(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)
(giant semi-divine mixed-breed King Ashurbanipal)
Ashurbanipal, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria,
king of the four quarters (of the world), king of kings, prince who has no rival;
son of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria,
viceroy of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad;
grandson of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, I —
During my reign, the great lord, the god Marduk,
(Nabu, mixed-breed king, high-priest, Marduk, & Ashur)
who during the reign of a previous king had resided in Baltil (Aššur) (Ashur’s patron city)
in the presence of the father who had created him, (10) entered Babylon amidst rejoicing.
I (re)confirmed the regular offerings for Esagil and the gods of Babylon.
I (re–)established the privileged status of Babylon (and) appointed Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, my favorite brother,
to the kingship of Babylon in order that the strong might not harm the weak.
I completed the work on Esagil which my father had not finished.
At that time, I (re-)erected the platforms and daises of all of Esagil
in their (original) positions according to their ancient specifications.
(Babylonian king with spouse receive instructions for Babylon from Marduk)
On account of this, may the god Marduk, the great lord, look upon my good deeds with pleasure
and determine as my fate a long life, fullness of old age, good health, and happiness!
Moreover, with regard to Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, king of Babylon, my favorite brother,
may his days be long and may he be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune!
If at any time in the future, during the days of the reign of some future prince,
this work falls into disrepair, may (that prince) repair its dilapidated state!
May he write my name with his (own) name!
May he look at my royal inscription, anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice,
(and) set (my royal inscription back) in its place!
(Marduk instructs Babylonian king, etc.)
The god Marduk will (then) hearken to his prayers.
[(But) as for the one who] erases my inscribed name,
(or) destroys my royal inscription, or changes its position,
may the great lord, the god Marduk, glare at him angrily
and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands!