Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), lead[er] of a widespread population, the one who fashioned image(s) of the deities Aššur, Anu, Sîn, Šamaš, [Adad], Nergal, Ištar of Bīt-Kidmuru, Bēlet-ilī, and the (other) great gods, the one who carries out to perfection the rites of Ešarra and Emašmaš, who knows well how to revere the gods of heaven and the gods of Assyria, the builder of Assyria, the one who brings his cult centers to completion, the one who uproots enemies (and) destroys their settlements, circumspect ruler whose dominion is more praised than (that of all) kings who sit on (royal) daises, the support of his land, the one who is trustworthy in battle and combat, (and) the protection of his troops, I:

At that time, with regard to E­ḫur­sag­gal­kur­kur­ra, which is within Ešarra, the sanctuary of (the god) Aššur — the great lord, my lord — (and) whose proper orientation fell by the wayside in distant days: Its gate opened toward the south. With the extensive wisdom that the god Ea had given me, with the perspicacity that (the god) Aššur had granted to me, I took counsel with myself and made up my mind to open the gate of Eḫursaggalkurkurra towards the rising sun, facing east.

I found out the will of the gods Šamaš (and) Adad and they answered me with a firm ‘yes,’ and (then) the gods Šamaš and Adad commanded that tha[t] gate be opened towards the rising sun, facing east. At that time, I made several breaches in the wall, and (then) I opened a new gate towards (the god) Aššur, my lord, towards the east, and named it “The Royal Gate.”

I built anew the bīt-šuḫūru and widened its gate. At that gate of the bīt-šuḫūru, four bull-shaped son-of-Šamaš figures of reddish bronze raise up in their hands a sun disk (and) hold up the roof above, (while) below, their feet are firmly planted in place on two bronze daises, (one) of a bronze fish man (and one) of a bronze carp man. On the right and left of the gate, a lion-man figure and a scorpion-man figure hold the door bolt(s). I named that (lit. “those”) gate “The Gate of the Path of the Enlil-Stars.”

I built anew its courtyard and named it “The Courtyard of the Row of Pedestals for the Igīgū gods.” I gave the gate that faces the rising sun, towards the river, the name “The Gate of the Firmament.” I gave its entrance gate to the courtyard the name “The Entrance of the Igīgū gods.” I gave the gate that faces south the name “The Kamsū-Igīgū Gate.” I gave its entrance gate to the courtyard the name “The Gate of the Abun[dance] of the Land.” I gave its gate that faces north the name “The Gate of the Wagon Star.” I gave its entrance gate to the courtyard the name “The Gate of the Dais of Destinies.”

I completed the gate of the cella, the bīt-šaḫūru, its walls, together with its courtyard, (its) rooms, (and) (its) gates, from its foundations to its crenellations with the craft of the god Kulla and I raised its superstructure (as high) as a mountain. With my innate expertise, I named the gates and [th]eir courtyard and I gave (them) their names.

O foundation inscription, speak favorable things to (the god) Aššur about Sennach[erib], king of Assyria, the one who loves correct behavior, the one who fashioned the image of his god, (and) the one who built (this) temple, so that his offspring, his sons, (and) his grandsons may flourish together with Baltil (Aššur) and Ešarra (and) endure forever with the black-headed (people).

May any future ruler whom (the god) Aššur names for shepherding the land and people (and) during whose reign that temple becomes dilapidated renovate its dilapidated section(s). May he find my inscribed objects, anoint (them) with oil, make an offering, (and) put (them) back in their (text: “its”) place. (The god) Aššur will (then) hear his prayers.

(As for) the one who alters my inscribed object (and) disrespects my words, may (the god) Aššur, king of the gods, and the great gods of heaven and netherworld curse him with a harsh curse, and may they overthrow his kingship, deprive him of his life, (and) make his name, his seed, his offspring, (and) his progeny disappear from the mouth of the people.