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Tablet IV (KTU 1.4) — Column III

Ilimilku the Scribe · a new plain-English translation from the original language

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[. . .] . . .

[. . .] . . . mourns(?)

[. . .] [the Be]loved

[. . .] . . . like(?)

[. . .] let him not flee

[. . .] your foundation(?) —

[. . .] and for generation after generation,

[. . .] your life, and the breath(?) that . . .

[. . .] the gods, who is king(?).

Mightiest Baal sa[t] enthroned;

the Rider of the Clouds took his stand(?).

He rose, took position, and jeered at me;

he stood up and spat(?) at me in the midst of

the assembly of the sons of the gods: 'Fil-

th has been set on my table — a disgrace

in the cup I drink from!

For two feasts Baal hates — three,

the Rider of the Clouds: a feast of

shame, a feast of

strife, and a feast of the whispering

of serving-girls. For in it shame is plainly seen,

and in it is the whispering of serving-girls.'

Afterward Mightiest Baal arrived;

the Virgin Anat arrived.

They pressed gifts on Lady Athirat of the Sea,

presents on the Creatress of the gods.

And Lady Athirat of the Sea answered:

'Why do you press gifts on Lady

Athirat of the Sea — presents on

the Creatress of the gods? Have you given your gift

to Bull El the Compassionate — or presents

to the Creator of Creatures?' And the Vir-

gin Anat answered: 'We press gifts

on you, Lady Athirat of the Sea —

[pre]sents on the Creatress of the gods;

[after]ward we will press our gift on him too.'

[. . .] Mightiest Baal —

[. . .] Lady Athirat of the Sea —

[. . .] the Virgin Anat —

[. . . the gods] [a]te and drank,

[and were sup]plied with a suckling

[breast-cut;] [with a] [sa]lted [knife,] a slice

[of fatling.] [They drank] wine from flagons —

[and from] [cups of] [gold,] the [blo]od of vines.

[. . .] . . .

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[. . .] . . .

[. . .]

[. . .] above(?)

[. . .] . . .

An original translation made in 2026 by Scriptorium Press, working directly from the original language text (never from another English translation), in one consistent modern voice. Free to read, download, and listen — no accounts, no ads, nothing for sale.

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