[To the king, my lord: your servant Urad-Gula]. [The best of health to the king, my lord]! May Marduk and [Zarpanitu, Nabû and Tašmetu, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar] of Arbe[la, Ninurta and Gula, Nergal and Laṣ] very greatly bless [the king my lord, the jus]t one! May they bestow [long days and everlasting years] upon the king, my lord!

[May the great gods of Heaven and Earth] constantly bless your kingship, [may they love the pure] sacrifices you offer and [appreci]ate your priesthood, may they guard your steps [and straighten your path], may they defeat your enemies, slay your foes, dri[ve off your adversaries] and pick up their possessions; may they make your leadership as beneficial as choicest oil to the totality of all nations; may they keep the foundation of your throne firm as a rock forever; may Šamaš, the light of Heaven and Earth, be receptive to a just verdict concerning you.

May the king, my lord, heed the case of his servant, let the king see the whole situation! Initially, in (the days of) the king's father, I was a poor man, son of a poor man, a dead dog, a vile and limited person. He lifted me from the dung heap; I got to receive gifts from him, and my name was mentioned among men of good fortune. I used to enjoy generous 'leftovers'; intermittently, he used to give me a mule [or] an ox, and yearly I earned a mina or two of silver.

[In the days] of my lord's crownprincehood I received 'leftovers' with your exorcists; I stood [at] the window openings, keeping watch; all the days that I spent in his service I guarded his privileges, I did not enter the house of a eunuch or a courtier without his permission. I was looked upon as one who eats lion's morsels, I appeased your god. Now, following his father, the king my lord has added to the good name he had established, but I have not been treated in accordance with my deeds; I have suffered as never before, and given up the ghost.

Improper conduct, whispering about and revealing a secret are detestable things; I guarded the privileges of the king my lord, but I did not find benefactors. I endured [...] words, [I made] (my) office (my) night's resting place, I taught the servants, the non-eunuchs and eunuchs alike, submission, toil and fear of the palace, and what did I get for it?

If it is befitting that first-ranking scholars and (their) assistants receive mules, (surely) I should be granted one donkey; like[wise], (as) oxen are apportioned in Tebet (X), I too should [...] one ox!

Two or three times within a month three to four [... are give]n to [...];

[even ...an ap]prentice [of the] assistant [... ge]ts [... and] enjoys [a sh]eep [......]; but [me], [what (compensation) do I d]raw, or for what pur[pose do I w]ork?

I cannot look at the [......] of the king, no[r ......]

[......] Day and night I pray to the king in front of the lion's pit [...... which ...] are not ... with morsels [......] my heart amidst my colleagues [......]

(Break)

[......] and likewise among my brothers [......]

[......] a medical potion, ointment[s ......]

[......] aren't ewes [......] in this manner?

[......]... [I sent] a letter to the king my lord through Šarru-nuri the eunuch; but I (only) heaped up the grief of my heart, writing to the king, my lord.

The very same evening [...] the king sent a letter to his servant, [saying "I did not k]now that you are having such a hard time; (for) I [......] did send for you." The word of the king my lord is as difficult as a mountain!

I placed the letter in safekeeping at the throne of Nabû and guarded it like (my) only son; (but) if my distress has in any way slackened, the king my lord should be very happy indeed. He should have remembered his servant, saying "Let him receive my necklace while [I] am looking on." There is another saying, too: "He who has been stabbed in the back has (still) got a mouth to speak, but he who has been stabbed in the mouth, how can he speak?"

It is two years now since the two be[asts of mine] died; I have walked three times to Arbela and once to the city of Assur, (but) who has showed me any compassion by taking me by the hand or [leading me] into the presence of the king my lord? Why did the king summon an exorcist from Ekallate, while I had to take to the back (lit. desert) roads because of people asking me: "Why do you go on foot?"

People pass my house, the mighty on palanquins, the assistants in carts, (even) the juniors on mules, and I have to walk!

Perhaps the king will say: "He is a citizen." The king can ask (anyone): My father portioned out 6 homers of field with his brother Nabû-zeru-lešir; I and my brother got three homers each, and in addition two souls! By the grace of the king my lord I have purchased 5 or 6 souls.

I have visited the Kidmuru temple and arranged a banquet, (yet) my wife has embarrassed me; for five years (she has been) neither dead nor alive, and I have no son. This year three women have fallen to me; but I have no farmer, no farm equipment, no farm. By Anu, Enlil and Ea who are firmly implanted in the head of the king, my lord, I cannot (even) afford a pair of sandals or the wages of a tailor, I have not got a spare suit of clothes, and I have incurred a debt of almost six minas of silver, plus the interest.

[Also], I am [50?] years (already) and they say: "Once you have reached old age, who will support you?" [The king] is not pleased with me; I go to the palace, I am no good; [I turned to] a prophet (but) did not find [any hop]e, he was adverse and did not see much. [O king] my [lord], seeing you is happiness, your attention is a fortune!

May the kin[g's .... heart] soften, and may he at least send me the two beasts, [......]..., and a spare suit of clothes! Guarding [......]..., for the crownprincehood of the king, my lord [...]

[The king my lord] knows me since the time he was a child; I have (always) said: "No [...]

(Break)

[...] robbery [.....]... with whom will the king brighte[n ......]

who would see [......] and gra[sp] his [... will] not lif[t ......]