Work Text:
Kī maṣi gerrī, awlīum lillik, adi- How many roads, may a man walk, until
Awīlam kâta inabbû- A man they name him,
Kī maṣi mê, su’am peṣam lidūl- How many seas, may a white dove sail,
Adi ina bāṣim linīl- Until she sleeps in the sand,
Kī maṣim šiltāḫī, šiltāḫī lipšurū- How many arrows, arrows may they release,
Adi salīmam iqabbû- Until peace they declare,
Amatum, aḫī, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer my brother, it gusts in the wind for us
Amatum, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer gusts in the wind for us.
Kī maṣi šattim, šattim šadûm lizziz- How many years may a mountain stand,
Adi ina mê irraḫḫiṣ- Before he is flooded to the sea,
Kī maṣi šattim, šattim wardum libluṭ- How many years may a slave exist,
Adi andurāram innaddin- Before he is given freedom,
Aššum līmīšu, awīlum līmur- Because a thousand times a man may see,
Adi diglam innaddin- Before he is given the power of sight,
Amatum, aḫī, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer my brother, it gusts in the wind for us
Amatum, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer gusts in the wind for us.
Aššum līmīšu, awīlum qaqassu lišši- Because a thousand times, a main his head may lift,
Adi, ermiānam līmuršu- Until he may see Anu’s canopy,
Kī maṣi uznī awīlum līšu- How many ears must one man have,
Adi bakam ša awīlūtim lišmēšu- Until the crying of the people he may hear,
Adi kī maṣi mâtī, adi šu īde- How many deaths until he knows,
Kīma watārūtim awīlūtim imūtū- That too many people have died,
Amatum, aḫī, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer my brother, it gusts in the wind for us
Amatum, izzayyaqniāšim- The answer gusts in the wind for us.