Nabopolassar 07

(1) Nabopolassar, king of justice, shepherd chosen by the god Marduk, creation of the goddess Ninmenna — the exalted princess, the queen of queens — protégé of the god Nabû and the goddess Tašmētu, beloved prince of the god Ninšiku:

(4) When, during my childhood, (although) I was a son of a nobody, I constantly sought out the shrines of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords; (my) mind pondered making their rites secure and properly administering their kidudû-rites; (and) my attention was set on truth and justice.

(8) The god Šazu, the lord who knows the hearts of the gods of heaven and earth, the one who constantly observes the inner mind of the people, as for me — the child who could not be found among the people — he observed my intention(s) and made me pre-eminent in the land where I was created.

(12) He called (my) name for dominion over the land and people, made a good lamassu walk beside me, (and) allowed (me) to successfully undertake (every) task in everything that I did. He made the god Nergal, the almighty one of the gods, march at my side; he killed my enemies (and) cut down my opponents.

(17) (With regard to) the Assyrians, who from distant days had ruled over all of the people and who had made the people of the land suffer under their (text: “his”) heavy yoke, I, the weak (and) powerless one who constantly seeks out the lord of lords (Marduk), with the powerful strength of the gods Nabû and Marduk — my lords — I barred them (lit: “their feet”) from the land of Akkad and had (the Babylonians) cast off their yoke.

(22) At that time, (with regard to) Eḫursagtila, the temple of the god Ninurta that is inside Šuanna (Babylon), which a former king before my time had had built, but had not finished its work, I set my mind to renovating that temple.

(25) I mustered the workmen of the gods Enlil, Šamaš, and Marduk and I made (them) carry hoe(s and) imposed (on them the carrying of) basket(s). I finished the work on th(at) unfinished temple. I roofed it with broad beams (and) installed immense doors in its gates. I made that temple shine like the sun and made (it) as bright as day for the god Ninurta, my lord.

(31) Any king in the future, either (my) son or grandson who comes after me, whom the god Marduk names for dominion over the land: Do not set your heart on feats of might and power, (but rather) constantly seek out the shrines of the gods Nabû and Marduk so that they may kill your opponent(s). The god Marduk, the lord, examines the mouth (and) observes the heart (so) whoever is true to the god Bēl (Marduk) his foundations will endure (and) whoever is true to the god Son-of-Bēl (Nabû) will live forever.

(38) When that temple becomes dilapidated and you repair its dilapidated section(s), find an inscription (written) in my name (and) place (it) with your inscribed objects so that, by the command of the god Marduk, the great lord whose command cannot be changed, the mention of your name will be established forever.