accordingly; but since we cannot discover
here, as we could in the case of the incantation texts, the special
occasions for the variations, except for those that contain historical
references, one must suppose that they could be used indifferently at
the choice of the penitent or the priest. It is probable that at one
time a large collection of such psalms was made in Babylonia, and that
those we have represent compositions made from the rituals of various
temples. In one psalm we have a distinct statement from which we may
conclude that it belonged to the E-sagila temple at Babylon. Only a
portion of it is preserved.[482] It is interesting, also, because of a
reference to a dream that it contains, and which the god of Babylon is
called upon to convert into a favorable sign for the petitioner. Zimmern
is of the opinion that the hymn may have been an evening prayer, but it
seems more satisfactory to place it merely in the general category of
penitential psalms, with a request for a sign that the deity has been
appeased. The sinner, after describing his woeful state,--

Instead of food, I eat bitter tears,
Instead of date-wine, I drink the waters of misery,
For my drink I have bitter waters,
Instead of clothes, I am enveloped in sin,[483]--

proceeds to a fervent appeal:

O my god who art angry with me, accept my prayer,
O my goddess who art wroth with me, accept my appeal,
Accept my appeal, may thy liver be at rest!
My lord in mercy and compassion [look upon me?]
Who guides the span of life against the encroachments (?) of death,
accept my prayer!
O my goddess, look upon me, accept my appeal;
May my sins be forgiven,[484] my transgressions be wiped out.
May the ban be loosened, the chain broken,
May the seven winds carry off my sighs.
Let me tear away my iniquity, let the birds carry it to heaven,
Let the fish take off my misfortune, the stream carry it off.
May the beasts of the field take it away from me,
The flowing waters of the stream wash me clean.
Let me be pure like the sheen of gold.
As a ring (?) of precious stone, may I be precious before thee.
Remove my iniquity, save my soul.
Thy [temple] court I will watch, thy image (?) I will set up.[485]
Grant to me that I may see a favorable dream,
The dream that I see, let it be favorable,
The dream that I see, let it be unfailing,
The dream that I see, turn it to a favorable [issue].
The god Makhir (?),