Prayer of Nebuchadnezzar I (6)

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(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 bluemixed-breed demigods in teal)

          […] … […] …

          He (Šutruk-nanḫundi) drove away the king [Zababa]-šuma-iddina (and) did away with his reign.

          […] his son Kudur-nanḫundi.

          [This king, whose] offence exceeded those of his (fore)fathers (and) [whose] grievous crime was greater than (theirs),

          plotted [ev]il against the land of Akkad (and) fabricated evil reports.

        […] Enlil-nādin-aḫi, a king who preceded me, [who …] established enmity […] (and) spoke of … […]

          and he (Kudur-nanḫundi) over[whelmed] all the people of the land of Akkad like a flood.

          He turned all their august [cult ce]ntres [into ruins].

          He made [the god Marduk], the great [lo]rd, rise from [his …] seat.

          He took [to Elam] as booty [the …] of Sumer and Akkad.

        […] he led Enlil-nādin-aḫi [away to Elam, … h]im, (and) did away with [his] reig

          […] not a native of Babylon, (but rather) a foe […] […] his […]

          […] (divine) punishment […] […] … [… ] […]

          […] ... […] […] … […] [… who was] terror-stricken, took to the mountains.

          […] … harassed his enemy.

 (Marduk, eldest son to Enki)

          They observed [the omens concerning] him (and) sought the judgment of the god Ma[rduk].

         [… worr]ied, harassed, (and) perturbed, I said (to myself):

          “[Unlike] my [predecessor] who flourished in Elam, let me die this very day!

          […] (from) battle with him, let me not turn back!”

          [… wi]th the remainder of (my) people I waited for him at the head of the Uqnû (River) and [did not tu]rn (back).

 (Nergal, Lord of the Under World)

          Against the will of the gods, the god Erra (Nergal), (most) powerful of the gods, smote my [war]riors.

          The enfeebling […] bound my team (of horses).

          […] ... the kattillu-demon was killing my thoroughbred horses.

          [I] was afraid of death. I did not advance into battle (but rather) turned back.

          […] were heavy and I sat benumbed at the town Kār-Dūr-Apil-Sîn.

          The Elamite [advanced] and I withdrew before him.

          [I lay on] a bed of depression (and) sighs, (praying):

          “[…] me that I … before him!

          […] do not release the bonds of the gates!

          […] may his enemy enter!

          […] one who endures evil.

          […] by the word(s) of my lips.

 (Enlil, Commander on Earth)

          […] ... and may the heart of the god Enlil be appeased!

          […] may his emotions be soothed!”

          […] turmoil […] …