Surpu

When you perform the rituals for the Šurpu-series, you set up a brazier, you put trimmed reeds crosswise on top of the brazier, you surround it with a magic circle of flour. You recite the incantation "I am a pure man", sprinkle water around, light a torch from a sulphur-flame; the incantation "Gibil, wise, exalted in the country", and the incantation "River who renews himself constantly" you recite, then purify the patient; you put the ... torch into the hand of the patient and he sets fire to the brazier. The incantation "I hold the torch, release from the evil". you will have the patient speak after you. But the incantation "Be it released, great gods!" and the incantation "Any oath" the incantation-priest will recite himself. The patient pours out ... flour. the incantation-priest wipes him off with the ... flour and throws it into the fire. The incantation "May Anu and Antu stand by, may they ward off sickness" you will recite, sprinkle water on the patient. An onion, a bunch of dates, a piece of matting, a flock of wool, goats' hair and red wool you take into your hands, place it over the patient. You recite the incantation "An evil curse like the gallu-demon", then you will wipe him off, you will make the patient say ..., then the incantation-priest places the afore-mentioned things into the patient's hand, he will then peel the onion and throw it into the fire, he will strip off the dates and throw them into the fire, he will unravel the matting and do likewise, he will pluck apart the flock of wool and do likewise, he will pluck apart the goats' hair and do likewise, he will pluck apart the red wool and do likewise. The patient will take a handful of ... he will wipe himself off with it and throw it into the fire. Calm down, fierce Giru!

Be it released, great gods, god and goddess, lords of absolution. Nenni, son of Nenni, whose god is Nenni, whose goddess is Nenni, who is …, sick, in danger of death, distraught, troubled, who has eaten what is taboo to his god,⁠a who has eaten what is taboo to his goddess, who said no for yes, who said yes for no, who pointed his finger accusingly behind the back of his fellow-man, who calumniated, spoke what is not allowed to speak who … gossip, who … a … crooked, who scorned his god, despised his goddess, who … spoke evil things, who … spoke unseemly things, who, as a witness, caused wicked things to be spoken, who caused the judge to pronounce incorrect judgment, who is always present … who says …, always says and exaggerates, who … has oppressed the weak woman, who turned a … woman away from her city, who estranged son from father, who estranged father from son, who estranged daughter from mother, who estranged mother from daughter, who estranged daughter-in-law from mother-in-law, who estranged mother-in-law from daughter-in-law, who estranged brother from brother, who estranged friend from friend, who estranged companion from companion, who did not free a captive, did not release a man in bonds, who did not let the prisoner see the light of day, who said to the captive: leave him captive!, to the man in bonds: bind him tighter!, He does not know what is a crime against god, he does not know what is a sin against the goddess. He scorned the god, despised the goddess, his sins are against his god, his crimes are against his goddess. He is full of contempt against his father, full of hatred against his elder brother. He despised his parents,⁠b offended the elder sister, gave with small measure and received with big measure, he said “there is”, when there was not, he said “there is not”, when there was, spoke unseemly things, spoke improper things, he spoke insolent things, he spoke …, he used an untrue balance, but did not use the true balance,⁠c he took money that was not due to him, but did not take money due to him, he disinherited the legitimate son and did not establish in his rights the legitimated son, he set up an untrue boundary, but did not set up the true boundary,⁠d he removed mark, frontier and boundary. He entered his neighbor’s house, had intercourse with his neighbor’s wife,⁠e shed his neighbor’s blood, took away his neighbor’s clothes, and did not clothe a young man when he was naked.⁠f He ousted a well-to-do young man from his family, scattered a gathered clan, used to stand by the …, His mouth is straight, but his heart is untrue,⁠g when his mouth says “yes”, his heart says “no”, altogether he speaks untrue words. He who is …, shakes and trembles of rage, destroys, expels, drives to flight, accuses and convicts, spreads gossip, wrongs, robs and incites to rob, sets his hand to evil his mouth is …, lying, his lips confused and violent, who knows improper things, has learned unseemly things, who has taken his stand with wickedness, transgressed the borderline of right, committed things that are not proper, set his hand to sorcery and witchcraft. Because of the evil taboo he has eaten, because of the many sins he committed, because of the assembly he divided, because of the tightly united company he dispersed, because of all the contempt for the god and goddess,⁠h because he promised in heart and by mouth but did not give,⁠i omitted the name of his god in his incense-offering, made the purifications, then complained and withheld it, …, saved something for the gods, but ate it, after he behaved arrogantly, he started to pray, disarranged the altar that had been prepared, made his god and his goddess angry with himself, standing up in the assembly, said inadequate words. Be it released, because he has sworn to facts of which he was ignorant,⁠j he has sworn after he took away something,⁠k he has sworn after he hid something, he has sworn in a case of a theft he committed, he has sworn in a capital case, he pointed his finger at a protecting deity, he has sworn by the protecting deity of father and mother, he has sworn by the protecting deity of elder brother and elder sister, he has sworn by the protecting deity of friend and companion, he has sworn by the protecting deity of god and king, he has sworn by the protecting deity of lord and lady; he trampled in bloodshed, he used to follow wherever blood was shed, he ate what was taboo in his city, he betrayed the affairs of his city, he gave his city a bad reputation; he went straight toward an accursed person, an accursed person went straight toward him, he slept in the bed of an accursed person, he sat in the chair of an accursed person, he ate at the table of an accursed person, he drank from the cup of an accursed person. He has asked for a sign, he has asked for a sign; he has asked for a sign through the bed, he has asked for a sign through the chair, he has asked for a sign through the table, he has asked for a sign through the cup-giver, he has asked for a sign through the lit stove, he has asked for a sign through the torch, he has asked for a sign through the bellows, he has asked for a sign through tablet and stylus, he has asked for a sign through the šūlu-measure and the qa-measure, he has asked for a sign at the stable, he has asked for a sign at the animals, he has asked for a sign at the plow, he has asked for a sign at the well, he has asked for a sign at the river, he has asked for a sign at the boat, the ship, the barge, he has asked for a sign at sunrise and sunset, he has asked for a sign the gods of heaven, the sanctuaries of the earth, he has asked for a sign at the sanctuary of the Lord and the Lady, he has asked for a sign leaving the city and entering the city, he has asked for a sign leaving the city-gate and entering the city-gate, he has asked for a sign leaving the house and entering the house, he has asked for a sign in the street, he has asked for a sign in the temple, he has asked for a sign on the road. Be it released, O Šamaš, you judge, release it, Šamaš, lord of above and below, you are the one who deals out justice to the gods, you are king of all lands, through your command let justice be done, may there be justice in his land before you, release it, exorcist among the gods, merciful lord, Marduk, release it, god of the owner of the house, release it, god of the owner of the …, release it, god of the sinner, release it, Nergal, lord of absolution, release it, Šugamuna and Šumaliya, release it, great gods, as many as there are invoked, release it, Stove, son of E[a …!], May the Lord and the Lady release, may Anu and Antu release, may Enlil release, king, creator of a[l], may Ninlil release, the queen of Ek[l]ur, may Ekur release, the living quarter of the Spouse, may Enki release, may Ninki release, may Enšar release, may Ninšar release, may Ea release, king of the Apsû, may the Apsû release, the house of wisdom, may Eridu release, may Ešazu release, may Marduk release, the king of the Igigi, may Sarpanitu release, the queen of Esagil, may Esagil and Babylon release, the dwelling of the great gods, may Nabû and Nanâ release in Ezida, may Tašmētum release, the great daughter-in-law, may DI.KUD release, the thronebearer of Esagil, may Iḫidumqu release, who introduces good words, may Der and Edimgalkalama release, may GAL and Dēritu release, in Susa, may Inšušinak, and Laḫurati release, may Jabru, Ḫumba, Naprušu release, these sublime gods, may from the cardinal points of South, North, East and West, the seven winds blowing upon him, release his oath. May Ištar release in Uruk of the sheepfold, may Nineranna or Belet-ajakki release in Eanna, her quarters, may Anunitu release in Agade, the city of her delight, may Agade release, may Eulmaš release, may Išḫara release, the lady of human dwellings, may Siduri release, goddess of wisdom, protecting goddess of life, may Irra, Girra, Irra-KAL.KAL release, may Laz, Ḫaja, Luḫušû release, may Lugalidena, Latarak, Šarralu release, may the Warrior Šamaš, may mentioning them release, may TI.BAL, SAG.KUD, Kajamānu, Immerija release, may the Bow-star, the Pleiads, Sirius, Mars, Narudu release, may Ḫendursanga, the star Sibzianna release, may god and goddess, as many as there are invoked, stand by him today, and of NN, son of NN, the sins, the errors, the crimes, the offenses, the oaths, may they extirpate, may they ……, blot out, undo, may they lift his oath off him. End-formula of the incantation. The effect of any oath this man, son of his god, is under.

The effect of any oath this man, son of his god, is under, Asalluḫi, exorcist among the gods, will undo; the oath of father and mother he is under, the oath of his father’s father, the oath of his mother’s mother, the oath of brother or sister, the oath of seven generations of his father’s house he is under, the oath of old or young, the oath of family or in-laws, the oath of offspring or sucklings, the oath of friend or companion, the oath of comrade or associate, true or false oath, heavy or light oath, the oath: to invoke the name of the god holding a spade, the oath of bellows or stove, the oath: to stretch out one’s hands toward a lamp, the oath: to invoke the name of the god holding a lamp, the oath that fire was thrown in front of this man, the oath of cup or table, the oath of bed or couch, the oath: to drink water from an unfired clay cup, the oath: to set something aside for the god but ask again for it, the oath: to sit on a seat facing the sun, the oath: to pronounce a judgement for bribe, the oath: to tear up grass in the plain, the oath: to break reeds in the marsh, the oath of bow or chariot, the oath of sword or spear, the oath of lance or arrow, the oath: to strike the cheek of an animal, the oath: to crush a clod or throw a clod into the water, the oath: that a cult lamp? was placed in front of this man, the oath of road or path, the oath: to swear faithfulness to a friend, but kill him, the oath: to slaughter a sheep but misuse the cuts, the oath: to show the symbolic pestle in the assembly, the oath of the cymbals or harp, the oath: to ask on a dark day, but deny it, the oath: to ask for a promised thing, but deny it, the oath: to tear out a clod in the field, the oath: to invoke the name of the god holding a plow, the oath that the man has asked in the vicinity of the stable or the animals, the oath: to swear by Šamaš at sunrise, the oath: to invoke the name of the god while making the prayer gesture with unclean hands, the oath of protective spirit or protecting goddess, the oath of tamarisk or date-palm, the oath of boat or river, the oath of harbor or ferry, the oath of canal or bridge, the oath that the man has set out on a journey, the oath that the mann has touched a pitchfork in the river, the oath: to draw a shovel in … …, the oath: to sprinkle his hand and a frontier, the oath: to fix a boundary, but change it, the oath: to promise, but change one’s word, the oath: to transgress the commands of god, the oath: to dam up an open ditch, the oath: to eat stolen meat, the oath: to listen to a wicked person, but deny it, the oath: to mark frontier or boundary, the oath: to overturn a chariot but touch its equipment, the oath: to drink water from a ṣarṣaru-vase, the oath: to urinate or vomit into a river, the oath of the Ṣalīḫu-river or the canals, the oath of mountain or ravine, the oath of source or torrent, the oath of pass or .., the oath of ram, owl, or frog, the oath: to pull out a reed from its bundle, the oath: to break down door or bolt, the oath: to show a weapon in the assembly, the oath of Ninurta, lord of the censer, the oath of chapel or shrine, the oath of dais or throne, the oath of Silakku or Barittu, the oath of Bēlili, the always weeping one, the oath of Manungal, the snatcher, the oath of Kilili looking out of the windows, the oath of Gazbaba, the always laughing one, the oath of Abtagigi, goddess of news, the oath of Lady of the city-wall and crenels, the oath of the …-demons of the corners, the oath of the open altar or its socle, the oath of the laughing protective spirits, the oath of the demons who chase around, the oath of the ghosts, the revenants, the oath of the lurking-demons who sneak around, the oath of drum and kettle-drum, the oath of timbrel and cymbals, the oath of lyre, harp and timbūtu-harp, the oath of lute and pipe, the oath of pit or ditch, the oath: to invoke the name of god holding a torch, the oath: to throw grain into the mill, but pull it out?, the oath: to roast salt and cress in fire, the oath: to retaliate against someone, the oath: to put the breast into the mouth of a small child, the oath: to cause the drying up of the breast, the oath: …, the oath: … and invoke the name of god, the oath of holy eve and …, the oath of holy day and …, the oath of night …, the oath of Sîn …, the oath of Šamaš …, the oath of Ninurta …, the oath of Ningiršu …, the oath of Nusku …, the oath of the Igigi …, the oath of the Anunnaki, great gods …, the oath of the gods of the night, the oath of Ea, lord of wise understanding, the oath of heaven and earth, the oath that he mentioned the patron god of the day, the oath of day, month or year, the oath of nadītu-priestess or qadištu-woman, the oath of …-priest or high-priestess, the oath of skipping-rope or ankle-bell, the oath of barley or silver, the oath of cattle and wild animals, the oath of thorns and thistles, the oath of pair or team, the oath of hunger or hardship, the oath that the name of god was invoked before this man, the oath that this man has seen bad luck, the oath that bad luck entered into the home of this man, the oath: to go down into a magic circle at sunlight, the oath that an accursed man touched this man, the oath: to stretch out his hand to his god or goddess when accursed, the oath: to talk to an accursed man, the oath: to eat an accursed man’s food, the oath: to drink an accursed man’s water, the oath: to drink an accursed man’s leftovers, the oath: to talk to a sinner, the oath: to eat a sinner’s food, the oath: to drink a sinner’s water, the oath: to drink a sinner’s leftovers, the oath: to intercede for a sinner, the oath: to carry, but swear to the opposite, the oath: to take, but swear to the opposite, the oath of sin or interdict, the oath: to commit neglect, the oath of error or crime, the oath of lie or blasphemy, the oath of lamp or stove, the oath of the Lord of the poplar or the Euphrates, the oath of throne or assembly, the oath of dead or living, the oath of wronged man or wronged woman, the oath he knows or does not know; the oath of Anu and Antu, the oath of Enlil and Ninlil, the oath of Ea and Damkina, the oath of Sîn and Ningal, the oath of Šamaš and Aya, the oath of Adad and Šala, the oath of Marduk and Ṣarpanītu, the oath of Nabû and Tašmētu, the oath of Ninurta and Bēlet-Nippuri, the oath of Damu and Gula, the oath of Ningirsu and Bau, the oath of Birdu and Bēbi, the oath of Nusku and Sadarnunna, the oath of … and mountains, the oath of …, the oath of …, the oath of Nin…, the oath of Papsukka…, the oath of the ‘Seven’ …, the oath of day and night, the oath of the gods …, any oath …. The sin of father or mother,⁠a the sin of his father’s father or his mother’s mother, the sin of brother or sister, the sin of friend or companion, the sin of family or in-laws, the sin of late offspring or sucklings, the sin of dead or living, the sin of wronged man or wronged woman, the sin he knows and the sin he does not know,⁠b Asalluḫi, exorcist among the gods, will undo. The committing of assault or violence.

It rests with you, Marduk, to keep safe and sound, the committing of assault or violence, who defeated the Asakku, to eat what is taboo to one’s god, to infringe an interdict and to release it, to visit the wife of one’s friend secretly, to visit unwittingly the daughter of his god, bad luck, complaint, the pointing of the finger, the complaining to the god, to say how happy! and not to guide, to make the angry god and goddess return to a man, to conciliate a person’s wrathful god, angry goddess, to pacify the angry heart of the god and the goddess,⁠a to extirpate sin, to remove crime, to make good error, to heal the sick,⁠b to lift up the fallen, to take the weak by the hand, to change a bad fate, to bestow a good protective god upon somebody, to turn an evil dream into a good one, to avert from somebody the evil of dreams, signs, portents, to drive away the oath, to keep the pregnant woman well, together with the child in her womb, to deliver the child, to give an heir, to call to be mindful of the lord, to have mercy, to accept prayers, to treat the small child tenderly, to invoke the name of god, to lead a laden ship in the river, to be mindful of the lord, to act correctly, to set free the prisoner, to show daylight,⁠c him who has been taken captive, to rescue him, him whose city is distant, whose road is far away, let him go safely to his city, to return the prisoner of war and the captive to his people, that he may see in the presence of his people, to rescue from sin, to wipe out crime, to raise from the sickbed, to rescue from trouble, to forgive sin, to save from hardship, to pull out from a pit, to rescue from the throes of a catastrophe, him whom an evil demon has seized, him whom an evil binder has seized, him whom an evil ghost has seized, him whom an evil devil has seized, him whom an evil god has seized, him whom an evil lurking demon has seized, him whom the lurking demon caught by his god has seized, him whom the Lamashtu has seized, him whom the Labasu has seized, him whom the Ahhazu has seized, him whom whatever evil has seized, sin, oath, error, crime, invocation of the gods, wrath of the gods, complaining to the gods, complaint, curse of father and mother, elder brother and elder sister, all these may the great gods release together with you! First, may Shamash the warrior release, Second, may Sin and Nergal release, Third, may Ishtar, Bau and Annunitu release, Fourth, may Anu, Enlil, Ea and the Mother-Goddess release, Fifth, may Adad, Ninurta, Zababa, Tispak and Ningirsu release, Sixth, may Uras, Marduk, Asari, Asalluhi, Gal, Tutu release, Seventh, may the Seven, the great gods, release, may the gods of HAA release the bond, disperse the conspiracy, break the knot of evil, loosen the fetters, release the oath, efface the invocation of the god, extirpate sin, remove crime, make good error, may the sick get well, the fallen get up, the fettered go free, the captive go free, the prisoner see the light of day. May the god and goddess of him with whom they are angry, be reconciled with him today; may the anger of the heart of the god and goddess of NN, son of NN, be averted from him, may his sin be shed today, may it be wiped off him, averted from him. May the record of his sins, errors, crimes, oaths, all that is sworn, be thrown into the water, may his errors be wiped out, his crimes removed, his oaths undone. his diseases driven away; his headache, his restlessness, his gloom, his bad health, woe and lament, sleeplessness, his worry, his gloom, his weariness, drive them out today from the body of Nun, son of Nun. Through the invocation of your pure name may be removed, driven away, expelled the sin and oath which are there to torment men. May stand by Anu and Antu, may they ward off sickness, may stand by Enlil, lord of Nippur, may he pronounce healing for him with his unchangeable word, may stand by Ea, lord of mankind, whose hands had fashioned men, may stand by Sin, lord of the month, may he undo his oaths, may stand by Shamash, lord of judgement, may he release sin, may stand by Adad, lord of oracles, may he drive away sickness, may stand by Tispak, lord of troops, may he dislodge headache, may stand by Ninurta, lord of the mace, may he remove trouble, may stand by Papsukkal, lord of the staff, may he keep far sickness, may stand by Marduk, wisest among the gods, who brings about well-being, may stand by Asalluhi, exorcist among the great gods, through whose charm the dead lives, the sick gets up, may stand by Nergal, lord of verdict, from whose presence the devils and plague creep into hiding, may stand by Ningirsu, lord of agriculture, may he cause sickness to take flight, may stand by Zababa, lord of the high throne, may he expel plague, may stand by Ennugi, lord of bank and canal, may he bind the Asakku, may stand by Nusku, vizier of Ekur, who speaks in favor, may he heal the sick, may stand by Girru, conciliator of the angry god and goddess, may he remove the weariness of his body, may stand by Ishtar, Lady of all lands, may she intercede for him, may stand by Ninkarrak, the great doctress, may she remove the weariness of his body, may stand by Bau, may she relieve his restlessness. Incantation. An evil curse like the gallû demon has overcome this man.

An evil curse like a gallû-demon has come upon this man. Dumbness and daze have come upon him. An unwholesome dumbness has come upon him. Evil curse, oath, headache. An evil curse has slaughtered this man like a sheep. His god left his body. His goddess, usually full of concern for him, has stepped aside. Dumbness and daze have covered him like a cloak and overwhelm him incessantly. Marduk noticed him. He went into the house to his father Ea and cried out: Father, an evil curse like a gallû-demon has come upon this man. He repeated this to him a second time and said: I do not know what to do, what would quiet him. Ea answered his son Marduk: My son, what is it you do not know? What more could I give to you? Marduk, what is it you do not know? What could I give you in addition? Whatever I know, you know too. Go, my son Marduk. Take him to the pure house of ablutions. Undo his oath, release his oath. That the disturbing evil of his body, Be it the curse of his father, Be it the curse of his mother, Be it the curse of his elder brother, Be it the curse of a bloodshed unknown to him, By pronouncing the charm of Ea the oath May be peeled off like this onion,⁠a Stripped off like these dates, Unraveled like this matting. Oath, be adjured by the name of heaven, Be adjured by the name of earth. Like this onion he peels and throws into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, Which will not be grown in a plant-bed, Which will not be close to a ditchbank or canal, Whose roots will not take hold in the soil, Whose shoot will not sprout and will not see the sun, That will not be used for the meal of god or king. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be peeled off like this onion, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. As these dates are stripped off and thrown into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, Which will not return to the plucked cluster, Will not be used for the meal of god or king. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be stripped off like these dates, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. As this matting is unraveled and thrown into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, The fibres it is made of will not return to the date-palm, Which will not be fit for a proper use. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be unraveled like this matting, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. As this flock of wool is plucked apart and thrown into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, Which will not return onto its sheep, Will not be used for the clothing of god or king. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be plucked out like this flock of wool, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. As this goats’ hair is plucked apart and thrown into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, Which will not return onto its goat, Which will not be fit for a proper use. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be plucked out like this goats’ hair, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. As this red wool is plucked apart and thrown into the fire, The fire consumes it entirely, Which the weaver will not weave into a colored garment, Which will not be used for the clothing of god or king. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be plucked out like this red wool, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. My hands are filled with grains of flour. My hands are filled with fever, scab, labāšu-disease. My hands are filled with invocation and oath. My hands are filled with retaliation and questioning. My hands are filled with the pain of hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error. My hands are filled with unhappiness and illness. My hands are filled with sorcery, spittle, dirt, evil machinations of men. Like this grain of flour which is burnt in the fire, Which the farmer will not sow in the field, Which will not be close to a ditchbank or canal, Whose roots will not take hold in the soil, Whose shoot will not sprout and will not see the sun, Thus may its oath not be begotten within me. May its roots not take hold in my spine. May its shoot not affect the heaven of my heart. Invocation, oath, retaliation, questioning, The pain of my hardship, sin, transgression, crime, error, The sickness that is in my body, my flesh, my veins, May be burnt like this grain of flour, May the fire consume it entirely today, May the oath leave so that I may see the light. Utu took the thread into her hand. Ištar made the thread of Utu ready. She made the skillful woman sit down to spin it. She spun with a spindle white wool, black wool, a double thread, A mighty thread, a great thread, a multicolored thread, a thread that cuts the oath, Against the words of bad portent, an oath caused by men, Against the curses of the gods, A thread that cuts the oath. She tied the head, the hands, the feet of this man, So that Marduk, son of Eridu, the prince, could rip it off with his pure hands. May he remove the thread representing the oath into the field, the pure place. May the evil oath step aside. May this man be purified, cleaned. May he be entrusted into the propitious hands of his god. Conjuration to undo the oath. I am a purification-priest. I kindled a fire. I kindled the stove. I threw in the magic ingredients. I am the purified, the clean priest of Ea, the messenger of Marduk. I am banking the stove I kindled. I am extinguishing the fire I lit. I am smothering the grain I poured out. Just as I bank the stove I kindled, As I extinguish the fire I lit, As I smother the grain I poured out, So may Sīrīs, releaser of god and man, loosen the knot she tied. May the angry heart of the god and goddess of NN, son of NN, be pacified toward him. May his sin be poured out today. May it be wiped off him, be released for him. Calm down, oh fierce Girru. Let the mountains and the rivers calm down with you. Let the Tigris and the Euphrates calm down with you. Let the ocean, the wide sea, calm down with you. Also the road, daughter of the great gods. Also the weed sprung up in the grass. Also the heart of my angry god and goddess. Also the heart of the angry god and goddess of my city. Today may the angry heart of my god and goddess be pacified, And the oath removed from my body. Because you are the judge, I stand before you, And because you are beneficent, I turn constantly to you. Judge my cause, decide my decision. The dimītu-disease had come out from the midst of the Apsû.

The dimītu-disease had come out from the midst of the Apsû. The oath was on its way down from the midst of heaven. The Aḫḫazu-demon was breaking through the ground like weed. They were spreading awesome rays toward the four cardinal points, scorching everything like fire. They were plaguing the prolific population of the cities, pestering their bodies. They were raising wails in town and country, making young and old beat their breasts. They were binding the young man and the young girl, filling them with despair. They were raining down disease in heaven and on earth like a thundercloud, causing epilepsy. They rushed to the place where the god turned his wrath and cast a silence of dejection. They have encountered the man from whom his god had withdrawn and covered him like a cloak. They have pounced straight upon him and filled him with their venom. They filled his hands, paralyzed his feet. They covered his body with scab, sprinkled gall on him. Invocation and oath have inflamed him. Cough and phlegm have weakened his chest. His mouth filled with spittle and foam. Dumbness and daze have come upon this man. He became greatly enfeebled. He roams around day and night and wails bitterly. Marduk noticed him. He went into the house to his father Ea and cried out: Father, the dimītu-disease had come out from the midst of the Apsû. He repeated this to him a second time and said: I do not know what to do, what would quiet him. Ea answered his son Marduk: My son, what is it you do not know? What more could I give to you? Marduk, what is it you do not know? What could I give you in addition? Whatever I know, you know too. Go, my son Marduk. Take seven loaves of pure coarse flour. String them on a bronze skewer. Cap them with a bead of carnelian. Wipe with it this man, son of his god, whom an oath had seized. Have him spit upon the dirt wiped off him. Cast the spell of Eridu upon it. Take it out to the plain, the pure place. Put it down at the base of a thorn-bush. Drive out from his body the disease which has overcome him. Entrust his oath to the Lady of the plain and the fields. May Ninkilim, lord of the animals, transfer his grave illness to the vermin of the earth. May Damu, the great conjuror, have words of good portent spoken for him. May Gula, mother whose hands are cool, lady who revives the dead, cool him with the stroking of her pure hands. And you, Marduk, merciful lord, who love to revive the dead, Loosen his bonds through your pure, life-giving spell. Thus may this man, son of his god, become pure, clean, resplendent. May he be washed clean like an alabastron. May he be scoured clean like a jar for butter. Entrust him to Šamaš, leader of the gods. And may Šamaš, leader of the gods, in turn entrust him safe into the propitious hands of the gods.

I hold my curved maces, I release you. Asalluḫi, king of the gods, Marduk, lord of life, The big merciless weapons may release you, may absolve you. Redressor of the wronged man and woman, merciless, raging, furious weapon, Plague, pestilence, wind and lightning of Marduk may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Those of the waters, river and dry land, the dragon of the sea, The rabid dog, the water-bison, the fish-man, the goat-fish, The demon who precedes Bēl, fear, chill, splendor, He who hands the water for washing the hands may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. The high, awesome Esagil, the holy city, The Lady of Esagil, the Queen of Esagil, The Lady of Babylon, the Queen of Babylon, The double weapon, the wind and lightning of Marduk may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Abutum, Ebitum, Magrat-amassu, The throne-bearer DI.KUD, Marduk, Zēr-bānītu, Nabû, Tašmētu, Uraš, Uš, Zababa, Enlilbanda, Lugalbanda, Lugal-dimmer-an-ki may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Anu, Antu, Enlil, Ninlil, Ea, Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, the valiant gods, Id and Kiša, Nammu and Nanše, Tišpak, Ninazu, Ningirim, Tiranna, Manzat may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Iškaridis, Lagamal, Sataran, Nirah, Manungal, Qudmu, Zizanu, the Lady of the dust, the Lady of the plains, the Lady of battle may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Ištaran, Nabû, Lisi, Liburdannu, Pabilsag, Hendursanga, Adad, Ninurta, Šullat, Haniš, Ušuramasu, Mešaru may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Kubu, NINDA, GUD, INANNA, NALLA, Nin-EZEN, GUD, Nusku, Papsukkal, Šamaš, Aja, Bunene, Ištar-kakkabê, Luḫušu, Igištu, Lugal-girra may release you, may absolve you. Girru, Šakan, Tutu, Imbinni, Naruda, Irra-GAL, Aritu, Bēlet-āli, Ninurta, Ningirsu, Bau and Gula may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Nergal, Išum, Šubula, Šaršarbati, Māmītu, Lulal, Latarak, Šarraḫu, Massû, Kaka and the Lord of all lands may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Lugalmaradda, Imzuanna, Ninimma, Šuzianna, Šulpae, Sadarnunna, Bēlet-ilī, Sukurru, Sirsir, Ningizzida may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Papingarra, ENKAGAL, Ekindu, NE, Ninegal, Gula, Laḫmu, Rammānu, Riḫṣu, Nisaba, Ereškigal, Lugal-gudua may release you, may absolve you. Incantation. Lugal-a-ab-ba, Lugal-idda, Laguda, Enzag, Mesiklak, Hedemeku, Lugaldakuga, Išimmi-tiklāšu, Lugalabzu, Ušmû and Ḫasisu may release you, may absolve you. Illat, Alba, Alha, Baliḫa, KAŠ.KUR, who dwell in the high mountains, the high peaks, source, brook, mountains, rivers, awesome seas may release you, may absolve you. MAR.TU, DINGIR.MAR.TU, who carries the curved mace and the drawing bucket, Of heaven and earth, day, month and year, holy eve, holy day, the 7th, the 15th, the 19th, the 20th, the 25th, the day of the new moon, the day of the washing ritual, the evil day, May your sin, your oath, your error, your crime, your invocation, your disease, your weariness, sorcery, spittle, dirt, The evil machinations of people which to you, to your house, your offspring, your progeny, Occur, get in your way, appear again and again, Be released for you, be absolved for you, be wiped off you. Together with the oath of field, orchard, house, street, alley, open altar and its socle may they be released for you, absolved for you, wiped off you. Together with the oath of marsh, forest, the breaking of reeds, the tearing up of grass. Together with the oath of seeder plow, the share of the subsoil plow, furrow, frontier, boundary and inscription. Together with the oath of ditchbank and canal, bridge, pass, path and road. Together with the oath of boat, river, harbor, ferry and raft. Together with the oath of the Balihu, source, brook and reservoir. Together with the oath of city, house, breaking a staff, refusing to take an oath but certifying an account. Together with the oath of seeing its just value but receiving income consisting of cattle, sheep and slaves. Together with the oath of cursing brother, associate, comrade, companion, guest, fellow-citizen but denying it. Together with the oath of cursing elder brother, elder sister, father or mother but denying it. Together with the oath of breaking a table, smashing a cup and invoking the name of god. Together with the oath of chair, seat, bed, couch and swearing. Together with the oath of rending a cloak, breaking a breast-plate or cutting off a didu-garment. Together with the oath of cutting off a fringe or drawing a sword. Together with the oath of giving with a small seah-measure but taking with a big seah-measure. Together with the oath of giving with a small shekel-weight but taking with a big shekel-weight. Together with the oath of giving with a small mina-weight but taking with a big mina-weight. Together with the oath of using an untrue balance or taking untrue money and swearing it was rightful. Together with the oath of cursing a slave, slave-girl, master or mistress but denying it. Together with the oath of the daughters of the god, priest, high priestess, nadītu-priestess, qadīštu-woman or kulmaštu-woman. Together with the oath of god, king, noble or prince, governor, officer or judge. Together with the oath of house, yard, gate, field, orchard or garden. Together with the oath of cursing wife, spouse or oldest son. Together with the oath of jokes and banter, promising but changing one’s word and refusing. Together with the oath of tearing out thorns and thistles, tamarisk or date-palm. Together with the oath of furnace, grill, kiln, stove, cult lamp or bellows. Together with the oath of roof, gutter, threshold, bolt, door, lock or door-post. Together with the oath of swearing by bow, chariot, sword or spear. Today may the great gods who dwell in the heaven of Anu release you, absolve you in their assembly. Taboo, interdict, sin, transgression, crime, error, retaliation, questioning, Bad luck may move away, be far off. The invocation, oath, sin, error, blasphemy against god and goddess, the evil effect of sorcery, spittle, dirt, evil machinations, May they be released for you, absolved for you, wiped off you today. He is purified, cleansed, bathed, washed, cleaned. With the water of the pure Tigris and Euphrates, the water of the sea and vast ocean, Pure water, silver, gold, bronze, tin, lead, carnelian, lapislazuli, hulālu-stone, UD-stone, UD.AŠ-stone, UD.AŠ.AŠ-stone, abašmu-stone, emeqsa-stone, lamassu-stone, breccia, Ajjaru-stone, tamarisk, ēdu-plant, mastakal, palm-shoot, šalālu-reed, pure plant, tree, Upon the command of Marduk, exorcist among the gods, the wisest among the gods, lord of life, May all this, with the waters from your body and the washwater from your hands, Be discarded so that the earth take it away. May the curved mace release your sin. Tamarisk, lone tree, growing in the high plain.

Tamarisk, lone tree, growing in the high plain. Your crown above, your root below. Your crown above is a tree releasing everything. Your root below is a terrace. Your trunk is the gods. With bathed head, You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside.⁠a Purification-plant, clean plant, growing out from the Apsû. Above your crown, below your root. Above, your crown gives life upwards. Below, your root cleanses downwards. May your trunk purify everything for the rites. With bathed head, You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Pure reed, clean reed, growing in the heart of the reed-thicket. Above you sparkle, below you sparkle. Above and below you are filled with sparks. Above, you bring the justice of Utu. Below, you bring to perfection the hand-washing ceremony of Enki. With bathed head, for the releasing, A man with bathed head speaks thus to you. You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Soap-plant, horn-like, pure mouth-wash. Who on a day of joy has caused words of good portent to be spoken. Who causes that the decisions are pronounced with a pure mouth. You cool the tongue. You quiet down the tongue. A man with bathed head speaks thus to you. You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Table-salt, formed in the mine. Who are imbued with life, table-salt. Partaking in all existing rites. Carried into the evening meal, carried into the great meal. Passing the time at the base of heaven and at the lock of heaven. A man with bathed head speaks thus to you. You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Tall cedar, growing in the high mountain. Whose fate was determined in the mountain, the pure place. Who from the Ḫašur-mountain reaches toward heaven. Whose fragrance drifts over the fields. Who day and night, on a resplendent day, a favorable day, fit for sprinkling water, has come from the mountain. You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Juniper, growing from the sprout. Young juniper, growing from the sprout. Juniper whose boughs and intertwining branches are precious. Great pillar of heaven, great foundation of the earth. Resplendent doorpost of Eridu. Strong lock of the temple of Enlil. Who on a day fit for has come from the mountain. You cleanse, you purify the mouth of the humans. May the evil tongue stand aside. Bright above, pure above, bright below, pure below. Whose interior brings to perfection the hand-washing ceremony of Enki. In the midst of which the Anunnake bathe themselves. The prince Enki has given instructions. The pure quay, the horn-like soap-plant, the pure water he gave you. To perform correctly the New Year festival for seven days, seven months, seven days, at the place which may not be entered. By pronouncing the charm of the great lord Ea, May he be entrusted safe into the propitious hands of his god. River of the gods, who has borne everything. Of Enki, whose fate has been determined by Anu and Enlil. Whose bank is pure, whose interior is clean, whose silt is clean. Who makes everything good. With whose water the gods purify themselves. Whose water is clean, is pure. Enki advised his son Asalluḫi. When you have put virgin water, whose surface is open, into the holy-water basin, the pure one. When this man, son of his god, bathes himself. When you have touched his hands, have sprinkled the top of his head. The evil demon, the evil binder, the evil ghost, the evil devil, the evil god, the evil lurking-demon, The evil man, the evil eye, the evil mouth, the evil tongue, venom, sperm, the machinations toward his evil, Shall not approach him. Upon Enki’s command shall not return to him. A good guardian spirit, a protecting goddess, the lordship and kingship over the country, May be present in his body and in his dwelling. May walk at his side, may be present in his body. May be at his head when he is in the reed-hut. Your hands are washed, your hands are washed. Your hands are washed, you are pure, your hands are washed, you are clean. Your hands are washed, you are clean, your hands are washed, you are pure. Since he whose hands are washed is pure. Since he whose hands are washed is clean. Since he whose hands are washed is pure. Since he whose hands are washed is clean. May this man, son of his god, be pure like heaven. Be clean like the earth, be clean like the core of heaven. May the evil tongue stand aside. Incense, dwelling in the mountains, created in the mountains. You are pure, coming from the mountains. Fragrance of juniper, fragrance of cedar, incense dwelling in the mountains. The powerful incense has been granted to us. The high mountains provide it for purification. In the pure censer, filled with awe-inspiring splendor. The sweet oil, the choice oil, worthy of the table. And the pure materials of the purifying craft. Make the incense-fumes, their product, issue forth. May he be clean like heaven, may he be pure like the core of heaven. May the evil tongue stand aside. Gibil, high prince, exalted in the high mountains. In the dark Netherworld, where no light. May the Light of Heaven, as he sets in the heavens, Give you his pure horn filled with oil. The flame of his horn, the brilliance of his horn. The life of the living beings. At the place where mankind is to be released from evil. You are the one who turns back at night the evil-doer. May you, oh Gibil, purify it with that flame. May you, oh Gibil, cleanse it with that flame. May you, oh Gibil, make it brilliantly clean with that flame. May the evil tongue stand aside. High waters flowing straight from the high mountains. Waters flowing out straight from the pure Euphrates. Born of the Apsû, dealing out everything. Born of Eridu, you have touched the cedar. You have touched the tree of Ḫašur. You have touched Anu above, you have touched the goddess of the earth below. You have touched Enki, the king of the Apsû, the pure one. You have touched the body of this man, son of his god. Made him clean, made him pure. May the evil tongue stand aside.