Nabopolassar 04

(i 1) Nabopola[ssar], strong king, ki[ng of Babylon], king of the land of [Sumer and Akkad, exalted] ru[ler, the one who reveres the god] Uraš and the goddess Ištar, t[r]ue she[ph]erd, protégé of the gods Nabû and [Mardu]k, am I.

(i 7) When the great gods called (my) exalted name for dominion over the land, they entrusted me with a scepter (as) a gift to constantly guide my people (and) he (the god Marduk) [le]t my hands grasp an exalted staff [t]o subjugate the insubmissive.

(i 14) At that time, I imposed (the carrying of) basket(s) on all of my workmen (and) made (them) carry hoe(s and) spade(s). (With regard to) the people of the upper and lower land(s), whose lead-rope(s) the gods Nabû and Marduk placed in my hands, the god Erra — the [(...)] lord ... who go[es] at my right side, the bail[iff ...], the wise (and) [gre]at one — [...] ... [I mus]tered the extensive work[men of the gods Enlil, Šamaš, and] Marduk [and ...] on (all) four sides.

(ii 5) At that time, I built anew Nēmetti-En[lil, its (Babylon’s) outer wall] and made (it) as bright as day for the god Marduk, [my] lord. I strengthened the protection of Esagil and Babylon (and) allowed the citizens of Babylon to live (there) in peace. I constantly made Babylon, the cult center of the great lord — the god Marduk — worthy of praise, just like it was in earlier times.

(ii 14) O Marduk, Enlil of the gods who directs the (four) quarters (of the world), look with pleasure upon my good deeds and, by your exalt[ed] command, [grant me a]s a gift to [my] royal majesty a just scepter, a firmly-founded throne, a dynasty (lasting) until the distant future, (and) the ability to ma[rch] through the four quarters (of the world), on high (mountain) peaks.