mu-da-tuc nu-mu-da-nu₂ e₂ nu-mu-da-[X] ninda nu-mu-da-[gu₇]
^100dnin-mah-e ^den-ki-ra inim-ma mu-[...-gi₄-gi₄]
¹⁰¹lu₂ cu dim₂-ma-zu lu₂ til₃-la in-nu lu₂ [ug₅-ga] /in\-nu il₂-bi nu-mu-da
^102den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-e mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
¹⁰³lu₂ gi cu sig-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-cum₂
¹⁰⁴lu₂ jic-nu₁₁ gi₄-gi₄-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-cum₂
¹⁰⁵/lu₂\ jiri₃ hum dab₅-ra nam mi-ni-tar ninda mi-ni-in-cum₂
¹⁰⁶lu₂-a [sur-sur]-ra nam mi-ni-tar [ninda mi-ni-in-cum₂]
¹⁰⁷munus nu-[u₃-tu]-ra nam mi-ni-tar /ninda\ mi-ni-/in\-[cum₂]
¹⁰⁸lu₂ [su-ba jic₃ nu-jar gal₄-la nu-jar]-ra nam mi-ni-[tar ninda mi-ni-in-cum₂]
¹⁰⁹nin₉-ju₁₀ [...]
¹¹⁰[...]
¹¹¹A [...]
^112dnin-[mah-e] [^den-ki-ra gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e]
¹¹³aj₂-[...]
¹¹⁴aj₂-/ja₂\ [...]
¹¹⁵ma-a [...]
¹¹⁶aj₂-ja₂ [...]
¹¹⁷aj₂-ja₂ [...]
¹¹⁸aj₂-[ga₂] X [...]
¹¹⁹[...]
¹²⁰[...]
¹²¹[...] X X DU [...]
¹²²[...] NI DU AG₂ TAG-ce₃ [mu-ni]-/in\-kur₉-re
¹²³a₂-ce₃ an nu-mu-e-tuc ki nu-[mu-e]-tuc i-bi₂ il₂-la-zu ka-na-aj₂-ja₂ nu-ed₂-en
¹²⁴ki za-e nu-tuc-en e₂-ju₁₀ du₃-a inim-zu mu (1 ms. has instead: jic) nu-tuku
¹²⁵ki za-e nu-til₃-en iri-ju₁₀ du₃-a nij₂-ju₁₀ lib ba-sig₉-ge-en
¹²⁶[uru]-ju₁₀ gel-le-ej₃-ja₂ e₂-ju₁₀ gul-la du₅-mu-<ju₁₀> (1 ms. has instead: dumu-ju₁₀) cu dab₅-ba
¹²⁷[lu₂]-kar-ra-jen e₂-kur-ta ed₂-jen (1 ms. has instead: ed₂-a)
¹²⁸ud me-e nij₂-ju₁₀ cu-zu-ta cu la-ba-ra-ed₂
^129den-ki-ke₄ ^dnin-mah-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
¹³⁰inim ka-zu ed₂-a a-ba-a i₃-kur₂-re
¹³¹u₄-mu-ul X-tu dab₅-ba ur₂-zu-ta cu jal₂-ab-ta
^132dnin-mah^? kij₂-ja₂-zu he₂-bi₂-la₂-la₂ cu nu-du₇ ma-dab₅ a-ba-am₃ saj mu-un-ja₂-ja₂
¹³³lu₂ me^?-dim₂^?-ju₁₀ ejir-zu-ce₃ tuku-a ka-bi cu he₂-bi₂-jal₂
¹³⁴ud-da jic₃-ju₁₀ me-tec₂ ha-ba-i-i jectug₂ ri-ge-zu he₂-jal₂
¹³⁵enkum ninkum
¹³⁶ud-X jiri₃ cub-cub gu₂ nam-bi-[...] ka-tar-zu he₂-[si-il]-le-ne
¹³⁷nin₉-ju₁₀ a₂ nam-ur-saj-ja₂ [...] DU
¹³⁸cir₃ [...] nam-dub^? [...]
¹³⁹dijir jic tuku-a-bi u₄-mu-ul du₃^? [...] e₂-ju₁₀ he₂-ak-[e]
^140dnin-mah-e en-gal ^den-ki-ke₄ zag nu-mu-ni-in-du
¹⁴¹a-a ^den-ki za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga