1 Lord, illuminator of the darkness, who piercest the face
of darkness,
2 merciful god, who settest up those that are bowed down,
who sustainest the weak,
3 toward the light the great gods direct their glances,
4 the archangels of the abyss,[1] every one of them, contemplate
eagerly thy face.
5 The language of praise,[2] as one word, thou directest it.
6 The host of their heads seeks the light of the Sun in the
South.[3]
7 Like a bridegroom thou restest joyful and gracious.[4]
8 In thy illumination thou dost reach afar to the boundaries
of heaven.[5]
9 Thou art the banner of the vast earth.
10 O God! the men who dwell afar off contemplate thee and
rejoice.
11 The great gods fix ...[6]
12 Nourisher of the luminous heavens, who favorest ...[7]
13 He who has not turned his hands (toward thee ...[7]
14 ....[7]
[Footnote 1: In the Assyrian version, "The archangels of the earth." ]
[Footnote 2: In the Assyrian version, "The eager language."]
[Footnote 3: The Assyrian version has simply, "of the sun." ]
[Footnote 4: "Like a wife thou submittest thyself, cheerful and kindly."--
Sayce.]
[Footnote 5: In the Assyrian version, "Thou art the illuminator of the
limits of the distant heavens."]
[Footnote 6: Here occurs a word which I cannot yet make out.]
[Footnote 7: Lacunæ.]