Hattian Storm-god, my lord, and ye, Hattian gods, my lords!
A plague ye have let into the land. The Hatti land has been cruelly afflicted by the plague. For twenty years now men have been dying. As for me, the agony of my heart and the anguish of my soul I can no longer endure.
When I celebrated festivals, I worshipped all the gods. I never preferred one temple to another. The matter of the plague I have laid before all the gods in prayer, making vows to them (and saying) “Hearken to me, ye gods, my lords! Drive ye forth the plague from the Hatti land! The reason for which people are dying—either let it be established by an omen, or let me see it in a dream, or let a prophet declare it!” But the gods did not hearken to me and the plague got no better in the Hatti land. The Hatti land was cruelly afflicted.
Hattian Storm-god, my lord, (and) ye gods, my lords! It is only too true that man is sinful. My father sinned and transgressed against the word of the Hattian Storm-god, my lord. But I have not sinned in any respect. It is only too true, however, that the father’s sin falls upon the son. Because I have confessed my father’s sin, let the soul of the Hattian Storm-god, my lord, and (those) of the gods, my lords, be again pacified! Take pity on me and drive the plague out of the Hatti land! Suffer not to die the few who are still left to offer sacrificial loaves and libations!
I lay the matter of the plague before the Hattian Storm-god, my lord. This is what I [have to remind] thee of: The bird takes refuge in (its) nest, and the nest saves its life. If anything becomes too much for a servant, he appeals to his lord. His lord hears him and takes pity on him. Whatever had become too much for him, he sets right for him. Again: If a servant has incurred guilt, but confesses his guilt to his lord, his lord may do with him whatever he pleases. But, because (the servant) has confessed his guilt to his lord, his lord’s soul is pacified, and his lord will not punish that servant. I have now confessed my father’s sin. If there is to be restitution, it seems clear that with all the gifts that have already been given because of this plague, it has already made restitution twentyfold. But, if ye demand from me additional restitution, tell me of it in a dream and I will give it to you.
Hattian Storm-god, my lord, save my life! Let the gods, my lords, prove their divine power! Let someone see it in a dream! For whatever reason people are dying, let it be found out! Hattian Storm-god, my lord, save my life! Let this plague abate again in the Hatti land!
(From James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, Princeton University Press, 1955, pp. 395–6. The translation is by Albrecht Goetze. For continuity, ellipses have been omitted.)
