Prayer to Marduk for Nabopolassar (4)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

    

       Nabopola[ssar], strong king, [king of Babylon], king of the land of [Sumer and Akkad,

         exalted] ru[ler, the one who reveres the god U]raš and the goddess Ištar (Inanna),

          (Marduk, Inanna, Nabu, & spouse Nanaya)

         [tr]ue she[pherd], protégé of the gods Nabû and [Marduk], I:

       When the [gr]eat g[ods] called (my) exalted name for dominion over the land,

         entrusted me with a scepter — a present to constantly guide my people —

         (and) [ma]de my hands grasps an exalted staff [t]o subjugate the insubmissive,

         at that time, I imposed (the carrying of) basket(s) on all of my workforce

         (and) made (them) carry hoe(s and) spade(s).

         (As for) the people of the upper and lower land(s),

          (Nabu & father Marduk, patron god of Babylon)

         whose lead-rope(s) the gods Nabû and Marduk placed in my hands,

            (Hades / Nergal in his sky-chariot)

         the god Erra (Nergal) — the [(…)] lord … who go[es] at my right side,

         the bail[iff …], the wise (and) [gre]at one — […] …

             (alien giant gods Enlil; Utu; & Marduk)

         [I mus]tered the work[men of the gods Enlil, Šamaš (Utu), and] Marduk [and …] on (all) four sides.

       At that time, I built anew Nēmetti-En[lil (Nēmed-Enlil), its (Babylon’s) outer wall]

         and made (it) as bright as day for the god Marduk, [my] lord.

          (Marduk’s Esagil residence in Babylon)

         I strengthened the protection of Esagil and Babylon (and) allowed the citizens of Babylon to live (there) in peace.

         I made Babylon, the cult center of the great lord — the god Marduk

         worthy of praise, just like it was in earlier times.

       0 Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, (supreme leader / Earth Colony Commander over alien gods)

         (Marduk, eldest son to wisest of all gods, Enki)

       the one who directs the (four) quarters (of the world),

       joyfully look upon my good deeds and, by your exalt[ed] command,

         [give to me a]s a gift to [my] royal majesty a just scepter,

         a firmly-founded throne, a dynasty (lasting) until the distant future,

         (and) the ability to ma[rch] through the four quarters (of the world), on high (mountain) peaks.