Religion

Hymn To Amen-Ra

by Anonymous Egyptian Poets c. 2000–1000 BC

Translated by C. W. Goodwin (in Egyptian Literature, 1901) · From Cuneiform Inscriptions and Hieratic Papyri

Religion

Praise to Amen-Rā:
the Bull in An Chief of all gods:
the good god beloved:
giving life to all animated things:
to all fair cattle:
Hail to thee Amen-Rā, Lord of the thrones of the earth:
Chief in Aptu:
the Bull of his mother in his field:
turning his feet toward the land of the South:
Lord of the heathen, Prince of Punt:
the Ancient of heaven, the Oldest of the earth:
Lord of all existences, the Support of things, the Support of all things.

The ONE in his works, single among the gods:
the beautiful Bull of the cycle of gods:
Chief of all the gods:
Lord of truth, Father of the gods:
Maker of men, Creator of beasts:
Lord of existences, Creator of fruitful trees:
Maker of herbs, Feeder of cattle:
Good Being begotten of Ptah, beautiful youth beloved:
to whom the gods give honor:
Maker of things below and above, Enlightener of the earth:
sailing in heaven in tranquillity:
King Rā true speaker, Chief of the earth:
Most glorious one, Lord of terror:
Chief creator of the whole earth.

Supporter of affairs above every god:
in whose goodness the gods rejoice:
to whom adoration is paid in the great house:
crowned in the house of flame:
whose fragrance the gods love:
when he comes from Arabia:
Prince of the dew, traversing foreign lands:
benignly approaching the Holy Land.

The gods attend his feet:
while they acknowledge his Majesty as their Lord:
Lord of terror most awful:
greatest of spirits, mighty in...:
bring offerings, make sacrifices:
salutation to thee, Maker of the gods:
Supporter of the heavens, Founder of the earth.

Awake in strength Min Amen:
Lord of eternity, Maker everlasting:
Lord of adoration, Chief in...:
strong with beautiful horns:
Lord of the crown high plumed:
of the fair turban (wearing) the white crown:
the coronet and the diadem are the ornaments of his face:
he is invested with Ami-ha:
the double crown is his head-gear, (he wears) the red crown:
benignly he receives the Atef-crown:
on whose south and on whose north is love:
the Lord of life receives the sceptre:
Lord of the breastplate armed with the whip.

Gracious ruler crowned with the white crown:
Lord of beams, Maker of light:
to whom the gods give praises:
who stretches forth his arms at his pleasure:
consuming his enemies with flame:
whose eye subdues the wicked:
sending forth its dart to the roof of the firmament:
sending its arrows against Naka to consume him.

Hail to thee Rā Lord of truth:
whose command the gods were made:
Athom Maker of men:
supporting their works, giving them life:
distinguishing the color of one from another:
listening to the poor who is in distress:
gentle of heart when one cries unto him.

Deliverer of the timid man from the violent:
judging the poor, the poor and the oppressed:
Lord of wisdom whose precepts are wise:
at whose pleasure the Nile overflows:
Lord of mercy most loving:
at whose coming men live:
opener of every eye:
proceeding from the firmament:
causer of pleasure and light:
at whose goodness the gods rejoice:
their hearts revive when they see him.

O Rā adored in Aptu:
high-crowned in the house of the obelisk:
King (Ani) Lord of the New-moon festival:
to whom the sixth and seventh days are sacred:
Sovereign of life health and strength, Lord of all the gods:
who art visible in the midst of heaven:
ruler of men...:
whose name is hidden from his creatures:
in his name which is Amen.

Hail to thee who art in tranquillity:
Lord of magnanimity strong in apparel:
Lord of the crown high plumed:
of the beautiful turban, of the tall white crown:
the gods love thy presence:
when the double crown is set upon thy head:
thy love pervades the earth:
thy beams arise... men are cheered by thy rising:
the beasts shrink from thy beams:
thy love is over the southern heaven:
thy heart is not (unmindful of) the northern heaven:
thy goodness... (all) hearts:
love subdues (all) hands:
thy creations are fair overcoming (all) the earth:
(all) hearts are softened at beholding thee.

The ONE maker of existences:
(creator) of... maker of beings:
from whose eyes mankind proceeded:
of whose mouth are the gods:
maker of grass for the cattle (oxen, goats, asses, pigs, sheep):
fruitful trees for men:
causing the fish to live in the river:
the birds to fill the air:
giving breath to those in the egg:
feeding the bird that flies:
giving food to the bird that perches:
to the creeping thing and the flying thing equally:
providing food for the rats in their holes:
feeding the flying things in every tree.

Hail to thee for all these things:
the ONE alone with many hands:
lying awake while all men lie (asleep):
to seek out the good of his creatures:
Amen sustainer of all things:
Athom Horus of the horizon:
homage to thee in all their voices:
salutation to thee for thy mercy unto us:
protestations to thee who hast created us.

Hail to thee say all creatures:
salutation to thee from every land:
to the height of heaven, to the breadth of the earth:
to the depths of the sea:
the gods adore Thy Majesty:
the spirits thou hast created exalt (thee):
rejoicing before the feet of their begetter:
they cry out welcome to thee:
father of the fathers of all the gods:
who raises the heavens who fixes the earth.

Maker of beings, Creator of existences:
Sovereign of life, health, and strength, Chief of the gods:
we worship thy spirit who alone hast made us:
we whom thou hast made (thank thee) that thou hast given us birth:
we give to thee praises on account of thy mercy to us.

Hail to thee Maker of all beings:
Lord of truth father of the gods:
Maker of men creator of beasts:
Lord of grains:
making food for the beast of the field:
Amen the beautiful Bull:
beloved in Aptu:
high crowned in the house of the obelisk:
twice turbaned in An:
judge of combatants in the great hall:
Chief of the great cycle of the gods:

The ONE alone without peer:
Chief in Aptu:
King over his cycle of gods:
living in truth forever:
(Lord) of the horizon, Horus of the East:
he who hath created the soil (with) silver and gold:
the precious lapis lazuli at his pleasure:
spices and incense various for the peoples:
fresh odors for thy nostrils:
benignly come to the nations:
Amen-Rā Lord of the thrones of the earth:
Chief in Aptu:
the Sovereign on his throne.

King alone, single among the gods:
of many names, unknown is their number:
rising in the eastern horizon setting in the western horizon:
overthrowing his enemies:
dawning on (his) children daily and every day:
Thoth raises his eyes:
he delights himself with his blessings:
the gods rejoice in his goodness who exalts those who are lowly:
Lord of the boat and the barge:
they conduct thee through the firmament in peace.

Thy servants rejoice:
beholding the overthrow of the wicked:
his limbs pierced with the sword
fire consumes him:
his soul and body are annihilated.

Naka saves his feet:
the gods rejoice:
the servants of the Sun are in peace:
An is joyful:
the enemies of Athom are overthrown and Aptu is in peace, An is joyful:
the giver of life is pleased:
at the overthrow of the enemies of her Lord:
the gods of Kher-sa make salutations:
they of the Adytum prostrate themselves.

They behold the mighty one in his strength:
the image of the gods of truth the Lord of Aptu;
in thy name of Doer of justice:
Lord of sacrifices, the Bull of offerings:
in thy name of Amen the Bull of his mother:
maker of men:
causing all things which are to exist:
in thy name of Athom Chepra:
the great Hawk making (each) body to rejoice:
benignly making (each) breast to rejoice:
type of creators high crowned:
... (Lord) of the wing:
Uati is on his forehead:
the hearts of men seek him:
when he appears to mortals:
he rejoices the earth with his goings forth:
Hail to thee Amen-Rā Lord of the thrones of the world:
beloved of his city when he shines forth.

Finished well as it was found.

MLA

Anonymous Egyptian Poets. “Hymn To Amen-Ra.” Translated by C. W. Goodwin. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-egyptian/14/.

Chicago

Anonymous Egyptian Poets. “Hymn To Amen-Ra.” Translated by C. W. Goodwin. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-egyptian/14/.

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