BY TORSTEN SCHWANKE
Let every breath praise Jah with joyful sound,
Let praises for Jehovah now abound.
My mouth shall speak the glory of His name,
Let all the flesh His holy worth proclaim.
The silent dead within the earth must lie,
They cannot lift a song to God on high;
But we shall bless the Lord with every breath,
From this time forth and past the gates of death.
O house of Israel, bless the Lord of light,
O house of Aaron, praise His holy might.
O house of Levi, let your songs arise,
You worshipers, send praise unto the skies.
From Zion’s hill let blessings now proceed,
Where God in fair Jerusalem takes heed.
You kings and people, join the holy throng,
You judges, princes, raise a righteous song;
Both youth and maiden, child and aged head,
Let all His name with holy reverence dread.
For He alone is high above the rest,
O’er earth and sky His glory is confessed.
He gives His people victory and grace,
The faithful ones who seek His holy face.
Praise Jah, you servants who within His gate,
Inside the courts of God’s own temple wait.
Sing to the Lord, for He is good and kind,
In Him a gracious mercy we shall find.
For Jacob was the choice of God’s own hand,
And Israel His treasure in the land.
We know the Lord is great above all kings,
The Source from which all life and power springs.
Thy name, O Lord, shall through the ages stay,
Thy memory shall never fade away.
For He shall save His folk from every foe,
And to His servants tender mercy show.
From rising sun until the day is done,
Jehovah’s name is praised by everyone.
High o’er the nations is His seat of power,
His glory shines beyond the highest tower.
Who is like God, who dwells in heights unknown,
Yet looks on earth from His celestial throne?
He lifts the poor and needy from the dust,
And seats them with the princes of the just.
The barren wife He gives a joyful home,
Where happy children nevermore shall roam.
Cry to the Lord, let all the earth rejoice,
And serve the King with glad and willing voice.
Know that the Lord is God, the One who made
Our very souls, and in whose light we stayed.
We are His sheep, the people of His fold;
Enter His gates with thanks and stories told.
For God is good, His mercy shall endure,
His truth to every age remains most sure.
Praise Jah, my soul, throughout my living days,
While I exist, I’ll offer up my praise.
Put not your trust in princes of the earth,
For mortal men are of a fleeting worth.
Their breath departs, they turn again to clay,
Their thoughts and plans all perish in a day.
But blest is he whose help is Jacob’s God,
Who trusts the One who marked the stars and sod.
The Lord shall reign while endless ages run,
Thy God, O Zion, brighter than the sun.
Not unto us, O Lord, give no renown,
But to Thy name bestow the glory’s crown.
Why should the heathen ask in mock despair,
"Where is their God, and where His holy care?"
O Israel, trust the Lord, your strength and shield,
To Him let Aaron’s house their service yield.
You who adore Him, trust His mighty arm,
Your shield and help against all mortal harm.
The Lord remembers us with leaning grace,
To bless the tribes of Israel’s chosen race.
On Aaron’s house His favor shall descend,
To all who fear Him, He shall be a friend.
The small and great alike His hand shall lift,
To you and to your seed He gives His gift.
Be blessed by Him who made the earth and sky,
The Lord of Hosts who reigns in majesty.
How blest the nation where the Lord is King,
The heirs who make His praise their everything!
O Lord, let mercy fall from heaven above,
As we have placed our trust within Thy love.
Jehovah reigns! Let all the earth be glad,
Let distant coasts in robes of joy be clad.
Sing to the Lord a song both new and bright,
Proclaim to every land His kingly right.
Clap hands, you nations, shout a triumph cry,
For God is terrible and throned on high.
A mighty King o’er all the earth is He,
To judge the folk with truth and equity.
He binds the kings of earth with iron chains,
And executes the judgment He ordains.
The shields of earth belong to God alone,
Who sits exalted on His holy throne.
Give glory to the Lord on Zion’s hill,
And bow before His high and holy will.
For holiness becomes His house for aye,
A light that nevermore shall fade away.
"Upon my holy mount," the Lord has said,
"I set my King with glory on His head."
How vast Thy works, O Lord, in wisdom planned,
Created by Thy sure and steady hand!
While I have life, my voice to Him I’ll raise,
And spend my days in meditation’s praise.
How glorious is Thy name in every place,
Whose majesty exceeds the bounds of space!
When I behold the heavens Thy fingers wrought,
The moon and stars—the creatures of Thy thought—
What then is man, that Thou shouldst care for him,
Or crown his head among the seraphim?
Thou gavest him the rule of sea and land,
The works created by Thy mighty hand;
The sheep and oxen, beasts that roam the field,
The birds and fish to him their homage yield.
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent Thy name,
Which all the reaches of the earth proclaim!
My fainting soul desires Thy dwelling place,
To stand within Thy courts and see Thy face.
How glad was I to hear the people say,
"Come, let us seek the house of God today."
Our feet shall stand within thy gates at last,
Jerusalem, so beautiful and vast!
A city built compact and firm and fair,
The tribes of Jah ascend to worship there.
There stand the thrones of David’s royal line,
To execute the law of the Divine.
Pray for the peace of Zion’s holy wall,
May prosperity attend thy palace hall.
For all my brothers' sake, my heart shall cry:
"May peace within thy borders ever lie."
Because the house of God is found in thee,
I’ll seek thy good through all eternity.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
Where Zion’s holy mountain high is raised.
Within her halls is God a fortress known;
The gathering kings against her gates were shown.
They marched together, looked, and stood amazed,
Then fled in terror as the glory blazed.
As labor pains a woman’s body tear,
They shook with pangs of sudden, dark despair;
As when the eastern wind with mighty force
Smashes the ships of Tarshish in its course.
What we have heard, we now have seen as true:
God’s city stands forever fair and new.
Within Thy temple, Lord, we pause to trace
The quiet wonders of Thy loving grace.
Thy name is great, Thy praise shall never end,
Thy right hand shall the cause of truth defend.
Let Zion’s mount and Judah’s towns be glad,
In garments of Thy great deliverance clad.
Walk about Zion, count her towers high,
Mark well her walls that reach toward the sky;
Observe her palaces, that you may tell
The coming race that God is known here well.
Our God is He, forever to remain;
Until our death, He shall our steps sustain.
On holy hills her deep foundations lie,
Upheld by Him who dwells above the sky.
The Lord loves Zion’s gates and holy ways
More than the homes where Jacob spent his days.
Of thee, O City, glorious things are told;
Thy name is written in the books of old.
In Egypt, Babylon, and Philistine,
The sparks of Zion’s holy birth shall shine.
From Tyre and Cush the word shall travel forth:
"This man was born within her sacred north."
"Sit at my right," the Lord’s decree began,
"Until Thy foes are subject to Thy plan."
Why do the nations rage with empty pride,
And plot against the Lord, their kingly guide?
"Let us," they cry, "break every silver band,
And cast His cords away from off the land."
But He who sits in heaven shall only smile;
The Lord derides their vanity and guile.
In holy wrath the Lord shall speak His mind:
"My King on Zion’s hill I have designed."
The Lord has said: "Thou art my chosen Son,
This day Thy royal reign has just begun.
Ask of my hand, and every distant shore
Shall be Thy heritage forevermore.
With iron rod Thou shalt the nations break,
Like potter’s clay that shatters for Thy sake."
Be wise, O kings, and judges of the earth;
Serve Him with fear and recognize His worth.
With trembling joy, approach the Son’s decree,
Lest in His wrath you perish utterly.
His anger kindles fast, a burning flame;
But blest are those who trust His holy name.
O Lord, the firstborn, mighty Nunamir,
Prince of the gods, whom all the battles fear!
O Nergal, strong, the Queen’s own noble heir,
Who walks the heavens in the highest air.
In Hades great, among the gods Thy word
With Ea’s counsel is in favor heard.
With Sin the moon, Thou seest all below;
To Thee the black-haired race their homage owe.
O Lord and firstborn, Marduk’s royal seed,
O Nebo, whom the gods in honor lead!
O perfect Son of Bel, of Isara,
Who shines like gold beneath the morning star!
O Nergal, prince of war and high renown,
Receive the song and wear the ancient crown!
O Mighty One of Eridu, the Strong,
To whom the honors of the deep belong;
The noble Firstborn, Ea’s pride and grace,
Who holds within the stars His dwelling place.
Lord of Ezida, Borsippa’s sure shield,
To whom the hearts of kings and subjects yield.
O Marduk, Power, making hearts rejoice,
Whom Babylon obeys with willing voice.
O Father Nannar, Lord of Ur the Great,
Who sits as Head of Gods in royal state;
In Nippur’s halls Thy counsel is the guide,
Where wisdom and the ancient truths abide.
And Shamash, King of earth and heaven’s height,
Who rules the world below with solar light;
Above all gods Thy head is lifted high,
The sole exalted power in the sky.
O Sin, O Nannar, unique is Thy light,
Which bathes the nations in the dark of night;
And Sarpanitum, Star of shining grace,
Whose luminous attire adorns her face.
Across the heavens and the earth she goes,
While from her height a radiant beauty flows.
Lord of the Dark, who opens heaven’s eye,
Whose illumination fills the evening sky.
When Shamash comes from out the mountain's crest,
From springs of life and destiny’s bequest,
Where earth and heaven meet at foundations deep,
And all the world wakes from its silent sleep.
And holy Ishtar, Heroine of old,
Whose place is set in heavens bright and bold;
With Ninib, perfect in His martial art,
Who understands the secrets of the heart.
The power to give the dead their life again,
To loose the captive from his iron chain,
Is in Thy hand, O Shamash; when You gaze,
The sick arise and walk in joyful ways.
The sufferer is saved from all his woe,
When on his face Thy golden features glow.
O purge my sin, and wash my guilt away,
Take off my shame and lead me to the day.
The man who bears a heavy load of sin,
You grant him peace and find the soul within.
The law of men is guided by Thy hand,
The righteous wisdom of every ancient land.
The pious and the wicked both You know,
On just men’s heads You make Thy honor grow;
But like a wolf You tear the evil mind,
Leaving the wreckage of the dark behind.
The magic and the spit of life are Thine,
The ocean’s pure enchantment and design.
O Nusku, burning with a holy fire,
Consume the witch upon a funeral pyre!
The sorcerer and sorceress shall fall,
Their lives destroyed beyond the city wall.
But he who fell, You lift him from the dust,
With judgments that are merciful and just.
O Bel, in Babylon Thy house is found,
With Borsippa as Thy crown and holy ground.
Thy name is sweet upon the people’s tongue,
By every nation shall Thy praise be sung.
O Ishtar, where is not Thy decree heard?
What land has not been shaken by Thy word?
What temple is not built to honor Thee?
What soul is not bowed to Thy majesty?
To Lady of all Ladies, now I pray,
Be gracious to Thy servant on this day.
Unto the King who fears Thy name is given
A destiny that shines as bright as heaven.
Who takes no bribe, who cares for those in need,
In Shamash’ sight is doing well indeed.
His life shall lengthen and his house shall stand,
A princely dwelling in a peaceful land.
But he who lends his gold with usury,
What profit gains he from his treachery?
He cheats himself of every honest gain,
And finds his purse is emptied by his pain.
O Gods of old, O Light of heaven and earth,
Receive this song of Thy eternal worth.
O Lord of Sumer, figs to Thee we bring,
To grace Thy dwelling, O Eternal King.
Thy city Nippur, never cast away,
Calls out for peace to crown her every day.
Sippar and Babylon, Thy homes of rest,
Cry out for peace, that they might still be blest.
Look on Thy house and city with Thine eyes,
And hear the prayers that from Thy people rise.
Return, O Lord, and enter through Thy door,
That joy may dwell within forevermore.
Rise up, O Bel! The King awaits Thy face;
Rise up, Belit, and show Thy queenly grace.
From Babylon He comes, the lands bow low,
While fragrant gums and cypress incense glow.
Unrivaled are Thy walls, Thy city fair,
Thy name is raised in Ekur's holy air.
Thy Word, when stretched across the foaming deep,
Makes every wave in sudden terror leap;
It reaches to the marshes and the fen,
And wakes a wail from every hidden glen.
In heaven's height the Igigi must fall,
On earth the Annunaki hear Thy call.
Like storming winds, Thy Word makes plenty grow,
And causes truth and righteousness to flow.
It makes the spirit stable, strong, and fat,
And blesses every living habitat.
As distant as the sky or hidden world,
Thy Word is like a banner never furled.
No mortal man can know its deep design,
Or find a measure for its power divine.
O Son of Bel, whom Isara has bred,
In Ekur’s feast Thou liftest up Thy head.
The laws of all the gods are in Thy hand,
The judge of every soul in every land.
You lead the man who wanders without guide,
And stay forever by the sufferer's side.
You take the weak and raise the bent of frame,
And heal the flesh that sickness sought to tame.
You purge the sinner, wash away his stain,
And turn to joy the protective god's disdain.
O Shamash, as You climb the middle height,
May heaven’s doors receive Thy holy light.
May Justice, Thy messenger, lead the way,
And bring the glory of the coming day.
In Ebarra, Thy seat of sovereign power,
Let majesty define each passing hour.
May Thy beloved wife before Thee stand,
While banquets wait for Thee at Thy command.
Heroic warrior, run Thy steady course,
With all the power of Thy solar force.
O Judge of worlds, whose word is sure and deep,
Who wakes the mortals from their silent sleep.
On Thy bright face the Annunaki gaze,
The nations find their guidance in Thy rays.
With lifted heads they seek Thy golden spark,
The only light that triumphs o'er the dark.
O Sin, O Nannar, unique is Thy flame,
Which gives to human art its noble name.
As brilliant as the fire, Thy silver glow
Fills all the reaches of the earth below.
The mortals grow in strength to see Thy face,
O Anu of the sky, whose path we trace.
The destiny of worlds is in Thy hand,
By Thy decree the nations fall or stand.
The warrior-flood, the foe’s own heavy doom,
The Lord of Death who rises from the gloom.
From Shitlam’s gate the Great Controller nears,
To strike the hostile land with sudden fears.
The Mighty Lord, the Ruler of the deep,
Whose awful power makes the nations weep.
My son, you storm with eyes that see it all,
With vision from above, You hear the call;
O Ramman, God of Tempest, high and wide,
With heavenly sight You take Your sovereign stride.
Like seven demons through the air You fly,
A dark and driving vision in the sky.
O let Thy sonorous voice give forth its sound,
While lightning from Thy messenger is found.
Go forth, my son! Who walks beside Thy way?
The Father watches through the weary day.
With small and heavy hail You are prepared,
What mortal foe has ever against Thee dared?
Let stones of fire and ice upon them fall,
For none can stand against Thy battle call.
O Father Nannar, Anshar, Lord of Light,
The Chief of Gods who rules the starry night.
O Nannar, Anu, Sin, and Lord of Ur,
Whose perfect reign shall evermore endure.
In robes of majesty You step abroad,
The brilliant Head of Gods, the lunar Lord.
O Nebo, unmatched is Thy power and might,
Thy house Ezida shines with holy light.
Borsippa is a city past compare,
And Babylon is blessed beyond Thy prayer.
Thy weapon is a dragon, strange and good,
That spills no poison and that sheds no blood.
O Ninib, perfect in Thy self-regard,
A warrior-god and heaven’s mighty guard.
O Bel, whose strength no equal ever knew,
The gracious King, the Lord of lands and dew.
In highest heaven is Thy dwelling place,
Yet Hades knows the glory of Thy face.
With Ea’s counsel is Thy wisdom stayed,
With Sin You see the world that You have made.
O Nergal, Warrior of the dreadful name,
With radiant face and mouth of burning flame.
The son of Bel, the guardian of the gate,
In majesty and splendor, high and great.
The Annunaki tremble at Thy glare,
O Lord of Ekur, hear our humble prayer.
A giant tall, who pours out venom deep,
With raging demons who Thy vigil keep.
With effective strike and power in Thy hand,
A cowering demon waits at Thy command.
O Sword-God, at whose sound the prisons shake,
Whose presence makes the gates of Hades break.
You walk by night where ancient spirits dwell,
The zissing whip of heaven’s citadel.
Whose strength is overwhelming and complete,
Who tramples every foe beneath His feet.
O fire-god, raging through the rebel land,
A storm-flood moving at Thy great command.
Who knows Thy name, O flood of golden grain?
Who waters all the harvest with Thy rain?
O Bull of Shitlam, Prince of Erech’s pride,
The Lord of Kutha, where the ghosts abide.
Who is like Thee, or who can rival Thee?
None is Thy equal in Thy majesty.
In heaven’s sacred boat You sail alone,
By Thy own glory is Thy power known.
O Father Nannar, Lord of Ur and Moon,
The son of Enlil, heaven’s greatest boon.
When You arise before the eyes of Bel,
With glorious light that none can parallel,
You track Your path across the starry flood,
A silver ship above the fields of mud.
In Your ascending and Your journey’s end,
To Thy bright rising let our songs ascend.
Hail to the One who rises every day,
In kingly pride to light the world's dark way!
The light of heaven, like a flame You rise,
To cast a fire across the earthly skies.
O Goddess, like the solid earth You stand,
With truth and justice in Your steady hand.
A leopard poised to strike the trembling lamb,
A lion on the plains—the great "I am."
O stormy Maid, the ornament of blue,
The sparkling gems are all adorned by You.
The sister of the Sun, with splendor crowned,
In whom the omens of the world are found.
Beside the Father and the Brother's light,
I rise in perfection through the night;
I, Ishtar, Goddess of the Evening Star,
Whose praise and pride are echoed from afar.
O Ramman, glorious Bull with mighty name,
Whose exalted power sets the world aflame!
The Lord of Karkar, Bull of heavy sound,
In whom the floods of plenty are all found.
Companion of Lord Ea, Bull of power,
Who overcomes the tempest in its hour.
The Lion of the sky, the Storm-God bold,
Whose majesty is like a cloth of gold.
Thy thunder shakes the Father of the Hill,
Thy grolling makes the Mother’s heart grow still.
The young lion leaves the city for the fray,
To sweep the ancient mountains on His way.
And Assur, King of Kings, who knows all things,
Beneath whose shadow every nation sings.
His greatness I shall praise with every breath,
To save his holy memory from death.
The Builder of the mountains and the sky,
On whose commands the distant worlds rely.
Assur, who made the gods and goddesses,
Whose deep understanding forever blesses.
"Let every ear now hear," the heavens cry,
"That I have set thy throne beneath the sky."
May Assur’s name be known and held as dear,
As later generations learn to fear.
Then Nusku, messenger of Bel, was sent,
To greet Ninib where'er the warrior went:
"O kriegerisch Lord, who knows His own great soul,
Whose blinding light makes every spirit whole.
Thy chariot shakes the earth with thunderous sound,
And darkness follows where Thy hand is found."
The Annunaki shrink in sudden dread,
To see the glory circling round Thy head.
"I am the King who shines like Anu’s light,
The chosen one of sovereign power and might!
The warrior who, at Ea’s high command,
Goes forth to battle for the holy land.
Against my glory, who shall dare to rise,
When I am clad in power of the skies?
The storm-god with his fifty mouths I bear,
To scatter all my enemies in despair."
"A mountain-breaking storm is in my hand,
A gnall-less gale to sweep the rebel land.
A dragon-weapon, hungry for the slain,
To drench the desert with a crimson rain.
The heavy sword of Anu I shall wield,
Until the mountains and the nations yield."
Am I not Belit, child of Bel the high?
Do I not rule, a warrior in the sky?
Am I not Goddess, Ishtar in my name,
The warlike daughter of celestial fame?
Exalted child of Bel, I stand alone;
The churning waters turn to murky stone.
The fires I kindle never cease to burn;
To me the Earth and Heavens both must turn.
He gave into my hand the double fold;
The cities I destroy, no man shall hold.
The lands of foes are shattered by my word;
In Earth and Heaven, no higher voice is heard.
When I lift up my hand, the Heavens rest,
And mighty powers plead at my behest.
I am the first; no hand that fights with mine
Shall ever hope to conquer or outshine.
My heavy pace makes all the world resound;
No rival foot shall stand upon my ground.
Who goes before me, or who waits behind?
From my keen gaze, what soul can shelter find?
When I rush forth in fury and in might,
Who lives to flee the terror of my sight?
Exalted daughter, born of Bel’s own blood,
Of father Sin, the noble, heroic flood.
To Ea’s side as lawful wife I go;
I lift the aged and the bent with woe.
Who is like Ishtar, equal in her power?
Who dares compare with me in this great hour?
A Goddess and a Mistress, I command;
Small things and great I root out from the land.
When in the heart of battle I am placed,
With brave and valiant arm and courage graced,
I am the strength of heroes in the fray;
I charge behind to seize the victor’s day.
And when the evening sky begins to glow,
I fill the firmament for all below.
The stars take root in fear when I appear;
The deep-sea fish are struck with sudden fear.
I sit in Heaven’s height and send the rain;
On Earth I walk to wake the greening grain.
Who is my equal? Search the world around;
Where can a peer for Ishtar e'er be found?
My first name: Ishtar, queen of ancient light.
My second: Lady of the Land’s great might.
My third: The High, who makes the mountains shake.
My fourth: The Flaming Fire in my wake.
Who is my equal? Who is like to me?
The small and great I pluck from land and sea.
Radiant Goddess, overwhelming tide,
In ancient days my name was magnified.
In every land and temple, far and wide,
The name of Ishtar ever shall abide.
Who raised the man of conquest from the East?
Who gave him kings and made the nations feast?
'Tis He who calls the ages from their birth;
The First, the Last, the Master of the Earth.
I am Jehovah, that is mine alone;
No idol takes the glory of my throne.
Beyond me there is none who lives to save;
I spoke the word and rescued from the grave.
No foreign god among you takes my part;
I am the one who searched and knew your heart.
I form the light, I bid the darkness grow;
I fashion peace and cause the heavy woe.
Now Ramman heeds the word his father spoke;
The young and roaring lion’s silence broke.
Forth from the house, the city, and the gate,
The storm of thundering voice begins to wait.
The Lord in anger makes the Heavens reel;
The Earth is trembling at his chariot wheel.
The mighty mountains crumble in his path;
The gods retreat before his rising wrath.
To highest heights and deepest depths they flee,
To hide from Ramman’s thunderous decree.
The reins of conflict and the heat of fight
Are held by Marduk’s hand of sovereign might;
The Leader of the Gods, at whose fierce glare
The Heavens shake and Deepest Depths despair.
From his great weapon every god recoils;
No foe withstands his fury or his toils.
The mighty Lord, who finds no rival peer
When in the Council all the gods appear.
In heaven's bright expanse his course is run;
In Ekur’s halls, his holy will is done.
Within the storm his burning weapons flash,
To level mountains with a lightning crash.
He tames the surging ocean's vast retreat;
The Son of Esara, in war complete.
From deeps below he rules the race of men;
The Heavens tremble at his bow again.
Thy word is like a high and sprawling net,
O’er Earth and Heaven is its shadow set.
It turns toward the sea, the waters quake;
It turns toward the marsh, the reeds must shake.
The Great Euphrates feels the word descend;
The very soil is stirred at Marduk’s bend.
Exalted Lord, who is like unto thee?
Thy word a net that binds the land and sea.
The Seer trembles when the word is cast;
The Sorcerer is struck by such a blast.
To men in grief, it brings a mourning cry;
To women in distress, a heavy sigh.
It ruins lands when whispered soft and low;
It shatters houses with a mighty blow.
Like vessels sealed, his thoughts are hidden deep;
Who can the secrets of his wisdom keep?
The inner word remains beyond our tread;
The outer word is crushed by man in dread.
His word brings sickness to the mortal frame;
It blights the land and puts the strong to shame.
Below, the warrior Nergal stamps the floor;
He drives the ten and five from every door.
The Word of God, when speeding through the height,
Disturbs my soul and fills my heart with fright.
Because its power works to lay us low,
I lift my voice in bitterness and woe.
The heavens darken at his high command;
His word is mighty throughout all the land.
In Ekur's halls thy name is lifted high;
In Babylon, the King of Crown drew nigh.
Beside the Ocean’s door he built his seat;
The land with joy and singing is replete.
His head is like the heaven he has reared;
A house of glory, by the nations feared.
There Nebo and Sarpanitum reside,
In golden luxury and holy pride.
So fair the site, the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion gives the Great King’s city birth.
He who rejects the bribe and helps the frail
Shall find that Shamash makes his life prevail.
O Flaming God, who sees the mountain height,
Thou Fire-Lord, who pierces through the night!
Who leads the rivers through the mountain's crest,
And opens springs at thy divine behest!
What then is man, that thou shouldst hold him dear?
The son of man, that thou shouldst draw so near?
The Law of God is perfect for the soul;
His witness makes the simple mind be whole.
His statutes right the heart and bring delight;
While idols sit in blindness and in night.
They have their mouths, but words they cannot speak;
They have their eyes, but see not those who seek.
When thou dost rise, in heaven thou art King;
To thee, Wise Counselor, the gods shall cling!
O Father Ramman, Lord who tames the gale,
Exalted is the name we bid thee hail!
Jehovah, Lord, how glorious is thy fame,
When all the earth acknowledges thy name!
His blessing falls, and every distant shore
Shall learn to fear his name forevermore.
Who is the King of Glory, strong and great?
Jehovah, Lord of War, in royal state!
Thou walkest high where heaven’s arches bend;
In lower worlds, thy greatness has no end.
All living things are kept beneath thy care;
Thou art the guard of earth and upper air.
Thy word is more than gold or refined prize,
And sweeter than the honey to our eyes.
The Lord has made his great salvation known;
Before the tribes his righteousness is shown.
He keeps his mercy for old Jacob’s race,
And grants to Israel his loyal grace.
O Lord, who is like thee? Who can compare?
What mighty one such majesty can share?
When thou dost call, the inner people fall;
When thou dost cry, the outer die at call.
Sing praise to God, sing songs to him on high;
Sing to our King beneath the vaulted sky.
Let every nation thank thee for thy light;
Let all the peoples praise thy holy might.
Thy father Bel has granted thee the might
To hold the law of every god in sight.
From every land the many tongues arise;
Thou know’st their paths and watchest with thine eyes.
The mountains rose, the valleys fell away
To find the place where thou didst bid them stay.
Sing to the Lord a new and wondrous song,
His holy arm and hand have made him strong.
I said: Ye all are gods of highest birth,
Yet ye shall die like men upon the earth;
Like fallen demons, ye shall sink to dust,
For in the silence, none can put their trust.
The dead praise not the Lord, nor feel his grace,
But we shall bless him through all time and space.
The righteous head by Shamash is renowned;
The wolf-like wicked by his hand is bound.
O Mighty Bull, thy name is bright and high;
How art thou called, Great God of earth and sky?
With vision raised, thou stormest in thy pride;
Who can withstand or turn thy step aside?
O Israel, trust the Lord, thy help and shield;
To Him, O House of Aaron, ever yield.
Ye who do fear Him, in His strength abide;
He is your helper and your faithful guide.
She who was great in ancient days of old,
I am that Ishtar, by the earth extolled.
O Lord, who is like thee? What peer is found?
Who can compare where thy great deeds abound?
Who is my equal? Who like me can stand?
Who is like Ishtar throughout all the land?
Who is like God, who sits upon the throne,
Yet stoops to make the lowly earth His own?
How many are thy works, O Lord of might!
In wisdom hast thou brought them all to light.
O Damkina, the Queen of gods above,
The wife of Ea, whom the heroes love.
Am I not Belit, daughter of the King?
O son of Isara, thy praise we sing.
First-born of Marduk, son of royal grace,
Exalted scion of a holy race.
Thy father’s favor set thee far apart;
O sister of the Sun, the heaven’s art.
O Sin, the bright and ever-shining light;
O Nannar, born to Ekur's holy height.
Lord, great and high, from Nunnammir’s descent,
To whom the queenly Kutushar has bent.
O Shamash, thou art Bel and Anu’s stay;
I am the one whom Anu chose today.
Among the gods, thy glory is made plain;
By Bel’s decree, thou holdest sovereign reign.
O Nebo, bearer of the fates on high,
Who brings the word of Bel from out the sky.
A power mid the gods, thy strength is great;
O Marduk, master of the divine state!
O Damkina! No rival meets thy gaze
When in the Council all the heavens blaze.
First of the gods, O Marduk, prince of all,
The Heavens and the Earth attend thy call.
O Bel, whose strength no rival can withstand,
No goddess rules like her across the land.
O King of Kings, whose word no god can stay,
No other spirit holds such holy sway.
I know the Lord is great and high above;
Beyond all other gods we feel His love.
For He is terrible and greatly praised;
Above all gods His holy head is raised.
O Lord, who is like thee? Who can compare?
What mighty one such majesty can share?
Lord Nannar, who is like thy silver light?
Nergal, who equals thee in warrior might?
Who is my equal? Who can stand with me?
I, Ishtar, rule the land and rule the sea.
Thou art alone exalted in the height;
The earth is filled with thy majestic light.
What god in heaven or on earth is found
To match the wisdom where thy thoughts abound?
For who in heaven can be like the Lord?
Among the sons of gods, who is adored?
O God of Hosts, thy faithfulness is known;
Thy strength is like a belt around thy throne.
Who is like God, who dwells in heights of old,
Yet looks below the secrets to behold?
O mighty God, no rival takes thy place
Where all the gods assemble in thy grace.
Jehovah assumes his seat within the hall,
To judge the gods and rule above them all;
A God of terror where the holy meet,
With all the circling powers at his feet.
O Sin, the gods assemble at thy light,
And kings fall down before thy radiant sight.
The Igigi and Annunaki bow,
As gods and goddesses thy might avow.
Ascribe to Him, ye sons of gods, the prize;
Give strength and glory as his praises rise.
O thank the God of Gods for all his ways;
The Lord of Lords demands our highest praise.
The gods whose glory comes from Bel’s command,
The regent of the sky and of the land,
Are far exceeded by his lofty state;
Above all powers, he is high and great.
O Chief of Gods, who rules the earth and sky,
Thou art alone exalted and most high.
Above the nations does thy glory shine;
The heavens and the earth are surely thine.
Be still and know that I am God alone:
Through all the earth my greatness shall be known.
For great is Jehovah, praised in every tongue;
Above all gods his terrifying song.
The idols of the folk are empty things;
’Twas Jehovah who spread the heaven’s wings.
I know the Lord is great, of matchless worth;
Our Master is the best of all the earth.
The nations’ gods are silver and of gold,
The work of human hands, and brittle-molded.
Great flood of harvests, who can know thy name?
First, I am Ishtar, lady of great fame;
The Lady of the Lands, my final title;
The Lord Ninib, whose naming is most vital,
Can cast the highest powers to the ground.
O Marduk, great and mighty is thy sound!
O Assur, glorious, whose name brings fear,
Let all the world thy dreadful name revere.
In Judah, God is known; in Israel, great;
The World-Creator in his holy state.
Not unto us, but to thy name give grace;
Thy name is sweet to every tribe and race.
The mouths of men thy distant fame declare,
O Goddess, who protects us with thy care.
Thy praise, O God, to ends of earth shall run;
How bright thy name beneath the circling sun!
Jehovah, Lord, how majestical thy fame,
When all the earth acknowledges thy name!
Let Assur’s glory never be forgot,
And Essharra be remembered in each plot.
Jehovah, thy great name shall never end;
Through every age thy memory shall extend.
For in his holy name our hearts rejoice;
In him we trust and lift a steady voice.
O bless the Lord, my soul, with all thy might,
And praise his name within the holy light.
I will exalt thee, God, my King and Friend,
And bless thy name until the world shall end.
Each day I bless thee, and for evermore
Thy name I shall inhabit and adore.
Let every tongue Jehovah’s name confess;
His name alone is robed in loftiness.
The mighty mountains by thy light are veiled;
Through all the lands thy brilliance has prevailed.
O Fire-God, who sees the mountain's head,
Whose illumination wakes the night from dread.
High-formed is Marduk, torch of solar light,
Whose rising puts the heavy dark to flight.
O Sin, thou art the beauty of the night,
To every nation giving forth thy light.
Thy brightness fills the earth and heaven’s floor;
Thou marchest through the sky's eternal door.
From heaven's base unto the highest peak,
Thou giv’st the light that all the peoples seek.
O Ishtar, light of heaven, flaming fire,
Who burns above the earth in fierce desire.
At evening when I rise, the heavens glow;
I flame along the horizon's edge below.
With sparkling stones thy raiment is arrayed;
By thee the lightning of the sky is made.
O Sarpanitum, star in Endul’s height,
Who crosses through the sky with brilliant light.
Exalted is my Lady’s holy station;
She rules in glory over every nation.
Thou walkest high where heaven’s arches bend;
Thy place is where the radiant lights ascend.
But our Great God within the heaven stays,
To work his pleasure in a thousand ways.
The heavens are the Lord's, his holy seat;
The temple and the throne are made complete.
He stands alone, supreme in height and grace,
In heaven high, he shows his radiant face.
On earth as King, his sovereignty is shown,
As counselor to gods, his wit is known.
In Ekur’s festive halls his head is high,
Great Ninib, son of Bel, ascends the sky.
Let Assur’s name be praised in memory long,
His godhead raised with every holy song;
That Assur’s glory, Lord of Lords, may shine,
A warrior-god, eternal and divine.
But thou, Jehovah, dwellest high for aye,
That all may know thy name and own thy sway;
The Highest over all the earth art thou,
To whom the nations and the heavens bow.
Great is Jehovah’s name in Zion’s land,
Exalted high above each mortal band;
Above the heavens does his glory rise,
Far past the reaches of the starry skies.
O High One in the heavens, thou dost keep
A watch o'er all the folk while others sleep.
On earth thy greatness shines in every place,
For in the omens we behold thy face.
His majesty exceeds the earth and sea,
Set high above the sky’s canopy.
O Lord, thy godhead fills the soul with dread,
Like oceans vast or heavens overhead.
Praise ye Jehovah in the heights above,
And in the heavens sing of all his love.
In Hades too, thy greatness findeth room,
O Warrior, Lord of all the silent tomb.
Great Mistress of Egurra, Deep’s own Queen,
In heaven and on earth thy power is seen.
The dead, alas, Jehovah cannot praise,
Nor those who dwell in silence all their days.
The highest God within his shrine remains,
And there his lofty dwelling he maintains.
Among the living he has found his rest,
For Zion is the home he loveth best.
In Salem stands his tent, his holy place,
And Zion is the seat of all his grace.
But Babylon and Borsippa are thine,
Where Izida and Isagila shine.
"The Virgin in my temple-wealth am I,"
The goddess speaks beneath the vaulted sky.
Ezida is a house beyond compare,
How lovely are thy tents, O Lord, how fair!
Before him honor and great majesty,
In beauty and in strength his shrines agree.
The Ruler of all sanctuaries is he,
And Ishtar claims the same high dignity.
The founder of the cities, shrines renewed,
Who named them all in holy solitude.
The Restoration of Zion and Babylon
Jehovah builds Jerusalem once more,
To gather exiles to their native shore.
O Marduk, mighty one, whom Itura cheers,
The help of Babylon through all the years.
O Lord, when to thy house thou dost repair,
May all within rejoice to see thee there.
Praise thou Jehovah, Zion, and be glad;
In praise, Jerusalem, be never sad.
Blest be the Lord from Zion’s holy hill,
Who in Jerusalem abideth still.
Great is the city where our God is King,
Whose beauty makes the earth rejoice and sing.
Mount Zion, on the north, a splendid sight,
The city of the King who rules in might.
On holy mountains his foundations stand,
The glory and the bulwark of the land.
Great Mountain of Enlil, whose peaks arise
To touch the very borders of the skies;
Whose deep foundations in the depths are laid,
Where glittering waters shimmer in the shade.
He is our Rock, our Savior, and our Stay,
My tower of strength that shall not pass away.
The Prince with radiant face and flaming breath,
A God of fire who triumphs over death.
Gigantic limbs and stature grand to see,
With demons at his side in company.
O hasty steed, O horse of power and might,
Whose knees are never weary in the fight;
He opens up the road for gods to tread,
With glory resting on his holy head.
O strong young bull with horns of massive size,
In every limb a perfect, noble prize;
With beard of lapis-lazuli so blue,
Full of perfection, glorious and true.
Great Ruler, mighty Lord, whose hand destroys
The foeman’s land and all their empty joys.
The strong, strong bull, with horns of honor crowned,
An ox who crouches on the holy ground.
A warrior at the helm, he takes his stand,
Like some wild ox that dominates the land.
Father Nannar, in robes of state arrayed,
Comes forth where gods their majesty displayed.
In splendor dressed, in terrors wrapped and bright,
The Chief of Gods, a kingly, towering sight.
He wears his glory like a garment wide,
With brilliance flowing in a radiant tide.
The strongest Goddess claims the light as dress,
In shining robes of holy loveliness.
Jehovah reigns: in majesty he stands,
With strength begirt to rule the ancient lands.
My God, thou art most great in power and might,
With honor clothed and covered o'er with light.
The fruit that by its own will came to birth,
Of form most fair, transcending all the earth;
A Being vast, where thought can find no end,
To which no mortal wisdom can ascend.
That I may dwell within Jehovah’s hall,
While all the days of life upon me fall;
To see the beauty of the Lord most high,
Beneath the shelter of his watchful eye.
In righteousness thy face I shall behold,
More precious far than heaps of purest gold.
And when I wake, my soul is satisfied
To see thy likeness standing at my side.
Within thy shrine I gazed upon thy face,
To see thy power and feel thy holy grace.
Father Enlil, with songs of praise we come,
While earth’s rich harvest beats a joyful drum.
O Lord of Sumer, figs we bring to thee,
Who gives the ground its life and energy.
Among the gods who in their temples dwell,
The varied gifts of holy incense swell.
Upon the feast, when joy sits in his soul,
And Anu’s rank and Bel’s his name extol,
The sesame wine makes genius in him rise,
As gladness sparkles in his ancient eyes.
Thou eatest and dost drink the vintage pure,
With noble beer that makes the spirit sure.
When from the cask the heavy draught they pour,
Thou dost accept and ask for nothing more.
The bread of sacrifice is thy command,
The daily gifts provided by thy hand.
Renewer of the cities, shrines, and halls,
He founds the feasts and builds the temple walls.
No banquet in the house is ever spread,
Until thy blessing on the board is shed;
The gods perceive no incense on the air,
Unless thy hand the holy smoke prepare.
Give to Jehovah glory for his name,
Bring offerings and his courts of light proclaim.
His praise endures while ages roll away,
And I shall bless him through my mortal day.
As long as being in my soul shall last,
My songs of praise shall to his throne be cast.
From this time forth, until the end of time,
We bless Jehovah with a song sublime.
O come, let us adore and humbly bow,
And kneel before the Lord our Maker now.
Perform your vows to God with holy fear,
And at his footstool worship and draw near.
Jehovah’s praise my mouth shall ever speak,
Let every tongue his holy blessing seek.
Lord of the sky, who made the earth to be,
Who founded shrines and named each galaxy.
The whole of heaven and the world below,
O Shamash, from thy creative hand did flow.
The upper worlds, the mountains capped with white,
The gods and goddesses are thy delight.
The heavens are thine, the earth is thy domain,
And all the space between is thy terrain.
Let all the world Jehovah fear and dread,
By whom the stars and firmament were spread.
He spoke the word, and all the work was done;
He gave command, and life's great race begun.
The earth above the waters he did lay,
With understanding formed the milky way.
He made the lights: the sun to rule the noon,
The nightly stars, and then the silver moon.
When I behold the heavens thou hast wrought,
The work thy fingers to perfection brought;
The moon and stars which thou hast set in place,
To run their courses through the void of space.
By his command the heavens came to birth,
His breath created all the hosts of earth.
Let them give praise to his eternal name,
For at his word they out of nothing came.
He heaps the waters of the surging sea,
In storehouses he keeps the mystery.
Thou hast the vast and rolling ocean bound,
And set a limit to the depths profound;
A boundary line they never shall o'erleap,
Lest they return to drown the world in sleep.
The sea is his, he formed it by his might,
His hands prepared the dry land for our sight.
Jehovah bless thee out of Zion’s height,
The Maker of the day and of the night.
From him who made the heaven and the earth,
Receive the blessing of a holy birth.
Creator of the gods, their sire and stay,
Who gives to kings their scepters and their sway;
To fashion gods or monarchs of the line,
The power is thine, and only ever thine.
By thy command was human nature wrought,
The workmanship of thy creative thought.
Heroine Ishtar, from whose holy hand
The seeds of all humanity were planned.
In fear and wonder is my body made,
A tapestry of light and subtle shade.
A little less than gods is man’s design,
With glory crowned and honor most divine.
Let Israel in their Creator find
A joyful heart and a contented mind;
Let Zion's sons before their King rejoice,
With holy music and a lifted voice.
O come, let us adore and humbly bow,
Before the Lord our Maker let us vow;
For he is God, and we the flock he leads,
To rest within the pasture of his deeds.
Enlil, who craves the milk and oil so pure,
Does for the garden's plants a life ensure.
O Keeper of the fields of golden grain,
Who sends the harvest and the summer rain.
Lord of the lands, who fills the world with bread,
By whom the living things are daily fed.
He grants the borders peace and quiet rest,
With finest wheat his people he has blessed.
He causes grass for heavy herds to grow,
And herbs for men who labor here below;
That from the earth their nourishment may rise,
With wine to gladden every heart and eyes.
You grant to god and goddess holy meat,
The great Creator of the bread they eat.
He gives the beast its food within the wild,
And hears the ravens, nature's hungry child.
The lions roar to claim their evening prey,
And seek from God their portion for the day.
The creeping thing, the beast on fourfold feet,
Looks to thy light for all that makes life sweet.
"I take my place in heaven, sending rain;
On earth I dwell to green the dusty plain."
The mighty floods and showers are thy deed,
To satisfy the thirsty spirit's need.
He clothes the sky with clouds of heavy gray,
Preparing rain to fall upon the clay;
He makes the grass upon the mountains spring,
And vapors from the ends of earth he’ll bring.
The lightning flashes at his high command,
As mountain peaks are watered by his hand.
He leads the rivers where the mountains rise,
And opens springs beneath the vaulted skies.
He turns the flinty rock to pools of blue,
And brings from stone a fountain, fresh and new.
Deep in the vales he sends the springs to run,
Between the hills away from scorching sun.
Across the land thy sowing hand is spread,
That every furrow may be richly fed.
For he who rides the ancient heavens high,
Sends forth his voice across the startled sky;
A voice of strength that makes the mountains nod,
Like Adad’s thunder is the voice of God.
Thou favorite of Ea, counselor wise,
Whose heavy word the Igigi shall prize.
When in the heavens thy command is known,
The Igigi fall down before the throne;
When on the earth thy word is spoken clear,
The Annunaki kiss the ground in fear.
The hero's word is fixed and cannot stray,
His judgment perfect, leading on the way.
O Ninib, thy decree is firm and sure,
A destiny that ever shall endure.
Thy word is like the distant, lonely sky,
Or hidden earth where secret treasures lie;
No mortal eye its mystery can trace,
Nor match the power of its holy grace.
High as a storm thy word begins to sound,
And meat and drink in plenty shall abound;
It makes the stall with fatness overflow,
And bids the living things to thrive and grow.
Thy word brings truth and justice to the light,
That men may speak the truth and do the right.
When to the sea thy spoken word extends,
The frightened ocean in its terror bends;
And when it reaches to the marshy deep,
The lonely marshes wail and softly weep.
Thy word is like a net of vast design,
Where heaven’s heights and earthly depths entwine.
It turns the tide of great Euphrates’ flood,
And stirs the soil within the river’s mud.
Before thy word the sorcerer is weak,
The seer is hushed and knows not how to speak.
The sorrowing man breaks forth in bitter cry,
The grieving woman heaves a heavy sigh.
If low it goes, it ruins all the land;
If high it moves, the houses cannot stand.
It scatters ten where ten were once at home,
And drives the five to wander and to roam.
The utterance of my exalted will
Does strike the foeman’s country and is still.
He sends his high command across the land;
His word runs swiftly from his holy hand.
He speaks the word, and frozen rivers melt;
His blowing winds and flowing tides are felt.
The fire and hail, the vapor and the snow,
And stormy winds his word and purpose know.
Above the peaks the ancient waters stood,
But fled away before his angry mood;
At thunder’s voice they hurried from the plain,
To seek their place and leave the hills again.
By God’s own word the heavens were designed,
With all their host by his own breath refined.
He spoke the word, and all the world appeared;
He gave command, and it was firmly reared.
Of clever wit, in wisdom deep and wide,
With plans where none can walk beside his side;
Of great of heart, with understanding deep,
While in his mind the world’s designs he’ll keep.
O Prince and Lord, in wisdom thou art strong,
To whom the minds of gods and men belong.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in his power,
His understanding knows no measured hour.
O Queen of Heaven, land, and rolling sea,
All living things are visible to thee;
Of every tongue and every distant race,
Thou know’st their path and every secret place.
O Shamash, wise and high in thine own light,
Thy counselor art thou by day and night.
Jehovah looks from heaven's lofty height,
And brings the sons of men within his sight.
From out his home he watches all who dwell
Upon the earth, and marks their actions well.
He fashioned every heart with subtle art,
And knows the secret works of every part.
With Sin in heaven, thou dost see the whole,
To read the signs and judge the human soul.
The God of Depths has fixed the mortal lot,
Determining what is and what is not.
Thy Father granted thee the law to hold,
To judge the folk as prophets had foretold.
He placed the fates of gods within thy hand,
And bade the world to bow at thy command.
The word thou speakest cannot be displaced,
Nor can thy perfect judgment be erased.
Great Prince of Gods, who sets the deep’s decree,
Whose law provides the temple’s treasury;
He calls the kings and gives the scepter’s might,
And plans the fate of ages out of sight.
Jehovah brings the nations’ plans to naught,
And thwarts the schemes that human pride has wrought.
But his own counsel shall forever stand,
The heart's intent through every age and land.
He cuts the spirit of the princes low,
And brings to kings a terrifying woe.
O Lord of Fate, in Sumer’s land renowned,
With unfallible words thy name is crowned.
O Father Enlil, by thy wisdom known,
Thy power and thy might are all thine own.
O Anu, whose intent no man can find,
Whose high command no mortal hand can bind;
Thy purpose is a secret, hidden deep,
Which even gods are not allowed to keep.
How great, Jehovah, are the works thou’st made!
How deep the plans that thou hast surely laid!
In wisdom hast thou fashioned everything,
The earth below and heaven’s widest wing.
O Shamash, wise, thy counsel is thy own,
With Ea's wit beside the golden throne.
The Leader and the Guide of gods art thou,
To whom the judges of the world shall bow.
Who directed Jehovah’s spirit’s course,
Or taught the Counselor his mighty source?
With whom did he take counsel or advice,
To learn of knowledge and its heavy price?
Before thy face the greater gods descend,
For on thy word the world's fates must depend.
They plead with thee and wait upon thy feet,
To find in thee an oracle complete.
"To give the omen, I arise in light,
Beside my Father Sin, in perfect sight;
Beside my brother Shamash, I shall stand,
To bring the signs to every waiting land."
When men seek counsel and a fair decree,
In Marduk’s care they find their liberty;
With thoughtful kindness and with careful word,
His helping voice in every heart is heard.
O Shamash, warrior-hero, let us praise,
Destroyer of the foe in battle's maze.
Amidst the clash of arms and tangled fight,
He stands quite fearless in his holy might.
"Beside my Father I shall take my place,
And stand by Bel with a courageous face."
Great warrior-lord, whose strength is ever vast,
By whom the enemy is overcast.
"Am I not High? The warrior-god am I,
Who goes to battle 'neath a heavy sky;
A raging flood, a soul of fire and grand,
To waste and ruin every hostile land."
Jehovah, strong and mighty in the fray,
Jehovah, who commands the battle-day.
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory bright,
Who puts the darkness and the foe to flight.
To plunder hostile lands he gathers near,
With armies that inspire a holy fear.
Great Ninib, warrior of the ancient line,
Whose deeds as Prince and Commander shine.
God’s chariots in their myriads arise,
To strike his foes beneath the vaulted skies.
Before his power the gods in silence bow,
And in his city make a humble vow.
Great Bel, with awful splendor is arrayed,
A storm by which the wicked are dismayed.
The firstborn son of Ea, high and grand,
Whose power overwhelms the sea and land.
A demon crouches near him, dark and grim,
While mortal voices sing their praise to him.
Jehovah, strong and mighty in the fight,
Ascends his throne in majesty and light.
Ascribe all power to God who dwells on high,
Whose excellence is seen across the sky.
From out his shrine he strikes with holy dread,
With blessings on his chosen people shed.
His own right hand has done the noble deed,
His holy arm has helped us in our need.
Strong is thy hand, thy right hand lifted high,
To rule the earth and guard the starry sky.
"When in the storm I take my battle-seat,
I am the tempest that makes earth retreat."
O Ninib, thy dark shadow haunts the plain,
While weapons flash like fire amidst the rain.
A raging storm that wastes both earth and sky,
Before whose face the ancient mountains fly.
"To shake the world is all my pride and fame,
While heavens tremble at my holy name."
Before the Lord, O Earth, begin to quake,
When Jacob’s God his vengeance shall awake.
With flaming breath he melts the mountain steep,
And overwhelms the secrets of the deep.
"I am the weapon of the royal line,
To crush the peaks with energy divine."
The mountains skipped like rams upon the grass,
To let the glory of the Master pass.
He looks upon the earth and bids it shake,
The mountains smoke and into pieces break.
Before the Lord they melt away like wax,
While all his foes their stubborn pride relax.
The sea beheld his majesty and fled,
And Jordan turned back to its fountainhead.
No man may stand against his fierce attack,
Nor turn the weapon of the tempest back.
He brings the victory and the deep defeat,
A King of Battle, wise and most complete.
His hero’s snare shall bring the foeman low,
His lance shall strike a devastating blow.
"Who shall before thy righteous anger stand,
When judgment falls upon a guilty land?"
Let God arise and let his foes be cast
Like driven chaff before a winter blast.
For he is high, a King of great renown,
Who treads the haughty, earthly nations down.
His hand shall turn against the wicked race,
To drive them out and hide his holy face.
Before his bow the heavens stand in awe,
For they must bow before his ancient law.
His dragon-weapon breathes no poison-flood,
Nor is its mouth defiled with mortal blood.
But God shall smite the hairy head of those
Who in their malice stand as bitter foes;
Like Rahab, broken by a mighty blow,
His arm of strength has laid the wicked low.
Great Nusku burns and overwhelms the foe,
Before his face the searing wildfires go.
Who can avoid the lightning of your gaze?
Who flees the onslaught of your burning blaze?
Upon all habited retreats you look,
The wicked perish by your sharp rebuke.
O Bel, whose mighty eyes see everything,
O'er heaven's breadth your understanding's wing.
When you arise, where can the sinner fly?
Before, behind, you fill the earth and sky.
If I to highest heaven should depart,
Or in the depths of Sheol hide my heart,
If on the morning's wings I seek the sea,
Your hand is there to lead and govern me.
Though darkness fall and cover me as night,
To you the shadows shine as clear as light.
Lord of all creatures, merciful and near,
To every land your gracious acts appear.
Marduk, the kind, whose mercy is at hand,
The gentlest god within the divine band.
Jehovah, slow to anger, rich in grace,
Bestows his goodness on the human race;
In truth and mercy is his soul arrayed,
Compassion shines on all that he has made.
He founds the godly, sets the captive free,
And grants the just a joyous liberty.
The fallen you sustain and lift on high,
With righteous judgment and a watchful eye.
From dust he bids the weary soul arise,
And wipes the tear from every sufferer's eyes.
The weak are shielded by his sovereign might,
The small are precious in his holy sight.
To those who stumble, Marduk gives his aid,
Beneath his wing the poor are unafraid.
He lifts the beggar from the refuse heap,
To sit with princes and his honor keep.
The barren woman finds a joyful home,
No more in lonely bitterness to roam.
Jehovah loves the upright in their way,
But turns the wicked from the light of day.
The fatherless and widow find a friend,
A judge on whom the orphans may depend.
His mercy lives through ages yet untold,
His covenant the faithful still uphold.
He builds Jerusalem's broken walls again,
And gathers Israel's long-dispersed men;
He heals the spirit crushed by grief and fear,
And binds the wounds that drew the bitter tear.
Marduk, the son of depths, whose word is life,
The Great Magician in the ghostly strife.
A storm that makes the ancient demons flee,
He breaks the chains of dark infirmity.
The Lord of magic, at whose holy name
The spirits of disease are put to shame.
O Shamash, in your hand the power lies
To make the prisoner from his cell arise;
You lead the leaderless, you take the hand
Of those who perish in a weary land.
The body brought to death you can restore,
And bid the light of life to shine once more.
Jehovah looses every heavy chain,
He gives the blind their vision back again.
He pardons all the sins that you have done,
And heals the sickness of the weary one.
With every good your longing soul is fed,
While eagle-like your youth begins to spread.
Preserver of our life, E-machtila's Prince,
Who grants the soul a lease of life long since;
O favorite of Ea, giving breath,
Protecting Babylon from every death.
He holds our weary souls in life's embrace,
Nor lets our feet toward the grave apace.
Behold, Jehovah’s eye is on the soul
Of those who fear Him and His name extol;
In times of famine, He shall keep them fed,
And rescue from the regions of the dead.
To God belongs our rescue and our might,
The Lord of life who conquers mortal night.
If any sin, the guilt do Thou remove,
And turn to him with swift, redeeming love.
Though gods be angry, Thou wilt intercede,
And save the sinner in his hour of need.
As far as East is distant from the West,
He casts our sins away and gives us rest;
He heals the sickness that the body bears,
And answers with His grace our humble prayers.
O Father Enlil, Shepherd of the race,
The dark-haired people live within Thy grace.
O Shepherdess of lands, to Thee they bow,
The nations that remember every vow.
Whatever kings have fashioned by their hand,
You guard the living souls of every land.
To Thee the Father gave the raven breed,
The cattle of the field, and every seed;
The four-fold regions of the world are Thine,
All living spirits and the souls divine.
Great Father Nannar, Anshar, Head of Kings,
The Father of the gods and earthly things;
Who builds the dwelling and the festive hall,
With eyes of mercy looking over all.
O Mother-womb of things, whose high retreat
Is found where'er the pulse of life shall beat;
Both Mother and a Father Thou art known,
The world’s wide life is kept by Thee alone.
As fathers guide their children with their hand,
Jehovah guides the faithful in the land;
He knows our frame, how fragile is our trust,
Remembering that we are only dust.
O Shamash, King of Heaven, whose command
Directs the high and governs every land;
The King of Babylon, whose glory bright
To heaven’s borders sheds a golden light.
"The Queen of Heaven" is my sacred name,
Both high and low I spread my royal fame.
Upon the glittering sky Thou set'st Thy throne,
To sit in sacred chambers, all Thine own;
With shouts of joy the King ascends on high,
While glory fills the arches of the sky.
A scepter for the distant days to be,
Has Bel prepared and offered unto Thee.
In sovereign power Thou dost rule the earth,
To distant lands Thou givest law and birth.
Ninib, the King, whose Father made the rest
Of far-off nations bow at His behest;
Jehovah’s throne in heaven is prepared,
His kingdom over all is now declared.
God rules the nations from His holy seat,
With right and justice laid beneath His feet.
Old is His throne, established and secure,
While truth and equity shall long endure.
With trumpet blasts and shouts of holy mirth,
Jehovah rises King of all the earth.
The Lord is High, a terror to the foe,
The King of all the nations here below.
Let earth rejoice, let every people quake,
He sits above the Cherubim to shake
The foundations of the world and every sea;
Great King of gods for all eternity.
Jehovah shall reign as King for evermore,
Thy God, O Zion, whom the worlds adore.
Through every age Thy kingdom shall remain,
And generations vanish in Thy train.
Thy throne was fixed before the stars were sewn,
Above the flood Jehovah sits alone.
In highest heaven He has built His seat,
And laid the universe beneath His feet;
For He is great, a God of sovereign might,
Above all other gods in glory bright.
O Shamash, lofty Judge of earth and sky,
To whom the world's four distant regions lie;
The vast decisions of the world are Thine,
Directing men by law and light divine.
To those who dwell within the shadows' gate,
Thou dost appear to settle every fate;
The Father placed the law within Thy hand,
To deal out judgment to the weary land.
Alone in heaven, Thine is the eternal light,
A Governor who rules with truth and right.
He scans the heart and every hidden thought,
By Him is justice to the people brought;
The wicked and the violent feel His rod,
And learn the sentence of a righteous God.
Great Nusku burns the sinner in His ire,
And purges evil with a holy fire.
Upon the throne where truth and mercy meet,
He loves the justice of His judgment seat.
In Jacob’s tents He has established right,
And filled the paths of equity with light.
Jehovah loves the man whose heart is pure,
But makes the downfall of the wicked sure;
On those who love the violence of the sword,
The burning winds and sulfur shall be poured.
The cup of wrath is theirs to drink in full,
While God exerts His universal rule;
One He abases, one He lifts on high,
That men may see His justice in the sky.
"The righteous gain a harvest of reward,"
They cry, "For earth is judged by God the Lord!"
He shall show mercy to His servants' plea,
And judge His people with a mild decree;
He rules the nations with a steady hand,
And claims the heritage of every land.
Let Babylon in all her pride rejoice,
And Esagila lift a joyful voice;
Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed well,
The horse and rider in the deep now dwell.
Let God arise and every foe be chased,
Like drifting smoke or stubble in the waste;
But let the righteous sing before His face,
And triumph in the riches of His grace.
Let Israel celebrate her Maker’s name,
And Zion’s sons their royal King proclaim.
Let heavens be glad and let the earth be bright,
Let roaring seas confess His holy might;
Let every field and every forest tree
Sing out for joy and bend a happy knee.
For He approaches! Yea, the Judge is near,
To make the truth and righteousness appear.
Jehovah reigns! Let all the islands sing,
And every land its joyful praises bring!