(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)
[To the people of Babylon], privileged [people], members of the expert professions,
those who are knowledgeable (and) wise, […] … merchants (lit. “those who carry money-bags”)
(and) commercial agents, (all) those of Babylon, (both) great and small, say (the following):
“[Thus (says) Nebuchadnezzar], viceroy for the god Enlil, a descendant of (a native family of) Babylon, the king your lord:
‘[The following] (is to be used) for the stela:
[(…) With regard to the great lord, the god Marduk, who] has been angry with all the cult centres for a long time,
[…] you should know (that) he [has relented and] taken [pity] on Babylon.
[He summoned me to Esagila] (Marduk’s ziggurat / residence in Banylon), the awe-inspiring sanctuary,
[and] he gave me a magnificent commission.
He told me to go by road (and) path [on campaign to the land of] Elam.
Anxiously, I concerned myself [with the command of the great lord, the god Marduk].
I assembled the troops of the gods Enlil, Šamaš (Shamash / Utu), and Marduk
and […] had them take the road [to the land of] Elam.
They [traveled] distant [paths] (and) traversed waterless routes by night (and) d[ay].
[… at the Ul]āia [River], the wicked enemy, the Elamite, kept guard over the watering places. […] troo[ps … trav]ersed.
I did not give (them) water to drink or allow them (time) to recover from their fatigue. … […]
I hastened to go forth against him.
The weapons […] for war.
By the strength (granted me) by the god Enl[il …] could not have […]; the king of the land of Elam held back.
His defeat was accomplished; [his …] were scattered; (and) his assembled (forces) were dispersed.
He abandoned his troops and [crossed] his rivers.
He was benumbed […] I destroyed his country.
[He] abandoned his strong cities [(…)] (and) disappeared.
(Marduk, lord over Babylon & Egypt)
I hastened on and […] saw the god Marduk, the exalted hero of the gods.
Moreover, the gods of the land [… who] had ordered […], were seen with him.
I took heart […] I was [awe-str]uck. I let forth uncontrolled wailing.
[I grasped] the hand of the great lord, [the god Marduk,
and] caused him to take the road towards his (own) country.
The property of the temple, the dwelling […] extensive.
Moreover, … […] I saw. … […] countless […] was [indeed] weighty and … […] road
… […] … his face … […] his property … […] the god Bēl … as delight … gold, the property of Babylon,
… […] to [(…)] Esagila (rev. 10) […] … food-offerings in the future. […] you should return (it) to its place.
[…] … set up a (commemorative) tablet! […] do not destroy their …!
[…] revere their pos[ition]! (rev. 15) […] … quickly … […] … to go …
[…] may he put an end to his life!’”
[…] message which he sent from the land of Elam to the people of Babylon.