Counsels of a Pessimist

Layer

Wider Ancient Witness Archive

Collection

4.1 Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom Background Archive

Classification

Comparative background witness

Relationship to Scripture

Background / comparative · not Scripture

This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.

Counsels of a Pessimist

[Fragments of an Akkadian wisdom poem on the vanity of human striving; much is broken.]

[Text missing] Whatever men do does not last forever; mankind and all its works come to an end. [Line damaged]

Set free, throw into the river your troubles;

put away grief, and let your heart be quiet.

The days of a man are numbered;

whatever he does is but wind.

Offer your daily prayer to your god; let your speech be humble, and bring your offering. So shall it go well with you, as far as the gods allow; for the favor of the gods is the portion of the one who reveres them. [Text missing]

[Fragment breaks here]