Ancient Babylonian Charms

The beginning--The baneful charm like an evil demon acts against the man.
The voice that defiles acts upon him.
The maleficent voice acts upon him.
The baneful charm is a spell that originates sickness.
This man the baneful charm strangles like a lamb.
His god in his flesh makes the wound.
His goddess mutual enmity brings down.
The voice that defiles like a hyena covers him and subjugates him.
Merodach favors him; and
to his father Hea into the house he enters and cries:
"O my father, the baneful charm like an evil demon acts against the man."
To the injured (man) he (Hea) speaks thus:
"(A number) make: this man is unwitting: by means of the number he enslaves thee."
(To) his son Merodach he replies
"My son, the number thou knowest not; the number let me fix for thee.
Merodach, the number thou knowest not; the number let me fix for thee.
What I know thou knowest.
Go, my son Merodach.
... with noble hand seize him, and
his enchantment explain and his enchantment make known.
Evil (is to) the substance of his body,
whether (it be) the curse of his father,
or the curse of his mother,
or the curse of his elder brother,
or the bewitching curse of an unknown man."
Spoken (is) the enchantment by the lips of Hea.
Like a signet may he be brought near.
Like garden-herbs may he be destroyed.
Like a weed may he be gathered-for-sale.
(This) enchantment may the spirit of heaven remember, may the spirit of earth remember.

Like this signet he shall be cut, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
By written-spells he shall not be delivered.
By curses and poisons he shall not be moved.
His property (and) ground he shall not take.
His corn shall not be high and the sun shall not remember (him).

On the festival of the god, the king unconquerable,
may the man (by) the enchantment, (with) eldest son (and) wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of the bliss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh (and) a man's entrails,
like this signet be brought near and
on that day may the consuming fire-god consume;
may the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

Like this vineyard he shall be cut off, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
Despite the holidays of a plague that returns not,
despite the shrine of the god, the king unconquerable,
may the man, (by) the enchantment, (with) eldest son (and) wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of the bliss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh, a man's entrails,
like this garden-stuff be rooted out, and
on that day may the consuming fire-god consume.
May the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

Like this weed he shall be gathered for sale, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
Before him, despite his blessedness that is not,
despite the canopy of a covering that departs not,
may the man (by) the enchantment, (with) eldest son (and) wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of the bliss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh, a man's entrails,
like this weed be plucked, and
on that day may the consuming fire-god consume.
May the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

Like this thread he shall be stretched, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
Despite his adoration that is not,
despite the clothing of the god, the King unconquerable,
may the man, (through) the enchantment, (with) eldest son (and) wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of the bliss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh, a man's entrails,
like this thread be stretched, and
on that day may the consuming fire-god consume.
May the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

Like this goat's-hair cloth he shall be stretched, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
Despite the goat's-hair that is not,
despite the canopy of the covering (that departs not),
may the man (through) the enchantment, (with) eldest son (and) wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of the bliss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh, a man's entrails,
like this goat's-hair cloth be stretched, and
on that day the man may the consuming fire-god consume.
May the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

Like these boards he shall be stretched, and the sorcerer
the consuming fire-god shall consume.
O son of the macebearer, despite produce unproduced,
despite the clothing of the god, the King unconquerable,
may the man (by) the enchantment, (with) eldest son and wife,
(by) sickness, the loss of prosperity, of joy (and) of gladness,
(by) the sickness which exists in a man's skin, a man's flesh, a man's entrails,
like these boards be stretched, and
on that day may the consuming fire-god consume.
May the enchantment go forth and to (its) dwelling-place betake itself.

The chiefest talisman, the mighty talisman, the engraved talisman, the talisman is the binder, with enchantment.
The repetition of the enchantment (is) baneful to man.
The curses of the gods.
... the binder with enchantment.
(With enchantment) his hands (and) his feet he binds.
Merodach, the son of Hea, the prince, with his holy hands cuts the knots.
May the enchantment cause this talisman to the desert among the wild beasts to go forth.
May the baneful enchantment seize upon others.
May this man rest (and) open (his eyes).
To the blessed hand of his god may he be committed.
Conclusion of the formulæ for averting sorcery.

For the raising of the mighty foundation thus have I burned up straight,
like fire have I burned up (and) have delivered the oracle.

The noble cupbearer of Hea, the scribe of Merodach (am) I.
Like fire have I blazed (and) I rejoice;
(like) fire have I burned (and) I grow;
the corn I purify and make heavy.
Like fire have I blazed (and) will rejoice;
(like) fire have I burned (and) will grow;
the corn will I purify and make heavy.
O nadir (and) zenith, the light of god and man,
may the store he collected be delivered.
May the store of (his) heart whoever he be, ye his god and his goddess, be delivered.
May his gate be kept fast. On that day
may they enrich him, may they deliver him.

May the rejoicing of the warrior fire-god
rejoice with thee. May lands and rivers
rejoice with thee. May Tigris and (Euphrates)
rejoice with thee. May the seas and (the ocean)
rejoice with thee. May the forest, the daughter of the gods,
rejoice with thee. May all the production (of the earth)
rejoice with thee. May the hearts of my god and my goddess, well-feasted,
rejoice with thee. May the hearts of the god and the goddess of the city, well-feasted, (rejoice with thee).
On that day from the curse may my heart, O my god and my goddess, be delivered,
and may the enchantment go forth from my body.
When the doom comes upon thee,
and from the fulfilment thou protectest thyself,
the doom when fulfilled cut thou off.