Unto the sea it turns, the sea takes fright:

Unto the marsh it turns, the marsh laments:

To the flood of Euphrates it turns;

The word of Marduk stirs up the bottom.

—Hymn to Marduk No. 5.

The word may bring disaster to people and to lands:

His word is brought to an enchanter, that enchanter takes fright;

His word is brought to a seer, that seer takes fright;

His word is brought to a sorrowful man, that man laments;

His word is brought to a sorrowful woman, that woman laments;