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Tablet V (KTU 1.5) — Column II

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

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[. . .] . . .

'[A lip] [to] [the ea]rth, a lip to the heavens —

[he stretches] a tongue to the stars! Baal must enter

his belly — go down into his mouth,

scorched as the olive is scorched, as the produce of the earth, as the fruit of

the trees.' Mightiest Baal feared him;

the Rider of the Clouds dreaded him.

'Depart! Say to the son of the gods, Mot;

repeat to the Beloved of El, the Hero:

Message of Mightiest Baal, word of the Mightiest of

Warriors: Hail, O son of the gods, Mot!

Your slave am I — yours forever.'

The gods departed; they did not sit down. Then

indeed they set their faces toward the son of the gods, Mot,

toward his city, the Miry Place: a pit, the throne

where he sits; filth, the land of his heritage. They lifted

their voices and cried: 'Message of Mightiest

Baal, word of the Mightiest of Warriors:

Hail, O son of the gods, Mot! Your slave am I,

yours forever.' The son of the gods, Mot, rejoiced;

[he lifted] his voice and cried: 'How shall he invite me —

[Baal] [. . .] shall he honor me(?) — Haddu

[. . .] my war(?) —

[. . .] . . . cut off(?) —

[. . .] my joy(?) —

[. . .] depart . . .

[. . .] . . .

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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