The Epic of Gilgamesh, Old Babylonian Version, part of VA+BM tablet, read by Martin West
With the kind permission of Professor A. R. George, the translation below is taken from his work The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic (Oxford, 2003), with minor modifications. The transcription is based on the transliteration in the same work.
| Original Transcript | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ii.0’ [ibrī ša arammušu danniš] ii.1’ ittīya ittallaku kalu marṣ[ātim] ii.2’ enkidu ša arammušu danniš ii.3’ ittīya ittallaku kalu marṣātim |
ii.0’ [My friend, whom I love deeply], ii.1’ who with me went through every danger, ii.2’ Enkidu, whom I love deeply, ii.3’ who with me went through every danger. |
| ii.4’ illikma ana šīmatu awīlūtim ii.5’ urrī u mūšī elīšu abki |
ii.4’ He went to the destiny of mankind, ii.5’ I wept over him day and night. |
| ii.6’ ul addiššu ana qebērim ii.7’ ibrīman itabbi’am ana rigmīya ii.8’ sebet ūmim u sebe mūšiātim ii.9’ adi tūltu imqutam ina appīšu |
ii.6’ I did not give him up for burial - ii.7’ “Maybe my friend will rise at my cry!” - ii.8’ For seven days and seven nights, ii.9’ until a maggot dropped from his nostril. |
| ii.10’ ištu warkišu ul ūta balāṭam ii.11’ attanaggiš kīma hābilim qabaltu ṣēri ii.12’ inanna sābītum ātamar pānīki ii.13’ mūtam ša ātanaddaru ayya āmur |
ii.10’ After he was gone I did not find life, ii.11’ as I wandered like a trapper through the midst of the wild. ii.12’ Now, Ale Wife, I have seen your face, ii.13’ but I would not see death, that I ever fear”. |
| ii.14’ sābītum ana šâšum izzaqqaram ana gilgameš | ii.14’ The ale wife spoke to him, to Gilgamesh: |
| iii.1 gilgameš ê tadâl iii.2 balāṭam ša tusahharu lā tutta iii.3 inūma ilū ibnû awīlūtam iii.4 mūtam iškunū ana awīlūtim iii.5 balāṭam ina qātīšunu iṣṣabtū |
iii.1 “O Gilgamesh, where are you wandering? iii.2 You cannot find the life that you seek: iii.3 when the gods created mankind, iii.4 for mankind they established death, iii.5 life they kept for themselves”. |
| iii.6 atta gilgameš lū mali karaška iii.7 urrī u mūšī hitaddu atta iii.8 ūmišam šukun hidûtam iii.9 urrī u mūšī sūr u mēlil |
iii.6 You, Gilgamesh, let your belly be full, iii.7 keep enjoying yourself, day and night! iii.8 Every day make merry, iii.9 dance and play day and night! |
| iii.10 lū ubbubū ṣubātūka iii.11 qaqqadka lū mesi mê lū ramkāta iii.12 ṣubbi ṣehram ṣābitu qātīka iii.13 marhītum lihtaddâm ina sūnīka |
iii.10 Let your clothes be clean! iii.11 Let your head be washed, may you be bathed in water! iii.12 Gaze on the little one who holds your hand! iii.13 Let a wife enjoy your repeated embrace! |
| iii.14 annama šī[mti awīlūtim] | iii.14 Such is the des[tiny of mortal men] |