Sargon (II), k[ing ...], nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, [just] shepherd [...] king [...], governor (appointed) by the gods Nabû and Marduk, whom [(...)] the great gods appointed to [...] ... and [...] ..., I —

The temple of the gods Nabû (and) Marduk that had previously been built opposite the new gate facing north, became dilapidated and Adad-nārārī (III), son of Šamšī-Adad (V), king of Assyria [(...), a prince who pr]eceded me, (re)built (it). The foundations of this temple were not made strong and its foundation wall was not fixed like bedrock. Seventy-five years elapsed and it became old and dilapidated (lit.: “dilapidated and old”). In order not to change its location (and) to build (it) beside the temple of the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, I requested the command of the god Na[bû (...)], my lord, and by means of the diviner’s bowl he answered me with (his) firm approval not to change its location. Then, from its foundations to its crenellations, I completely (re)constructed the temple of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords, (that) had been built beside the temple of the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, and I set my clay sikkatu-cones (in place).

For the sake of my life, the well-being of my offspring, the overthrow of my enemies, the success of the harvest of Assyria, (and) the well-being of Assyria [(...)] I (re)built (this temple).