As to the rendering of this first part of Nergal No. 7, the first line “Nergal’s heroism, I will praise, I will sing” makes it certain that an individual, probably a priest or a choir leader, sang the first line, and highly probable that he recited the beginnings of each line, and the new additions to the lines, leaving to the choir to recite the refrain. The main purpose of the hymn, as announced in the opening line, was to narrate the heroic exploits of the gods in war against the enemy. The narration was sung by the leader, and the repetitions, giving clarity and emphasis, and possibly magical power, were evidently sung by the choir. The second portion of the hymn, as it is continued beyond the gap in the inscription until the tablet breaks off, differs from the first part, in that it largely lacks the repetitions, and in that it does not employ the third person of the verb, but is addressed directly to deity. It belongs accordingly among the hymnal introductions.
Finally there is now appended to this chapter the discussion of three hymns, which might perhaps be better called dramatic rather than antiphonal compositions. The first hymn is Ishtar No. 6, and it has three distinct parts. Part I is addressed by the worshipper to the deity, and consists of eleven lines. In lines 1-7 the worshipper attempts to set forth clearly certain prominent characteristics of the deity he is seeking:
Light of heaven, which flames like fire over the earth thou art;
Goddess when over the earth thou standest
One who as the earth stands firm thou art;
Unto thee the way of truth pays homage;
When thou enterest a man’s house,
A leopard gone forth to seize the lamb thou art;
A lion which strides over the plains thou art.
And having thus stated her attributes, the worshipper goes on to summon the goddess by her names: