Esarhaddon 044

(1) I, Esarhadd[on, ... fav]orite of the god Enlil, pious man, beloved of the god [Marduk and] the goddess Zarpanītu, true shepherd, [... of] the great [god]s, expert governor, [... of the] god Son-of-Bēl (Nabû), (5) judicious ruler, [... shri]nes, the one entrusted with the sattukku offerings, [... of the] daises, the one who brings abundance to the temples, [...] (and) cult centers; the one who (re)confirmed the cereal offerings, [...] everything, wh[o makes] the cult centers shine (and) [comple]tes their rites; (10) the one [who kno]ws the totality of everything, [...] ... everything, [...] ... plains, [...], fallen; the one who makes good the damages (suffered by) the weak, [holds the ha]nd of the feeble; ... [...] with [...] cripples; [...] truth; [...] criminals; [...] ... [...] ... [...]

(r 1') [...] ... [...] ... the god Bēl, the mood [...] [Fr]om my youth, [my] ancestors [...] ... [...] he gave me to sh[eph]erd the black-he[aded people ...] the god Aššur [...] in all of their lands, he killed my [enemies ...]; he subdu[ed] all of the unsubmissive [and (now) they ki]ss [my] feet. Moreover, I care for the ginû [and sattukku] offerings (and) [...].

(r 8') (For) the future prince [who re]spects [my] inscrip[tion] (and) is attentive to (my) deeds, may the god Marduk, the great lord, sage of heaven and [netherworld], lord of springs and seas, decree for him a fate of (divine) favor and riches; may he en[tru]st to him [...]; may he prolong his name (and) his progeny; may he rule (all of) the lands (and) shepherd his people in plenty, abundance, fertility, and riches; [may] the summer grass last until winter (and) the winter grass until summer in his land; may (the ability) to give orders, to listen, and to find favor, (and) truth and justice [be unceas]ing in the mouth of his populace; may he exercise kingship over all of the lands and may he attain whatever he [desires]; may he achieve his wish; should he require something, may it not be [...]; (and) may he not experience [ev]il. [...] ... the praises of the great lord, the god [Mar]duk.

(r 18') Written on the pedestal [of] the great lord, the god [Marduk].