The Suppliant: 
        Beside thee there is no god to guide me. 
        Look in mercy on me, accept my sigh,
        Say why do I wait so long. 
        Let thy face be softened! 
        How long, O my lady! 
        May thy kindness be turned to me! 
        Like a dove I mourn, full of sighing.

     The Priest: 
        With sorrow and woe
        His soul is full of sighing,
        Tears he sheds, he pours out laments.

          II

     O mother of the gods, who performest the commands of Bel,
     Who makest the young grass sprout, queen of mankind,
     Creator of all, guide of every birth,
     Mother Ishtar, whose might no god approaches,
     Exalted mistress, mighty in command! 
     A prayer I will utter, let her do what seems her good. 
     O my lady, make me to know my doing,
     Food I have not eaten, weeping was my nourishment,
     Water I have not drunk, tears were my drink,
     My heart has not been joyful nor my spirits glad. 
     Many are my sins, sorrowful my soul. 
     O my lady, make me to know my doing,
     Make me a place of rest,
     Cleanse my sin, lift up my face. 
     May my god, the lord of prayer, before thee set my prayer! 
     May my goddess, the lady of supplication, before thee set
          my supplication! 
     May the storm-god set my prayer before thee!

     [The intercession of a number of gods is here invoked.]

     Let thy eye rest graciously on me.... 
     Turn thy face graciously to me.... 
     Let thy heart be gentle, thy spirit mild....

          III

     O lady, in sorrow of heart sore oppressed I cry to thee. 
     O lady, to thy servant favor show. 
     Let thy heart be favorable,
     To thy servant full of sorrow show thy pity,
     Turn to him thy face, accept his prayer.

          IV

     To thy servant with whom thou art angry graciously turn. 
     May the anger of my lord be appeased,
     Appeased the god I know not! 
     The goddess I know, the goddess I know not,
     The god who was angry with me,
     The goddess who was angry with me be appeased! 
     The sin which I have committed I know not. 
     May my god name a gracious name,
     My goddess name a gracious name,
     The god I know, the god I know not
     Name a gracious name,
     The goddess I know, the goddess I know not
     Name a gracious name! 
     Pure food I have not eaten,
     Pure water I have not drunk,
     The wrath of my god, though I knew it not, was my food,
     The anger of my goddess, though I knew it not, cast me down. 
     O lord, many are my sins, great my misdeeds.

        [These phrases are repeated many times.]