Reading akkadian PRayeRs & Hymns An Introduction

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READING AKKADIAN PRAYERS AND HYMNS: AN INTRODUCTION
stands in contrast to what line 11 in our Akkadian prayer suggests. This interpretation
is supported by the epithets the psalmist uses in v. 15 for the deity: ירוּצ ִ
י ִלאֹג ֲ ו, ְ “my rock and my redeemer.” But seeing this confidence in Ps 19 is not to
suggest that such an attitude was pervasive throughout all of Israel at all times.
In fact, the stress and anxiety one reads in the biblical laments of the individual
suggest that supplicants often were uncertain about the reasons for their problems—much
like our Akkadian-speaking supplicant.
The phrase itâ etēqu, used in line 17, literally means “to cross a boundary”
but may also have a more ethically-charged meaning in some contexts, “to
transgress.” A similar semantic range exists in the use of the BH root רבע. For
example, in Job 14:6 רבע with קֹח as its object means “to cross a boundary or
limit”: רוֹב ֲעַי אֹ לו ְ תי ָ שִׂ ָע ויקָּ חֻ
, “you have made his limits that he cannot cross.” But
other objects may be used with the verb to bring out the ethical idea more explicitly
and to identify what one has transgressed (as is sometimes the case with
Akkadian etēqu, see CAD E, 389). Thus, for example, one may illicitly cross or
transgress a commandment (הוָ ְצ ִמ, e.g., Deut 26:13, 2 Chron 24:20, and Esth 3:3
[of a human king]), a covenant (תירִ ְבּ, e.g., Deut 17:2, Judg 2:20, Josh 7: 11, 15,
23:16, and Jer 34:18), divine instruction(s) ( הרוֹתּ ָ / תֹרוֹתּ,
e.g., Dan 9:11, Isa
24:5), or the word of Yahweh (הוֹהְי ָ יפּ, ִ e.g., Num 14:41, 22:18, 1 Sam 15:24, Prov
8:29 [ויפ]). ִ Given the fact that Israel is often addressed in the Bible as a group, it
should be no surprise that many of the biblical references talk about collective
transgression (but see Esth 3:3).
TRANSLATION:
1. Incantation: O warrior Marduk, whose anger (is) a flood,
2. Whose forgiving (is that of) a merciful father.
3. Speaking without hearing has stirred me,
4. Calling out without reply has slighted me.
5. (This situation) has expelled the strength of my heart,
6. Like an old man, it has bowed me low.
7. O great lord, Marduk, merciful god!
8. Human beings, by whatever name—
9. Who (among them) can ascertain their own sin?
10. Who has not been negligent; what (person) has not sinned?
11. Who can understand the way of a god?
12. I ought to be vigilant lest I acquire sin,
13. I ought to search out relentlessly the sanctuaries of life,
14. (But) it is decreed by the gods to go about tasks under a curse,
15. For a man to bear the hand of the god.
16. As for me, your servant, though I have committed sins,
17. Though I have transgressed (lit., crossed the boundary of the god),
18. Disregard that (i.e., the sins) from my youth, known (or) unknown,
19. May (it) not cause concern; (rather) forgive my guilt, cancel my punishment.
20. Illuminate my confusion,