Ashurbanipal 241

(1) For the god Marduk, king of all the Igīgū gods and Anunnakū gods, creator of heaven and netherworld, who establishes archetypes (and) dwells in Esagil, lord of Babylon, great lord, my lord:

(3) I, Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world); son of Esarhaddon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, who (re)settled Babylon, (re)built Esagil, renovated the sanctuaries of all the cult centers, constantly established appropriate procedures in them, and (re)confirmed their interrupted regular offerings, (who) restored the rites (and) rituals according to the old pattern; grandson of Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, I —

(10) During my reign, the great lord, the god Marduk, entered Babylon amidst rejoicing and took up his residence in Esagil for evermore. I (re)confirmed the regular offerings for Esagil and the gods of Babylon. I (re-)established the privileged status of Babylon (and) appointed Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, my favorite brother, to the kingship of Babylon in order that the strong might not harm the weak. Moreover, I decorated Esagil with silver, gold, (and) precious stones and made Eumuša glisten like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmament.

(16b) At that time, (with regard to) Imgur-Enlil, the (city) wall of Babylon, (and) Nēmetti-Enlil, its outer wall, which had become old and buckled (and) collapsed, in order to increase the security of Esagil and the (other) sanctuaries of Babylon, with the strength of my labor forces I had Nēmetti-Enlil, its outer wall, built quickly anew with the craft of the god Kulla and I refitted its gates. I had (new) doors made and fixed (them) in its gateways.

(23) O (you) future ruler, during whose reign this work falls into disrepair, question skilled craftsmen! (Re)build Imgur-Enlil, the (city) wall, (and) Nēmetti-Enlil, the outer wall, according to their ancient specifications! Look at my inscribed object, anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice, (and) place (it) with your (own) inscribed object! The god Marduk will (then) listen to your prayers.

(27b) (But) as for the one who destroys my inscribed name or the name of my favorite (brother) by some crafty device, (or) does not place my inscribed object with his (own) inscribed object, may the god Marduk, king of everything, glare at him angrily and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands!