1-5 From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven the lady Inana set her mind on the great below. My mistress abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the realm of the dead.

6-13 She abandoned her priestly office, abandoned the E-ana in Unug, and descended to the realm of the dead. She abandoned the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, and descended. She abandoned the Giguna in Zabalam, and descended. She abandoned the E-cara in Adab, and descended. She abandoned the Barag-dur-jara in Nibru, and descended. She abandoned the Hursaj-kalama in Kic, and descended. She abandoned the E-Ulmac in Agade, and descended. She abandoned the Ibgal in Umma, the E-Dilmuna in Urim, the Amac-e-kug in Kisiga, the E-ecdam-kug in Jirsu, the E-sig-mece-du in Isin, the Anzagar in Akcak, the Nijin-jar-kug in Curuppag and the E-cag-hula in Kazallu, and descended.

14-19 She took the seven powers. She collected the powers and grasped them in her hand. With the good powers, she went on her way. She put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her head. She took a wig for her forehead. She hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.

20-25 She placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She covered her body with a pala dress, the garment of ladyship. She placed mascara on her eyes. She pulled the pectoral over her breast. She placed a golden ring on her hand. She held the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand.

26-27 Inana travelled towards the realm of the dead. Her minister Nincubura travelled behind her.

28-31 The lady Inana said to Nincubura: "Come, my faithful minister of E-ana, my minister who speaks fair words, my escort who speaks trustworthy words. I am going to give you instructions: my instructions must be followed; I am going to say something to you: it must be observed.

32-36 "On this day I will descend to the realm of the dead. When I have arrived there, make a lament for me on the ruin mounds. Beat the drum for me in the sanctuary. Make the rounds of the houses of prayer for me.

37-40 "Weep for me, grieve for me. Like a pauper, clothe yourself in a single garment and all alone set your foot in the house of God.

41-47 "When you have entered the house of God, lament before your Lord: "O Lord, don't let anyone kill Your servant in the realm of the dead. Don't let Your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the realm of the dead. Don't let Your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let Your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let the young lady Inana be killed in the realm of the dead."

48-64 "Do not tire of calling on your Lord; ask Him again and again, in every house of prayer, with the same plea.

65-67 "God, the Lord of great wisdom, knows about the life-giving plant and the life-giving water. He is the one who will restore me to life."

68-72 When Inana travelled on towards the realm of the dead, her minister Nincubura travelled on behind her. She said to her minister Nincubura: "Go now, my Nincubura, and pay attention. Don't neglect the instructions I gave you."

73-77 When Inana arrived at the palace Ganzer, she pushed aggressively on the door of the realm of the dead. She shouted aggressively at the gate: "Open up, doorman, open up. Open up, Neti, open up. I am all alone and I want to come in."

78-84 Neti, the chief doorman of the realm of the dead, answered the lady Inana: "Who are you?" "I am Inana going to the east." "If you are Inana going to the east, why have you travelled to the land of no return? How did you set your heart on the road whose traveller never returns?"

85-89 The lady Inana answered him: "Because lord Gud-gal-ana, the husband of my elder sister Erec-ki-gala, has died; in order to have his funeral rites observed, she offers generous libations at his wake -- that is the reason."

90-93 Neti, the chief doorman, answered the lady Inana: "Stay here, Inana. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my mistress Erec-ki-gala and tell her what you have said."

94-101 Neti, the chief doorman, entered the house of his mistress Erec-ki-gala and said: "My mistress, there is a lone girl outside. It is Inana, your sister, and she has arrived at the palace Ganzer. She pushed aggressively on the door. She shouted aggressively at the gate. She has abandoned E-ana and has descended to the realm of the dead.

102-107 "She has taken the seven powers. She has collected the powers and grasped them in her hand. She has come on her way with all the good powers. She has put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her head. She has taken a wig for her forehead. She has hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.

108-113 "She has placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She has covered her body with the pala dress of ladyship. She has placed mascara on her eyes. She has pulled the pectoral over her breast. She has placed a golden ring on her hand. She is holding the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand."

114-122 When she heard this, Erec-ki-gala slapped the side of her thigh. She bit her lip and took the words to heart. She said to Neti, her chief doorman: "Come Neti, my chief doorman, don't neglect the instructions I will give you. Let the seven gates of the realm of the dead be bolted. Then let each door of the palace Ganzer be opened separately. As for her, after she has entered, and crouched down and had her clothes removed, they will be carried away."

123-128 Neti, the chief doorman, paid attention to the instructions of his mistress. He bolted the seven gates. Then he opened each of the doors of the palace Ganzer separately. He said to the lady Inana: "Come on, Inana, and enter."

129-133 And when Inana entered the first gate, the turban, headgear for the open country, was removed from her head. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

134-138 When she entered the second gate, the small lapis-lazuli beads were removed from her neck. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

139-143 When she entered the third gate, the twin egg-shaped beads were removed from her breast. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

144-148 When she entered the fourth gate, the pectoral was removed from her breast. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

149-153 When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was removed from her hand. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

154-158 When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

159-163 When she entered the seventh gate, the pala dress, the garment of ladyship, was removed from her body. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a decree of the realm of the dead has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the realm of the dead."

164-172 After she had crouched down and had her clothes removed, they were carried away. Then she made her sister Erec-ki-gala rise from her throne, and instead she sat on her throne. The angels, the seven judges, rendered their decision against her. They looked at her -- it was the look of death. They spoke to her -- it was the speech of anger. They shouted at her -- it was the shout of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook.

173-175 After three days and three nights had passed, her minister Nincubura, her minister who speaks fair words, her escort who speaks trustworthy words, carried out the instructions of her mistress. She did not forget her orders, she did not neglect her instructions.

176-182 She made a lament for her in her ruined houses. She beat the drum for her in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the houses of prayer for her. She wept for her and grieved for her. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment, and all alone she set her foot in the house of God.

183-189 When she had entered the house of God, she lamented before her Lord: "O Lord, don't let anyone kill Your servant in the realm of the dead. Don't let Your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the realm of the dead. Don't let Your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let Your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let the young lady Inana be killed in the realm of the dead."

190-194 God answered Nincubura: "My servant craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The powers of the realm of the dead are powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the realm of the dead. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?"

217-225 And God said to Nincubura: "I know what My servant has done. I know what the mistress of all the lands has done." By His leave He created two angels, the kur-jara and the gala-tura. To the kur-jara He gave the life-giving plant. To the gala-tura He gave the life-giving water.

226-235 Then God spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-jara: "Go and direct your steps to the realm of the dead. Flit past the door like flies. Slip through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Erec-ki-gala, on account of her children, is lying there. Her holy shoulders are not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts are not full like a cagan vessel. Her nails are like a pickaxe upon her. The hair on her head is bunched up as if it were leeks.

236-245 "When she says "Oh my heart", you are to say "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart". When she says "Oh my liver", you are to say "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver". (She will then ask:) "Who are you? Speaking to you from my heart to your heart, from my liver to your liver -- if you are angels, let me talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you." Make her swear this by God.

246-253 "They will offer you a riverful of water -- don't accept it. They will offer you a field with its grain -- don't accept it. But say to her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." (She will answer:) "That is the corpse of your queen." Say to her: "Whether it is that of our king, whether it is that of our queen, give it to us." She will give you the corpse hanging on the hook. One of you sprinkle on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. Thus let Inana arise."

254-262 The gala-tura and the kur-jara paid attention to the instructions of their Lord. They flitted through the door like flies. They slipped through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Erec-ki-gala, because of her children, was lying there. Her holy shoulders were not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts were not full like a cagan vessel. Her nails were like a pickaxe upon her. The hair on her head was bunched up as if it were leeks.

263-272 When she said "Oh my heart", they said to her "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart". When she said "Oh my liver", they said to her "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver". (Then she asked:) "Who are you? I tell you from my heart to your heart, from my liver to your liver -- if you are angels, I will talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you." They made her swear this by God.

273-281 They were offered a river with its water -- they did not accept it. They were offered a field with its grain -- they did not accept it. They said to her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." Erec-ki-gala answered the gala-tura and the kur-jara: "The corpse is that of your queen." They said to her: "Whether it is that of our king or that of our queen, give it to us." They were given the corpse hanging on the hook. One of them sprinkled on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. And thus, by God's leave, Inana arose.

348-353 The pursuers came to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba. There was the shepherd Dumuzid clothed in a magnificent garment and seated magnificently on a throne. The pursuers seized him there by his thighs. The seven of them poured the milk from his churns. The seven of them shook their heads like reeds. They would not let the shepherd play the pipe and flute.

359-367 Those who had come for Dumuzid know no food, know no drink, eat no flour offering, drink no libation. They never enjoy the pleasures of the marital embrace, never have any sweet children to kiss. They snatch the son from a man's knee. They make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law.

368-375 Dumuzid let out a wail and turned very pale. The lad raised his hands to heaven, to God: "O God, I am Your servant. I brought butter to the house of my kin. I brought milk to the house of my kin. Turn my hands into snake's hands and turn my feet into snake's feet, so I can escape my pursuers, let them not keep hold of me."

376-383 God accepted his tears. God turned Dumuzid's hands into snake's hands. He turned his feet into snake's feet. Dumuzid escaped his pursuers.

384-393 His wife wept bitterly for her husband. "You wives who lie in your men's embrace, where is my precious husband? You children who lie in your men's embrace, where is my precious child? Where is my man? Where is my man?"