Anu and Bel and Ea have thee raised
    To rank supreme, in majesty and pow’r,
    They have established thee above the gods
    And all the host of heaven...  O stately queen,
    At thought of thee the world is filled with fear,
    The gods in heaven quake, and on the earth
    All spirits pause, and all mankind bow down
    With reverence for thy name...  O Lady Judge,

    Thy ways are just and holy; thou dost gaze
    On sinners with compassion, and each morn
    Leadest the wayward to the rightful path.

    Now linger not, but come!  O goddess fair,
    O shepherdess of all, thou drawest nigh
    With feet unwearied...  Thou dost break the bonds
    Of these thy handmaids...  When thou stoopest o’er
    The dying with compassion, lo! they live;
    And when the sick behold thee they are healed.

    Hear me, thy servant! hearken to my pray’r,
    For I am full of sorrow and I sigh
    In sore distress; weeping, on thee I wait. 
    Be merciful, my lady, pity take
    And answer, “’Tis enough and be appeased”.

    How long must my heart sorrow and make moan
    And restless be?  How long must my dark home
    Be filled with mourning and my soul with grief? 
    O lioness of heaven, bring me peace
    And rest and comfort.  Hearken to my pray’r! 
    Is anger pity?  May thine eyes look down
    With tenderness and blessings, and behold
    Thy servant.  Oh! have mercy; hear my cry
    And unbewitch me from the evil spells,
    That I may see thy glory...  Oh! how long
    Shall these my foes pursue me, working ill,
    And robbing me of joy?...  Oh! how long
    Shall demons compass me about and cause
    Affliction without end?...  I thee adore—­
    The gift of strength is thine and thou art strong—­
    The weakly are made strong, yet I am weak... 
    O hear me!  I am glutted with my grief—­
    This flood of grief by evil winds distressed;
    My heart hath fled me like a bird on wings,
    And like the dove I moan.  Tears from mine eyes
    Are falling as the rain from heaven falls,
    And I am destitute and full of woe.

* * * * *

What have I done that thou hast turned from me? 
Have I neglected homage to my god
And thee my goddess?  O deliver me
And all my sins forgive, that I may share
Thy love and be watched over in thy fold;
And may thy fold be wide, thy pen secure.

* * * * *

How long wilt thou be angry?  Hear my cry,
And turn again to prosper all my ways—­
O may thy wrath be crumbled and withdrawn
As by a crumbling stream.  Then smite my foes,
And take away their power to work me ill,
That I may crush them.  Hearken to my pray’r! 
And bless me so that all who me behold
May laud thee and may magnify thy name,
While I exalt thy power over all—­
Ishtar is highest!  Ishtar is the queen! 
Ishtar the peerless daughter of the moon!