Lacuna

[I ra]ised its superstructure [in its entirety 190 courses of brick]. I en[larged] the structure of the palace [to 700 large cubits along (its) longer side and 440 large cubits along (its) shorter side and (thus) I made its site bigger].

I built [palatial halls of breccia, alabaster], elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, [musukkannu]-wood, [cedar, cypress, juniper, (and) elammaku-wood] there­[on as my lo]rdly [residence]; (then) I had a port[ico, a replica of a Hittite palace], constructed [opposite (its) gates].

I [roofed them (the palatial halls) with] beams of ced[ar] (and) cypress. I fastened [ba]nds of silver and copper [on doors of white cedar] (and) cypress [and I installed (them) in their gates].

[In] their [corri]dors, I made openings for latticed windows. At their gates, I stationed [apotropaic figures of alabaster (and) elephant ivory], whose hands are folded, [who are laden with] pride (and) [allure], (and) who are filled with [exuberanc]e, and (thus) I made (them) [an object of wond]er.

I [decorated] them with silver (and) copper knobbed nails. [...]

Lacuna

[So that the construction of] my [pal]ace [might be carried out corre]ctly and that [my handi]work be completed, at that time, the god Aššur and the goddess Ištar, who love my priestly service (and) who selected me (lit. “who called my name”), revealed to me a source of trunks of cedar, which since distant days grew tall and very thick as they stood in seclusion in the Sirāra mountain range.

<In> the uplands of Mount Ammanāna (northern Anti-Lebanon), they (Aššur and Ištar) disclosed to me the location of alabaster, which in the time of the kings, my ancestors, was too expensive (even) for the pommel of a sword.

Moreover, [bre]ccia, as much as is needed (for making) burzigallu-bowls, (a stone) that had never been seen before, revealed itself at Kapridargilâ (“Dargilâ Village”).

Near Nineveh, in the territory of the city Balāṭāya, by divine will, white limestone was discovered in abundance, and (then) I created bull colossi (and) sphinxes of alabaster, and slabs of alabaster, as well as magnificent slabs of breccia. I cut (them) free on both sides from their mountains, and (then), for the construction of my palace, I had (them) dragged into Nineveh.

(As for) the white limestone that was discovered in the territory of the city Balāṭāya, I had (it) made into bull [colossi] and s[phinxes], and (then) I made their appearance(s) resplendent.

By divine wi[ll] (and) with [my] (own) know[ledge], I created clay mold(s) of tre[e trunks] and date palm(s), (of) twelve raging lions, as well as (of) twelve [magnificent] bull colossi (and) twenty-two sphinxes with perfect form(s), and I poured copper into it. I perfe[cted] their form(s).

I made bull colossi of alabaster and copper, two of which [were overlaid with za]ḫalû-silver, (together with) bull colossi (and) sphinxes of white limestone, hold the door bolts of my lordly palatial halls.

Sphinxes of alabaster and cast urudû-copper with inlays of shining silver, sphinxes of cast ...-metal, as well as twelve raging bronze lions who are endowed with radiance: I erected over them magnificent copper columns (and) large cedar columns, as well as columns of ebony, cypress, daprānu-juniper, (and) tatīdu-wood, with pašallu-gold, silver, and copper inlays, and (then) I positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their gates.

I surrounded their (the palace rooms’) lower courses with slabs of breccia (and) alabaster, and large limestone slabs.

In order to be able to draw water by bucket every day, I had bronze wire chains and bronze cables made and, instead of poles, I had tree trunks and date palm(s) placed over wells.

Moreover, for Tašmētu-šarrat, the palace lady, my beloved spouse, whose form the goddess Bēlet-ilī made more perfect than (that of) all (other) women: I had a palatial hall for lovemaking, happiness, and exultation built, and (then) I stationed sphinxes of white limestone in its gates.

By the command of the god Aššur, father of the gods, and the goddess Ištar, the queen, may we both live long and be satisfied with (our) prosperity in these palatial halls in good health and happiness. May the good šēdu (and) the good lamassu surround these palatial halls forever and ever. May they never leave them.