[Speech of En-Urta.]

176. Then En-Urta opened his mouth and spake

177. And said unto the warrior Enlil (Bêl):

178. Who besides the god Ea can make a plan?

179. The god Ea knoweth everything.

180. He opened his mouth and spake

181. And said unto the warrior Enlil (Bêl),

182. O Prince among the gods, thou warrior,

183. How couldst thou, not accepting counsel, make a cyclone?

184. He who is sinful, on him lay his sin,

185. He who transgresseth, on him lay his transgression.

186. But be merciful that [everything] be not destroyed; be long-suffering that [man be not blotted out].

187. Instead of thy making a cyclone,

188. Would that a lion had come and diminished mankind.

189. Instead of thy making a cyclone

19O. Would that a wolf had come and diminished mankind.

191. Instead of thy making a cyclone page 40

192. Would that a famine had arisen and [laid waste] the land.

193. Instead of thy making a cyclone

194. Would that Urra (

, the Plague god) had risen up and [laid waste] the land.

195. As for me I have not revealed the secret of the great gods.

196. I made Atra-hasis (

) to see a vision, and thus he heard the secret of the gods.

197. Now therefore counsel him with counsel."