Ashurbanipal 253

(1) To the god Nabû, the powerful heir [... h]ero of the gods, eminent, exalted, splendid, scribe of Esagil, f[oremost] son, [...], who bears the tablet of the fates of the gods, who controls the omens, prince of the g[reat] gods, [(...) the one who directs the Igīgū and] Anunnakū gods, who gives advice to the gods of heaven (and) netherworld, powerful ... [...] whose weapons cannot be equaled, (5) firstborn son of the god Asari (Marduk), offspring of the goddess [Erua (Zarpanītu), ...] whose lordship is supreme, who dwells in Ezida — the proper temple — lord of Borsi[ppa — the] awesome [cult center] — great lord, my lord:

(7) I, Ashurbanipal, [gr]eat k[ing], mighty king, king of the world, king of [Ass]yria, king of the four quarters (of the world); son of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of As[syria, governor of Babyl]on, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, who (re)settled Babylon, [(re)built Esagil, (and) renovated the sanctuaries] of all cult centers; (10) who constantly establ[ished appropriate procedures] in them, (re)confirmed [their int]errupted [regular offerings, (and) restor]ed the rites (and) ritua[ls according to the old pattern; grandson of] Sennac[herib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assy]ria, I —

(13) [During my reign, the great lord, the god Marduk], entered [Babylon amidst rejoicing] and [took up his residence in the eternal Esagil. I (re)confirmed the regular offer]ings for Esagil (15) and the gods [of Babylon]. I (re-)established [the privileged status of Babyl]on (and) appointed [Šamaš-šuma-ukīn], (my) favorite brother, to the kingship of Babylon in order that the strong might not har[m] the weak. I decorated Esagil [with silver, gold], (and) precious stones and [made] Eumuša glisten like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the fi[rmament].

(19) At [th]at [time], (with regard to) Ṭābi-supūršu, the (city) wall of Borsippa, wh[ich] had become [ol]d, (20) [buckled (and) c]ollapsed, in order to increase the security of Ezida and the (other) sanctuaries of Borsippa, [with the strength of] my [labor] forces I had [Ṭā]bi-supūršu, the (city) wall of Borsippa, built [quickly] anew with the work of the god Kulla and refitted [its gates]. I built (new) doors and installed (them) in its gates.

(23) [O (you) futu]re [ruler], during whose reign this work falls into disrepair, question skilled craftsmen. (Re)build [Ṭābi-s]upūršu, the (city) wall of Borsippa, according to its ancient specifications. (25) Look at [my inscribed object], anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice, (and) place (my inscribed object) with your (own) inscribed object. The god Nabû will (then) [lis]ten [to you]r [prayers].

(26b) (But) as for the one who des[troys] 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 Nabû, (...)], glare at him [angrily] and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands.