(1) Ashurnasirpal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II) (who was) also great king, strong king, king of the world and king of Assyria; valiant man who acts with the support of Aššur, his lord, and has no rival among the princes of the four quarters:

(2b) The king who subdued (the territory stretching) from the opposite bank of the Tigris to Mount Lebanon and the Great Sea, the entire land Laqû (and) the land Sūḫu including the city Rapiqu; he conquered from the source of the River Subnat to the interior of the land Nirbu. I brought within the boundaries of my land (the territory stretching) from the passes of Mount Kirruru to the land Gilzānu, from the opposite bank of the Lower Zab to the city Tīl-Bāri which is upstream from the land Zaban, from the city Tīl-ša-Abtāni to the city Tīl-ša-Zabdāni, the cities Ḫirimu, Ḫarutu, (which are) fortresses of Karduniaš (Babylonia). I gained entire dominion over the extensive lands Nairi.

(7b) The ancient Kalḫu which Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, a prince who preceded me, had built — this city had become dilapidated, it lay dormant, (and) a long time ago had turned into a ruin hill. With the cunning which the god Ea, king of the apsû (and who has) wide understanding, gave to me, I took this city in hand for renewal. I removed the old ruin hill (and) dug down to water level. I sank (the foundation pit) down to a depth of 120 layers of brick. I founded therein the temples of the deities Ninurta, Šarrat-[nipḫi], Gula, (and) Sîn. I completed the construction of this temple (i.e. the Šarrat-nipḫi temple) (and) established therein the seats of the great gods. I built this temple for the eternal admiration of rulers and princes.

(11b) With the wisdom (and) understanding of, (and) according to the desire of, the great gods who love me, I created an icon of the goddess Ištar, my mistress, which had never before existed. (I created it) from the finest stones, fine gold, and red gold (thus) making her great divinity resplendent. I set up in (the temple) her dais (with the icon) for eternity. I made this temple suitably resplendent. I positioned over it great cedar beams. I hung tall cedar doors in its doorways. I made white limestone (statues of) fierce lions (and) stationed (them) in its doorway(s).

(14b) When the goddess Šarrat-nipḫi, the great mistress, takes up residence on her holy dais in her alluring shrine, may she be steadfastly radiant. May she make my days good (and) [long] (and) command my years to be numerous. May she love my priesthood. May she be pleased with my offerings. May she cause me to achieve success wherever (I strive) in war and battle.

(15b) O later prince among the kings my sons whom Aššur will name for the shepherdship of Assyria: may you not remove these lions from her doorways. May you not erase my inscribed name. (Instead), restore their ruined (portions and) return my inscribed name to its place. (Then) Aššur, the great lord, the god Ninurta, (and) the goddess Ištar who dwells in this temple will establish copious abundance in your (lit. “his') land. You will march victoriously (among) [your] people and achieve success in all lands in battle with kings on the battlefield.

(18b) As for the one who erases my inscribed name, removes these lions, throws (them) in the water, burns (them) with fire, puts (them) in a prison where they cannot be seen, (or) commits atrocities against this temple: may the god Ninurta, lord of storm and destruction, (and) the goddess Ištar, mistress of battle and strife, overthrow his sovereignty, take away from him his throne, make him sit in bondage before his enemies, establish in his land distress, famine, (and) hunger, (and) destroy his name (and) his seed from the land.