Lecture VII. The Sacred Books. 385
on them, and it is probable that they never received the sanction
of the Babylonian priests; but for all that the spirit they breathe
is that of the older psalms; and had the Assyrian empire lasted
longer, it is possible that they too might have become a sacred
book.
I will conclude my lecture with one of the penitential psalms,
which, we are told, might be addressed“to any god”—
“The heart of my lord is wroth; may it be appeased!
May the god that I know not be pacified!
May the goddess whom I know not be pacified!
May the god I know and (the god) I know not be pacified! [420]
May the goddess I know and (the goddess) I know not be
pacified!
May the heart of my god be appeased!
May the heart of my goddess be appeased!
May the god and the goddess I know and I know not be
pacified!
May the god (who has smitten me be pacified)!
May the goddess (who has smitten me be pacified)!
The sin that (I sinned) I knew not;
the sin (that I committed I knew not).
The word of blessing (may my god pronounce upon me);
a name of blessing (may the god I know and I know not)
record for me!
The word of blessing (may the goddess pronounce upon me)!
Food I have not eaten,
pure water I have not drunk.
An offence against my god unknowingly have I committed;
an offence against my goddess unknowingly I have wrought.
O lord, my sins are many, my transgressions are great!
O my god, my sins are many, my transgressions are great!
O my goddess, my sins are many, my transgressions are
great!
O god whom I know and whom I know not, my sins are
many, my transgressions are great!