Your utterance shall be true, your command shall be unimpeachable.

Now Tiamat renewed the conflict and created an army ofmonsters. This time even the great Ea could not withstand the attack and the gods decided to ask the young Marduk to defend them against Tiamat.

________________________

Lord Anshar, father of the gods, rose up in grandeur,

And having pondered in his heart, he said to the Anunnaki: 8

“He whose strength is potent shall be our avenger,

He who is sharp in battle, Marduk, the hero!”

Ea called Marduk into his secluded presence.

Giving counsel, he told him what was in his heart.

________________________

Marduk came forth, the wisest of the gods, your son,

His heart prompted him to face Tiamat.

He opened his mouth, saying to me

“If indeed as your avenger,

I am to vanquish Tiamat and save your lives,

Convene the assembly and proclaim supreme my destiny!

When jointly in Ubshukinna 9 you sat down rejoicing,

Let my word, instead of yours, determine the fates.

What I may bring into being shall be unchangeable;

Neither dismissed nor replaced shall be the command of

my lips!”

Now hasten hither and promptly fix for him your decrees,

That he may go forth to face your mighty foe!

________________________

They erected for him a ample throne.

Facing his fathers, he sat down, presiding.

“You are the most honored of the great gods,

Your decree is unrivaled, your command is Anu 10

You, Marduk are the most honored of the great gods,

Your decree is unrivaled, your word is Anu.

From this day unchangeable shall be your pronouncement.

To raise or bring low—these shall be in your hand.

Your utterance shall be true, your command shall be

unimpeachable.

No one among the gods shall transgress your bounds!

The Enuma Elish