In praise of the Honey-whip, the sweetness of the morning breeze, a gift of God; and a prayer for sweetness, splendour and strength.

1 The Honey-whip of the twin angels of the dawn was born from heaven and earth, from middle air, and ocean, and from fire and wind. All living creatures welcome it with joyful hearts, fraught with the store of nectar it hath gathered up.

2 They call thee earth's great strength in every form, they call thee too the ocean's genial seed. Whence comes the Honey-whip bestowing bounty, there life is, and nectar treasured.

3 In sundry spots, repeatedly reflecting, men view upon the earth her course and action; for she, the first-born daughter of the storm-winds, derives her origin from wind and fire.

4 Daughter of the radiant ones, mother of the shining ones, centre of nectar, breath of living creatures, the Honey-whip, gold-coloured, dropping fatness, moves as a mighty embryo 'mid mortals.

5 The angels brought forth the Whip of Honey by God's command: her image assumed all forms and fashions. The mother nourishes that tender infant which at its birth looks on all worlds and beings.

6 Who understandeth well, who hath perceived it, her heart's uninjured beaker of the sweet drink? Let the wise teacher therein be joyful.

7 He understandeth them, he hath perceived them, her breasts that pour a thousand streams, uninjured: they unreluctantly yield strength and vigour.

8 She who with voice upraised in constant clamour, mighty, life-giving, goes unto her function, bellowing to the heated three libations, suckles with streams of milk, and still is lowing.

9 On whom, well-fed, the waters wait in service, and steers and self-refulgent bulls attend her. For thee, for one like thee down pour the waters, and cause desire and strength to rain upon thee.

10 The thunder is a sign of the Creator, Lord of creatures: by His command the rain pours its vigour on the earth. The Honey-whip, the first-born daughter of the storm-winds, derives her origin from wind and fire.

11 As at the morning worship the twin angels delight in the offering, even so may God lay splendour and strength within my soul.

12 As at the second worship God, the Mighty and the Radiant, is well pleased with the offering, even so may God lay splendour and strength within my soul.

13 As at the third worship the offering is dear to the skilled craftsmen, even so may God store splendour and strength within my soul.

14 Fain would I bring forth sweetness, fain would make it mine. Bringing milk, O God, have I come: splendour and strength bestow on me!

15 Grant me, O God, splendid strength, and progeny, and lengthened life. May the angels and the seers know me as I am; may God, the Mighty, know me.

16 As honey-bees collect and add honey to their honey store, even so may God lay splendour and strength within my soul.

17 As over honey flies besmear this honey which the bees have made, so may God lay in me splendour and strength and power and might.

18 May all the sweetness that is found in hills and mountains, steeds and kine, and in the sweet drink that floweth from the cup, may all that sweetness be in me.

19 May God balm me with the honey of the bees, that I may speak among the folk words full of splendour and of strength.

20 The thunder is a sign of the Lord of creatures: by His command rain pours its strength on earth and heaven. To that all cattle look for their existence: with this she nourishes their force and vigour.

21 The Whip itself is Heaven, Earth is the handle, the point of juncture is the air's mid-region. The lash is lightning; and the tip is golden.

22 Whoever knows the Whip's seven kinds of honey, becomes himself a man endowed with sweetness. Scholar and ruler, the draught-ox and the milch-cow, barley and rice, and honey is the seventh.

23 Sweet is the man, sweet are his goods and chattels: he who knows this wins the realms of sweetness.

24 The thundering in heaven is verily a sign manifest to living creatures. Therefore I stand humbly, and cry, O Lord of creatures, regard me! The man who hath this knowledge is regarded by living beings and by the Lord of creatures.