[For the god Enlil, lord of the lands], whose comma[nd] cannot be revoked, [... who]se utterance [cannot be reject]ed, [...] gods ... [...] ... ruler [...] ... [...] the great lord, his lord:

[Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of] the four [quar]ters (of the world), [governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, selected by the steadfast hea]rt of the god Enlil; [who from his childhood trusted in the gods Aššur, Enlil, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Na]bû, Nergal, and the (other) great gods, (10) [his lords, (who) allowed] him [to attain his desire]; (the one who) recognized their power, [(the one)] over whom [(the gods) extended] their eternal protection [in order to appease their divine heart(s) and set their mind(s) at rest; (the one who) by the might of the gods Aššur, Enlil, Bēl (Marduk), and the Son-of-Bēl (Nabû), the gods], his helpers, ruled over all lands and [made all rulers submissive] to him; (15) [the one who (re)constructed the temple of the god Aššur, renovated Ekur, (re)built E]sagil and Babylon, [completed the sanctuaries and cult cente]rs, (and) (re)confirmed (their) sattukku offerings; [the king during the days of whose reign the great lord, the god Marduk], became reconciled [to] Babylon (and again) took up his residence [in Esagil, his palace]; (the one who) made [the god Great-Anu] enter [into his city Dēr and] his [temple] Edimgalkalama (“House, Great Bond of the Land”) and (20) [had (him) sit upon (his)] eternal [dais; (the one who) restored the splendid appearance of the plundered gods of the lands, returned them] from Assyria [to their (proper) places, and] (re)confirmed their income; [wise prince, expert who knows every craft, who constantly established appropriate procedures] in the great cult centers [(and) has] purification rites [perform]ed correctly; (25) [son of Sennacherib, king of the world (and) king of Assyria]; descendant of Sargon (II), king of Assyria, [governor of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer] and Akkad; [descendant of the eter]nal line [of Bēl-bā]ni, son of Adasi, [k]ing of Assyria; precious [scion of Baltil (Aššur)], (one of) [roya]l lineage (and) ancient stock —

[At that] time, Ekur (“House, Mountain”), the temple of the god En[li]l, lord of the lands, my lord, which a previous king had [built], became [ol]d and [its] walls [buckl]ed. [I sou]ght [its (original) emplacement], removed its dilapidated parts, (and) surveyed its (entire) foundation. I [completely] (re)bu[ilt (it)] with the work of the god Kulla according to [its ancien]t spe[cifications (and) raised its top (as high) as a mountain.]

[(On account of this), may the god Enl]il, the god who helps me, [look upon my] wo[rks with pleasure and may a good word for me be set upon his lips! May he determine as my fate a] long [life], fullness of old age, [good health, and happiness!]

[If at any time in the] future, [during the days of the reign] of some future ruler, [this temple falls into disrepair and] becomes [dilapidat]ed, [may (that ruler) seek out its (original) emplacem[ent (and) repair] its dilapidated parts! [May he anoint an inscri]ption written in my name with oil, make an [of]fering, (and) [set (it) back] in [its] place! [The gods will (then) hear his prayers. He will lengthen (his) day]s (and) enlarge (his) fam[ily].

[(But as for) the one who by some crafty devi]ce destroys [an inscription written in my name] or cha[nges] its position, [may the god Enlil (...) glare] at him [angrily] and determine a bad fate [for him! May he make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land] and have no pity on him!