A Praise Poem of Shulgi

I, the king, was a hero already in the womb; I, Šulgi, was born to be a mighty man. I am a fierce-looking lion, begotten by a dragon. I am the king of the four regions; I am the herdsman and shepherd of the black-headed people. I am a respected one, the god of all the lands. I am a child born of Ninsun. I am the choice of holy An’s heart. I am the man whose fate was decided by Enlil. I am Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintud. I am he who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion of Utu. I am Šulgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness.⁠a I am a mule, most suitable for the road. I am a horse, whose tail waves on the highway. I am a stallion of Šakkan, eager to run. I am a knowledgeable scribe of Nisaba; I have perfected my wisdom just as my heroism and my strength. Reliable words can reach me. I cherish righteousness but do not tolerate wickedness. I hate anyone who speaks wickedly. Because I am a powerful man who enjoys using his thighs, I, Šulgi, the mighty king, superior to all, strengthened the roads, put in order the highways of the land. I marked out the danna distances, built lodging houses there. I planted gardens by their side and established resting places and installed in those places experienced men. Whichever direction one comes from, one can refresh oneself at their cool sides; and the traveler who reaches nightfall on the road can seek haven there as in a well-built city. So that my name should be established for distant days and never fall into oblivion, so that my praise should be uttered throughout the land, and my glory should be proclaimed in the foreign lands, I, the fast runner, summoned my strength and, to prove my speed, my heart prompted me to make a return journey from Nibru to brick-built Urim as if it were only the distance of a danna. I, the lion, never failing in his vigor, standing firm in his strength, fastened the small nijlam garment firmly to my hips. Like a pigeon anxiously fleeing from a snake, I spread my wings; like the Anzud bird lifting its gaze to the mountains, I stretched forward my legs. The inhabitants of the cities which I had founded in the land lined up for me; the black-headed people, as numerous as ewes, looked at me with sweet admiration. I entered the E-kis-nugal like a mountain kid hurrying to its habitation, when Utu spreads broad daylight over the countryside. I filled with abundance the temple of Suen, a cow-pen which yields plenty of fat. I had oxen slaughtered there; I had sheep offered there lavishly. I caused sem and ala drums to resound there and caused tigi drums to play there sweetly. I, Šulgi, who makes everything abundant, presented food offerings there and, like a lion, spreading fearsomeness from the royal offering place, I bent down and bathed in flowing water; I knelt down and feasted in the Egal-mah of Ninegala. Then I arose like an owl, like a falcon to return to Nibru in my vigor. But a storm shrieked, and the west wind whirled around. The north wind and the south wind howled at each other. Lightning together with the seven winds vied with each other in the heavens. Thundering storms made the earth quake, and Iškur roared in the broad heavens. The rains of heaven mingled with the waters of the earth. Small and large hailstones drummed on my back. I, the king, however, did not fear, nor was I terrified. I rushed forth like a fierce lion. I galloped like an ass in the desert. With my heart full of joy, I ran onward. Trotting like a solitary wild ass, I traversed a distance of fifteen danna by the time Utu was to set his face toward his house; my sagursag priests looked at me with admiration. I celebrated the eses festival in both Nibru and Urim on the same day! I drank beer in the palace founded by An with my brother and companion, the hero Utu. My singers praised me with songs accompanied by seven tigi drums. My spouse, the maiden Inana, the lady, the joy of heaven and earth, sat with me at the banquet. Truly I am not boasting! Wherever I look to, there I go; wherever my heart desires, I reach. An placed a legitimate and lofty crown firmly on my head. In the lustrous E-kur, I seized the holy scepter and I lifted my head towards heaven on a shining dais, a throne with firm foundation. I consolidated my kingship, subdued the foreign lands, fortified the land. May my name be proclaimed among the well-guarded people of the four regions! May they praise it in holy hymns about me! May they glorify my majesty, saying: “The one provided with lofty royal power; the one given heroism, power and happy life by Suen of the E-kis-nugal; the one endowed with superior strength by Nunamnir; Šulgi, the destroyer of foreign lands, the fortifier of the land, the purification priest of heaven and earth, who has no rival; Šulgi, who is cared for by the respected child of An!” Praise be to Nisaba!