(The original text of this will be found in 4 R 14 l. 6 which is a
lithographic copy of the tablet K, 44. A part of it was translated some
years ago from a photograph of that tablet; see No. 430 of my Glossary.
Very few Assyrian odes are so simple and intelligible as this is:
unfortunately most of them are mystical and hard of interpretation.)
1 O Fire, great Lord, who art the most exalted in the world,
2 noble Son of heaven, who art the most exalted in the world,
3 O Fire, with thy bright flame
4 in the dark house thou dost cause light.
5 Of all things that can be named, Thou dost form the fabric!
6 Of bronze and of lead, Thou art the melter!
7 Of silver and of gold, Thou art the refiner!
8 Of ... Thou art the purifier!
9 Of the wicked man in the night time Thou dost repel the
assault!
10 But the man who serves his god, Thou wilt give him light
for his actions!