Neriglissar 01

(i 1) Neriglissar, king of Babylon, pious prince, the favorite of the god Marduk, the humble (and) submissive one who reveres the lord of lords, the wise (and) pious one, the one who constantly seeks out the shrines of the god Nabû — his lord — the ruler who provides, the one who brings large gifts to Esagil and Ezida, the one who copiously supplies sattukku-offerings (and) ensures that their purification rites are carried out correctly, son of Bēl-šum-iškun, wise prince, the perfect warrior, the one who ensures the protection of Esagil and Babylon, the one who blocks the approach to the country like a strong wall, am I.

(i 15) When the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, the prince who deliberates, the sage who knows the hearts of all of the Igīgū gods, sought me out among his widespread people and properly provided for me since my youth, he gave me an appropriate name (and) indeed constantly guided me in places of well-being and health. For my righteousness, with which I always answer him, (and) for my submissiveness, through which I constantly strive after respect for his divinity, I plan daily to perform that which is pleasing to him.

(i 26) He looked upon me and declared (my) gracious name to be king in the land. In order to shepherd his people for eternity, for my kingship, he indeed gave me a just scepter that widens the land; for (my) lordship, he indeed entrusted me with a legitimate rod that protects the people, let my hands grasp a staff that subdues enemies, made me wear a legitimate crown, and he did not bring about rivals or intimidators for my kingship.

(i 37) I killed foes, slaughtered enemies, (and) suppressed all of the unsubmissive. I constantly established justice in the land (and) peacefully shepherded my widespread people.

(ii 5) At that time, I gave reverent attention to the god Marduk, the god who creates wisdom, whose words are supreme among the Igīgū gods, whose lordship is the most outstanding among the Anunnakū gods.

(ii 9) (As for the section of) the enclosure wall of Esagil that faces north, (an area) in which the ramku- (and) kiništu-priests of Esagil reside, whose foundations a former king had laid but whose superstructure he had not raised, which had become progressively lower due to terracing, and whose walls had become weak, its construction was no longer very stable, (and) its door-jamb(s) were no longer secure.

(ii 18) To keep bursaggû-offerings clean, to arr[ange] purification rites, to keep taklīmu-offerings pure for the great lord, the god M[arduk], to properly administer sattuk[ku]-offerings, (and) to prevent act(s) of omission and cultic mistake(s) from occurr[ing], I examined (and) inspected its original foundation and (then) I secured its (new) foundations on its original foundations. I raised its high parts, making (them) as lofty as a mountain. I secured its door-jamb(s) and set up doors in its gate(s). I surrounded (it) with a strong base using bitumen and baked bricks.

(ii 29) O Marduk, supreme lord, the pre-eminent one, the exalted one, the venerated one, the magnificent one, the light of the gods — his fathers — look with pleasure upon my precious handiwork and grant me a life of long days, the attainment of very old age, a firmly secured throne, and a long-lasting reign!

(ii 36) Through your firm command, which cannot be altered, may I, Neriglissar, be the king who provides (and) the one who constantly seeks out your shrines for eternity.