Birth of the Gracious Gods

Let me invoke the gracious gods,
and beautiful, sons of Shapshu
Let them give a feast to those of high rank,
in the wilderness of the end of the world.
on their heads,
Eat from any of the food, and drink from the vat any wine!⁠a
Greetings, king, greetings, queen, priests and temple-victuallers
The lord and master sat enthroned, in his hand the staff of sterility,
in his hand the staff of widowhood. Those who prune the vine pruned him,
those who bind the vine bound him; they let his tendril fall like a vine.
Seven times shall it be recited on the throne-dais, and the priests are to respond.
Now the steppe, the vast steppe is the steppe of Athirat and Rahmay.
Over a fire seven times the choristers of fine voice boil coriander in milk, mint in butter,
and over the cauldron seven times let incense be burned.
Rahmay went forth, and Athirat set out.
they dressed themselves. May the gracious chorister
and their name let the priest exalt.
The dwellings of the gods eight
seven times
Lapis lazuli, carnelian
scarlet the singers
Let me invoke the gracious gods, both gluttonous from birth,
who suck at the nipples of Athirat’s breasts, from the paps of Rahmay,⁠b
Shapshu counts their tendrils,
and grapes. Peace to you, priests and temple-victuallers,
as you proceed to the sacrifice of propitiation.
The vast steppe is the steppe of Athirat and Rahmay,
[…] sits.
El went out to the shore of the sea, and stepped out to the shore of the abyss.
El set the two inflamed ones, the two inflamed ones on top of the cauldron.
Lo, one was lowered, lo, the other was raised. Lo, one cried: Father! father!
and lo, the other cried: Mother! mother! Let El’s penis grow as long as the sea,
yes, El’s penis as the ocean! El’s penis grew as long as the sea,
yes, El’s penis as the ocean. El took the two inflamed ones,
the two inflamed ones from on top of the cauldron; he took them and set them in his house.
El lowered the staff in his right hand, El the rod in his hand. He raised it and threw it skyward,
casting a bird down from the sky. He plucked it and set it on the coals.
El enticed the two wives; lo, the two wives cried out:
O husband, husband! Lowered is your staff, drooping the rod in your hand.
Lo, the bird grew hot by the fire; it was roasted on the coals.
The two wives are the wives of El, the wives of El, and forever. And lo, the two wives cried out:
O father, father! Lowered is your staff,
drooping the rod in your hand! Lo, the bird grew hot by the fire;
and was roasted on the coals. The two daughters are the daughters of El,
the daughters of El, and forever. And lo, the two wives cried out: O husband, husband! Lowered is your staff,
drooping the rod in your hand! Lo, the bird grew hot by the fire,
and was roasted on the coals. The two wives are the wives of El,
the wives of El, and forever. He stooped: their lips he kissed.
O, how sweet were their lips, as sweet as pomegranates;⁠c
from kissing came conception, from embracing, impregnation.⁠d He sat and counted five months for growth, ten for the full completion. Both of them crouched
and gave birth to Shahar and Shalim.⁠e Word was brought to El:
The two wives of El have given birth! What have they borne? Shahar and Shalim have been born.
Raise up an offering to Shapshu, the Great Lady, and to the stars who have been begotten.
He stooped: their lips he kissed. Lo, their lips were sweet, sweet as pomegranates.
From kissing came conception, from embracing, impregnation. He sat and counted
five months for growth, ten for the full completion.
Both of them crouched and gave birth. They bore the gracious gods, both gluttonous from birth,
sucking at the nipples of the Lady’s breasts. Word was brought to El:
The two wives of El have given birth! What have they borne? The two gracious gods!⁠f
both gluttonous from birth, sucking at the nipples of the Lady’s breasts. A lip to the underworld,
a lip to the heavens, and there entered into their mouths the birds of the air⁠g
and the fish from the sea. And wandering abroad, piece by piece they put things from both their right
and from their left into their mouths, and were not satisfied. O wives whom I have married,
O sons whom I have begotten, raise up a dais in the midst of the holy desert:
there you will make your dwelling among the stones and trees. For seven whole years,⁠h
for eight periods of time, the gracious gods went to and fro on the steppe;
they roamed the edge of the desert. And they met the guardian of the sown land.⁠i
And they cried out to the guardian of the sown land: O guardian, guardian! Open up!
And he made an opening for them,
and they entered. If there is food for us, give some that we may eat.
If there is wine for us, give some that we may drink.
And the guardian of the sown land answered them:
There is wine: whoever enters let him come!
Here is his measure of wine
And his companions let him fill with wine.