Column I

25 When the second year arrives When the third year arrives The people in their . . . become changed. When the fourth year arrives, their position was miserable. The wide . . . their . . . became oppressed.

30 The people wander in the streets with the head bowed. When the fifth year arrives, the daughter looks for the entering of the mother. The mother opens not her door to the daughter. The daughter looks upon the treasures of the mother. The mother looks upon the treasures of the daughter.

35 When the sixth year arrives, they prepare the daughter for a meal. For morsels they prepare the child were full(?) One house devours another. Like ghosts their faces they cover. The people live in violence.

40 They took a messenger .. They entered, and An oracle And the lord of the land . the return

Column II

Above Adad [the angel of the storm] made scarce his rain.

30 Below (the fountain of the deep) was stopped, that the flood rose not at the source. The field diminished its fertility. A change came over the bosom of Nisaba [the grain-bearing earth]. By night the fields became white. The wide plain bore weeds (?). The plant came not forth; the sheep did not become pregnant.

35 Calamity was put upon the people. The womb was closed, and the child came not forth.

When the second year arrives

When the third year arrives,

40 The people in their . . . became changed. When the fourth year arrives their position is miserable. The wide . . . their . . . became oppressed. The people wander in the street with head bowed down. When the fifth year arrives, the daughter looks for the entering of the mother.

45 The mother opens not her door to the daughter. The daughter looks upon the treasures of the mother. The mother looks upon the treasures of the daughter. When the sixth year arrives, they prepare the daughter for a meal. For morsels they prepare the child.

50 Full was ... one house devours another. Like ghosts their faces they cover. The people live in violence.

The wise Atra-hasis, the man,

To Ea [GOD the Merciful], his Lord, his thought turns.

55 He speaks with his [Lord]. His Lord Ea speaks with him. the door of his [Lord]. By the river he places his bed. . seek his rains.

Column III

He spoke in their assemblage to those untouched by the desolations.

Enlil [GOD the Judge] held his assembly.

5 He said to the gods [angels], his children [servants], Those observing the clamor of men, He said in their assemblage to those untouched by the desolations: "let there be malaria.

10 Hastily let fate [GOD's decree] make an end to their clamor. Like a storm, let it overwhelm them. Sickness, headache, malaria, calamity." and they had malaria. Hastily fate [GOD's decree] made an end to their cry.

15 Like a storm it overwhelmed them, Sickness, headache, malaria, calamity. The wise lord Atra-hasis, the man, To Ea, his Lord, his thought turns. He speaks with his [Lord].

20 His Lord Ea speaks with him.

Atra-hasis opened his mouth, and speaks

To Ea, his Lord.

O Lord, mankind is in misery.

Your power consumes the land.

25 Ea, O Lord, mankind is in misery. The anger of [GOD] consumes the land. Thou who hast created us Let sickness, headache, malaria, calamity cease.

Ea opened his mouth, he speaks to Atar-hasis, and tells him:

"in the land.

30 pray to [your Lord]. [GOD], his command."

Enlil held his assembly; he speaks to the angels, his servants.

"I will put them to death.

The people have not become less; they are more numerous than before."

He said in their assemblage to those untouched by the desolations:

"Let the fig tree for the people be cut off.

In their bellies let the plant be wanting.

Above, let Adad make his rain scarce.

45 Below let (the fountain of the deep) be stopped, that the flood rise not at the source. Let the field withhold its fertility. Let a change come over the bosom of Nisaba; by night let the fields become white. Let the wide field bear weeds (?). Let her bosom revolt, that the plant come not forth, that the sheep become not pregnant.

50 Let calamity be placed upon the people. Let the womb be closed, that it bring forth no infant."

The fig tree was cut off for the people.

In their bellies, the plant was wanting.

55 Above, Adad made scarce his rain. Below (the fountains of the deep) was stopped, that the flood rose not at the source. The field withheld its fertility. A change came over the bosom of Nisaba; the fields by night became white, The wide field bore weeds (?); her womb revolted. The plant came not forth; the sheep did not become pregnant.

60 Calamity was placed upon the people. The womb was closed, and brought forth no baby.

Column IV

Ea said.

.... he shall cause her to recite.

recited [a prayer]. After she recited [the prayer];

She spat upon her clay.

5 Fourteen pieces she pinched off; seven pieces she laid on the right. Seven pieces she laid on the left; between them she placed a brick. Offspring is delivered, the birth-stool (?). She then called the wise Seven and seven mothers, seven formed boys.

10 Seven formed girls Them(?), they finished them. Them(?), they finished before her. The figures of people, Mami [by GOD's command] formed [from clay].

15 In the house of the bearing one the midwife, shall let the brick for seven days lie. They that are angry in the house of the midwife, let be happy. When the bearing one is about to give birth, Let the mother of the child conceive it like into herself.