Gilgamesh said to him, to Um-napishtim, the distant one:

I look upon thee, O Um-napishtim;

Thy appearance is not changed, for I am like thou art.

And thou art not different, for I am like thou art.

5 There is perfection of heart unto thee to make combat. And in resting thou liest upon thy back. [Tell me], how hast thou stood up, and found life in the assembly of the gods [angels]? Um-napishtim spoke to him, even to Gilgamesh; I will reveal, O Gilgamesh, the secret story;

10 And the decision of [GOD] to thee I will relate. Shurippak, a city which thou knowest, Is situated (on the bank) of the Euphrates, That city was old when the gods [angels] within it, The great gods, [carried out GOD's decree] to send a deluge.

20 The lord of wisdom, Ea [GOD the Merciful], He repeated [His] words to the qikkis: "Qikkis, qikkis! Wall, wall! O, qikkis, hear! O wall, give attention! Man of Shurippak, son of Ubara-Tutu, Tear down the house, build a ship!

25 Leave possessions, take thought for life! Abandon property; save life! Bring into the ship the seed of life of everything! The ship which thou shalt build, Let its dimensions be measured!

30 Let its breadth and its length be proportioned! Like the apsu, protect it with a roof." I understood, and said to Ea [GOD the Merciful], my lord, [The word] of the lord, as thou hast commanded, thus I will observe, I will execute.

On the fifth day, I raised its form.

I placed its walls about its perimeter 120 cubits high.

120 cubits was proportioned the length of its upper part.

60 I laid its hull; I enclosed it with a roof (?). I covered it (i. e. made decks) six times. I divided (into divisions) seven times. I divided its interior nine times. Water-tanks in its midst I constructed.

65 I inspected the compartments, and I installed the necessities. Three sars of bitumen I smeared over the (outside) wall. Three sars of bitumen I smeared over the inside. Three sars of oil the basket bearers brought in. I saved a sar of oil which sacrifices consumed.

70 Two sars of oil the shipman stowed away. For [the people] oxen were slaughtered. I slew sheep daily. Must, sesame [juice], oil and [lawful drink]. I gave the workmen to drink like water from the river.

75 [I made a fe]ast like [a festival day], and I open[ed a box] of ointment. I completed my task (lit. laid down my hand). Before (?) Shamash [the sun, GOD's sign], the great ship was finished. . . . was opened wide, and The ship ropes (?) which they made, they installed above and below.

80 With all that I had, I loaded it. With all that I had of silver, I loaded it. With all that I had of gold, I loaded it. With all the seed of life that there was, I loaded it. I caused to go up into the ship all my family and relatives.

85 The cattle of the field, the beast of the plain, the craftsmen, all of them, I caused to go up. Shamash [GOD the Light-giver] fixed a time (saying), "The muir kukki at even will send a heavy rain. Enter the ship and close the door." That time arrived.

90 The muir kukki at even sent a heavy rain. Of the storm, I observed its appearance. To behold the storm, I dreaded. I entered the ship, and closed the door. To the master of the ship, to Buzur-Amurru, the sailor,

95 I entrusted the great house, including its possessions. On the appearance of the break of dawn, There rises from the foundation of the heavens a black cloud. Adad [the storm-angel] thunders in the midst of it. Nebo and Sharru [two angels] go before.

100 They go as messengers over mountain and land. Urragal [an angel] tears out the mast (?). En-Urta [an angel] proceeds; he advances the onset. The Anunnaki [angels] raise the torches.

105 With their flashes they illuminate the land, The fury of Adad reaches the heavens. Everything that was bright turns [to darkness]. Quickly it overwhelms, and [covers] the mountains.

110 Like a war engine it comes upon the people. Brother could not see brother. The people in heaven did not recognize each other. Six days and six nights, The wind tears, and the deluge-tempest overwhelms the land.

130 When the seventh day arrives, the deluge-tempest subsides in the onslaught, Which had fought like an army. The sea rested; the hurricane had spent itself, the flood was at an end. I looked upon the sea; the voice was silent. And all mankind was turned to clay.

135 Like a log they floated about. I opened the hatch, and the light fell upon my countenance. I was horrified, and I sat down and wept. Over my countenance ran my tears. I looked in all directions; the sea was terrible.

140 On the twelfth day, an island arose. Upon Mount Nisir, the ship grounded. Mount Nisir held the ship that it moved not. One day, a second day, Mount Nisir held it, that it moved not. A third day, a fourth day Mount Nisir held it, that it moved not.

145 A fifth day, a sixth day Mount Nisir held it, that it moved not. When the seventh day arrived, I brought out and released a dove. The dove went forth; it turned; It did not have a resting place; it returned.

150 I brought out and released a swallow. The swallow went forth; it turned; It did not have a resting place; it returned. I brought out and released a raven. The raven went forth; it saw the drying up of the water;

155 It approached; it waded; it croaked (?); it did not return. I sent (everything) to the four winds. I offered a sacrifice [for GOD's sake]. I made a libation upon the summit of the mountain. Seven and seven adagur pots I set out. Beneath them I piled reeds, cedar wood and myrtle.

160 [GOD accepted the offering.] "I have not revealed the decision of [GOD]. I caused Atra-hasis to see a dream, and he heard the decision of [GOD]. Now take counsel concerning him." [An angel of GOD] went up into the ship. He took my hand, and brought me up. My wife he brought up, (and) caused to kneel beside me. He turned our faces and he stood between us; he blessed us. Formerly Um-napishtim was a man, and now Um-napishtim and his wife are associates; they are elevated [in honour]. Verily Um-napishtim shall dwell afar off at the mouth of the rivers. He took me, and caused me to dwell afar off at the mouth of the rivers.