(i 1) When the gods Anu and Enlil had commanded the renovation of the city, Sippar, (and) their firmly appointed time to (re)build Ebabbar had arrived, the god Šamaš, the great lord, remembered his original residence.

(i 6) Their hearts prompted (them) with pleasure to raise the superstructure of the ziggurat, his raised temple, higher than the previous one and they nominated Nabonidus, the king who provides for (and) pleases their heart(s).

(i 11) The submissive shepherd who constantly seeks out the shrines of the great gods, the capable governor who is constantly attentive to the will of the gods, the one who provides for Esagil and Ezida, the one who renovates the shrines of the gods and goddesses, the one who makes sattukku-offerings abundant (and) nindabû-offerings splendid, son of Nabû-balāssu-iqbi, wise prince, am I.

(i 21) [When the god Marduk] entrusted me [(to) rule ov]er his land [...] the god Nabû [... nom]inated me

(i 1') [So that there would be no] cultic mistake(s), [...] ... praying to them [(and) I was] constantly [praying de]voutly [to the gr]eat [gods].

(i 5') At that time, (with regard to) Ebabbar, the awe-inspiring shrine, the residence of the god Šamaš and the goddess Aya that is inside Sippar, which a king of the past had built (and) raised its superstructure, forty-five years had not (yet) elapsed and its walls had buckled.

(i 10') The ramku-priests of Ebabbar told me: “The temple had buckled.” I did not believe their report, but (nevertheless) I was worried.

(i 14') I sent citizens of Babylon and Borsippa, skilled men who know (every) task, (to Sippar) and had (them) enter Ebabbar. Then, they saw that the walls of that temple had buckled, that the structure of (its) gates were falling apart, (and) that the beam(s) of its roof were stripped away (and) protruding inside the temple. They saw (this) and they filled me with fear.

(ii 4) They led the god Šamaš and the goddess Aya out of that temple by the hand and had (them) reside in a good shrine, a suitable place.

(ii 8) I spoke [t]o the people of (my) land, (saying): “What has happened to it so that it buckled?”

(ii 10) This is what they said me: “Its (original) emplacement had not been sought out. It was not (re)built on its true site and its location was changed. The god Šamaš, the great lord, has waited for you to (re)build Ebabbar. (Therefore,) make its construction beautiful! He has entrusted you with building it on its true site.”

(ii 18) My heart was afraid (at the thought of) removing Ebabbar; I was worried. In (my) night bed, I did not get enough good sleep. I raised [my] ha[nds (and) bese]eched the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk.

(ii 24) [With reg]ard to (re)buil[ding] Ebabbar, I frequently visited [the shrines of] the gods Šamaš and Adad, [the lords of divination], and [I performed extispicies. The gods Šamaš and] Adad [always answer]ed me [with a firm ‘yes].’

(ii 29) [I repeated (and) checked the extispicy] and

(ii 1') [I mustered the workmen of the gods Šamaš and Marduk — those who wield hoes, hold spade(s)], (and) carry [bas]ket(s).

(ii 2') From the surface of the ground, they dug down eighteen cubits and I saw the original foundation(s) of Narām-Sîn, a king of the past, and (then) found tablet(s) of gold, lapis lazuli, and carnelian concerning the construction of Ebabbar. I did not alter their (original) place(s) and I returned (them) to their (proper) place(s). I firmly placed my (own) inscription(s) with them forever.

(ii 13') I indeed firmly established its boundary marker(s precisely) on its original foundation(s), not (even) a fingerbreadth outside or inside (of them).

(ii 16') I did not withhold anything needed to (re)build that temple, but had (all of those things) brought inside it.

(ii 18') (For the temple,) whose roof a king of the past had built with beam(s) of date palm(s), I carried strong cedars from Mount Lebanon, the bright forest, and indeed had 1,050 cedars for (re)building Ebabbar brought inside.

(iii 6) For its šīpu, I set bright cedars in place. At each gate and room, I securely fastened crossbeam(s), architrave(s), giškanakku(s), (and) sikkūru šāqilu lock(s) of bright cedar.

(iii 10) Just like when the god Šamaš, the supreme lord, rises up from the Cedar Mountain, I built a roof over it with strong cedar(s).

(iii 14) I made the scent of the place where he (Šamaš) resides as pleasing as a forest of ḫašūru-tree(s).

(iii 16) At each of its gates, I securely fastened doors of cedar and musukkannu-wood. (As for) <the temples> in the vicinity of Ebabbar, I built their roof(s) with (beams of) thick pine-tree(s).

(iii 21) So that anger, curse, (and) cultic mistake are not brought into existence inside it (nor) placed in the mouth(s) of the workmen executing its construction, but (instead) that blessing(s) of good fortune are placed in their mouths, I copiously supplied them with bread, beer, meat, and an abundance of wine, lavishly anointed their bod(ies) with (ritually-)pure oil, (and) had their heads drenched with a perfume of sweet-smelling oil.

(iii 31) [Jo]yously, I cheered up their heart(s). [...] their [h]earts and [...] ... [...] in his place [...] me.

(iii 36) [For the god Šamaš, the great lord, the one who] makes [my signs] favorable, I magnificently built for him [a temple — (one) that] n[one] of the king(s) among the king(s of the past) had built [like] me, (but as for) me, (the one that) I had (it) built well for the god Šamaš and the goddess Aya, my [lor]ds — and completed its construction.

(iii 43) O Šamaš, great lord of heaven and earth, when you enter this temple with pleasure (and) gladly occupy your pure, original residence, bless me, Nabonidus, the king who provides, with blessings of good fortune (and) grant me a long life (lit. “a life of long days”) so that I stay in good health for eternity. Give me dominion over the black-headed (people) so that I may shepherd all of them.

(iii 54) May the goddess Aya, your beloved spouse, say good thing(s) about me to you.

(iii 56) In (divine) pronouncement(s) and extispicy, whenever I raise up (my) hands to you, answer me unequivocally. Make my (good) deeds constantly find acceptance in the presence of the god Marduk, king of heaven and earth.