When Marduk heard the word of the gods
His heart prompted him and he devised [a cunning plan
He opened his mouth and unto Ea [he spake
That which] he had conceived in his heart he imparted [unto him
"My blood will I take and bone will I [fashion
"I will make man, that man may
"I will create man who shall inhabit [the earth],"
"That the service of the gods may be established, and that [their] shrines 1 [may be built
"But I will alter the ways of the gods, and I will change [their paths
"Together shall they be oppressed 2, and unto evil shall [they ...]."
And Ea answered him and spake the word
" the of the gods I have [changed
shall be de]stroyed and men will I
The rest of the text is wanting 1 with the exception of the last few lines of the tablet, which read as follows
In Upshukkinnaku they set [their dwelling
Of the heroic son, their avenger, [they cried
"We, whom he succoured, ... !"
They seated themselves and in the assembly they named [him
They all [cried aloud (?), they exalted [him ...]. 2