(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)
(Nabu, patron god of Borsippa)
[To the god Nabû …] commander of the gods, eminent, exalted, splendid,
[…] who bears the tablet of the fates of the gods, who controls the omens […] …
who gives advice to the gods of heaven and netherworld,
[…] whose weapons cannot be equaled, […] whose lordship is supreme,
[who dwells in Ezida — the proper temple, (located) in Borsippa,
the] awesome [cult center] — great lord, my lord:
(Ashurbanipal enjoying his royal descendant kingship)
[I, Ashurbanipal, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assy]ria,
king of the four quarters (of the world); [son of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king,
king of the world, king of Assyria, viceroy of Babyl]on, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad,
[who (re)settled Babylon, (re)built Esagil, renovated the sanctuaries] of all cult centers,
[constantly established appropriate procedures in them, and] (re)confirmed [their int]errupted [regular offerings,
(who) rest]ored [the rites (and) rituals according to the old pattern;
grandson of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assy]ria, I —
[During my reign, the great lord, the god Marduk], entered [Babylon amidst rejoicing]
(Marduk’s Esagil residence above his patron city-state Babylon)
and [took up his residence in the eternal Esagil.
I (re)confirmed the regular offer]ings for Esagil [and the gods of Babylon].
I (re-)established [the privileged status of Babyl]on (and) [appointed Šamaš-šuma-ukīn],
(Ashurbanipal & brother Samas-suma-ukin)
my favorite brother, [to the kingship of Babylon in order that the strong might not harm the weak.
I decorated Esagil with silver, gold, (and)] precious stones
[and made] Eumuša glisten [like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmament].
At [that time, (with regard to) 1ābi-supūršu, the (city) wall of Borsippa,
which] had become [ol]d and [buckled (and) collapsed,
in order to] increase [the securi]ty of Ezida and the (other) sanctuaries of Borsippa,
[with the strength of] my [labour] forces I had [Ṭā]bi-supūršu, [its] (city) wall, built [quickly] anew
(Ningishzidda, architect of the great monuments around the world)
[with] the work of the god Kulla (Ningishzidda) and refitted [its gates.
I had] (new) doors made and hung (them) in its gateways.
[O (you) futu]re [prince], during whose reign this work falls into disrepair, question skilled craftsmen!
(Nabu’s ziggurat residence & Borsippa way down below)
(Re)build [Ṭābi-s]upūršu, the (city) wall of Borsippa, according to its ancient specifications!
Look at [my royal inscription], anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice,
(and) place (my royal inscription) with your (own) royal inscription!
(Marduk, son Nabu, & giant mixed-breed king with dinner)
The god Nabû will (then) [lis]ten [to you]r [prayers].
(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 royal inscription with his (own) royal inscription,
(giant alien Anunnaki god Nabu in our image & likeness)
[may the god Nabû, (…)], glare at him [angrily] and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands!