Nebuchadnezzar II 118

(i 1) Nebuchadnezzar (II), the king of justice who is the bright light of his land, the one who loves truth and justice, the one who constantly seeks out the shrines of the great gods, the one who provides for Esagil and Ezida, son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, am I.

(i 10) When the god Marduk, the great lord, the wisest of the gods, the one who directs the (four) quarters (of the world), with his plentiful countenance and his bright features, (and) with his broad glance, which is like the god Šamaš who observes everything, looked upon me with pleasure and raised up my head, he gave me an exalted name to rule over the land. Then, he (Marduk) gave me a widespread people to shepherd.

(i 23) To provide for the cult centers and renovate sanctuaries, make rites secure, and ensure that their purification rites are carried out correctly, (by) his venerable command, he magnificently commissioned me and (thus) I returned the original rites and primordial rites of the goddess Ištar of Uruk, the holy lady of Uruk, (back) to their (original) place(s). I returned the šēdu to Uruk (and) the lamassu of goodness to Eanna.

(ii 10) At that time, (with regard to) Eanna, the temple of the goddess Ištar of Uruk, which, before the time I had opened up its foundation(s), its plan had been destroyed: I examined (and) checked its original foundation(s) and (then) firmly placed its (new) foundations on top of the original foundation(s).

(ii 19) Using bitumen and baked brick, I had the temple built as (it had been) in ancient times, (together with its) cellas, the seats of the goddesses Ištar of Uruk and Nanāya. I built the entire temple with mud and (unbaked) brick, as (it had been) in ancient times.

(ii 30) For the goddess Ištar of Uruk, the exalted princess, I built anew Eanna, the consecrated temple, the šutummu, the place where she resides.

(iii 1) O Ištar of Uruk, exalted princess, when you enter Eanna, the temple where you reside, during joyous celebrations, look upon my fine handiwork with pleasure and may good things about me be set upon your lips.

(iii 12) Give me as a gift a life of long days, the attainment of very old age, a firmly-secured throne, and a long-lasting reign.

(iii 19) Whenever (there are) battle and war, O Ištar, be the protection of my troops (and) march at my side so that (I may) kill my enemies.

(iii 24) O Nanāya, eternal lady of the gods, pre-eminent one of Eanna, make my deeds find acceptance in the presence of the god Nabû, the triumphant heir, your beloved husband, (and) speak good (words) about me.