(1) Palace of Ashurnasirpal (II), vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, chosen of the gods Enlil and Ninurta, beloved of the gods Anu and Dagān, destructive weapon of the great gods, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II), (who was) also king of the world (and) king of Assyria; the valiant man who acts with the support of (the god) Aššur, his lord, and who has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world); marvelous shepherd, fearless in battle, mighty flood-tide which has no opponent, the king who make those insubordinate to him bow down, he who rules all of the peoples, strong male who treads upon the necks of his foes, trampler of all enemies, he who breaks up the forces of the rebellious, the king who acts with the support of the great gods, his lords, and has conquered all lands, gained dominion over the mountains, all of them, and received their tribute, capturer of hostages, (and) he who is victorious over all of the countries.

(7b) When (the god) Aššur, the lord who called me by name (and) made my kingship supreme, placed his merciless weapon in my lordly arms, I struck down the extensive troops of the Lullumê in battle with the sword. With the support of the gods Šamaš and Adad, the gods my supporters, I thundered like the god Adad, the devastator, against the troops of the lands Naʾiri, Ḫabḫu, Šubarû, and Nirbu. The king who made (the territory stretching) from the opposite bank of the Tigris River to Mount Lebanon and the Great Sea, land Lāqê in its entirety, (and) the land Sūḫu, including the city Rapiqu, bow down at his feet; he conquered from the source of the Subnat River to the land Urarṭu. I brought within the boundaries of my land (the territory stretching) from the passes of the land Ḫabruri to the land Gilzānu, from the opposite bank of the Lower Zab to the city Tīl-bāri, which is upstream from the land Zabban, from the city Tīl-ša-Zabdāni and the city Tīl-ša-Abtāni, (and) the cities Ḫirimmu (and) Ḫarutu, (which are) fortresses of Karduniaš (Babylonia). I counted (the people) from the passes of the Mount Babite to the land Ḫašmar as people of my land. I regularly appointed governors of mine in the lands over which I gained dominion. They did obeisance (to me).

(17b) Ashurnasirpal (II), attentive ruler, worshipper of the great gods, ferocious dragon, conqueror of cities and mountains, to their full extent, king of lords, encircler of the obstinate, crowned with splendor, fearless in battle, merciless hero, he who stirs up strife, praiseworthy king, shepherd, protection of the (four) quarters (of the world), the king whose command disintegrates mountains and seas, the one who by his lordly conflict has brought under one authority ferocious (and) merciless kings from east to west.

(21b) I have traversed mighty mountains, seen remote (and) rugged regions throughout all (four) quarters (of the world). I have caused flaming arrows to rain down upon the rulers of all of the cities (so that) they ever revere my command (and) beseech my lordly majesty.

(23b) I, Ashurnasirpal (II), sage, expert, intelligent one, (and) the one who is open to the counsel (and) wisdom that the god Ea, king of the apsû, destined for me. The great gods of heaven and netherworld chose me, in their steadfast hearts, and my kingship, dominion, (and) power came forth by their holy command. They sternly commanded me to rule, subdue, and direct the lands and mighty mountains.

(25b) By the command of (the god) Aššur, the great lord, my lord, and the god Ninurta who loves my priesthood, I marched to Mount Lebanon. I went up to the Great Sea. I cleansed my weapons in the Great Sea (and) made sacrifices to my gods. At that time, I received payment from the kings of the sea coast, from the lands of the people of Tyre, Sidon, Amurru, Byblos, Maḫallatu, Kaiṣu, Maiṣu, and the city Arwad, which is (on an island) in the sea: silver, gold, tin, bronze, bronze casseroles, linen garments with multi-colored trim, ivory of nāḫirus, (which are) sea creatures. At that time, along with their tribute, I received from them large female monkeys (and) small female monkeys.

(31b) I brought them (the monkeys) to my land, Assyria. I bred herds of them in great numbers in the city Kalḫu (and) displayed (them) to all the people of my land. With my outstretched hand and my fierce heart, I captured fifteen strong lions from the mountains and forests. I took away fifty lion cubs. I herded them in cages into the city Kalḫu and the palaces of my land.

(35) I bred their cubs in great numbers. I captured live tigers (mindinaš). I formed herds of wild bulls, elephants, lions, ostriches, male monkeys, female monkeys, wild asses, deer, aialu-deer, female bears, panthers, (and) senkurru, beasts of the mountains (and) plain, all of them, in my city, the city Kalḫu. I displayed (them) to all of the people of my land.

(38b) O future ruler, one of the kings, my sons, whom (the god) Aššur calls, or later people, or vice-chancellor, or noble, or eunuch, you must not despise (these animals). May these creature(s) live before (the god) Aššur!

(40) The gods Ninurta and Nergal, who love my priesthood, gave to me the wild beasts (and) commanded me to hunt. I killed 30 elephants from an ambush pit. I slew 257 strong wild bulls from my ... chariots, with my assault of my lordly majesty, with swords. I killed 370 strong lions like caged birds with the spear.

(43) On the eighth day of the month Ayyāru (II), I moved from the city Kalḫu. After crossing the Tigris River, I approached the city Carchemish of the land Ḫatti. I received from it much of the property of its palace, the weight of which could not be determined. The kings of the lands, of all them, came (and) grasped my feet. I took from them hostages (and) they were kept in my presence (as) they marched (with me) to Mount Lebanon.

(46) Moving on from the city Carchemish, I took the way between Mounts Munzigani (and) Ḫamurga. Leaving the land (Y)aḫānu on my left, I approached the city Ḫazazu, which (was ruled by) Lubarna of the land Pattinu. I received silver, gold, (and) linen garments. Passing on, I crossed the Aprê River, pitched camp, (and) spent the night. Moving on from the Aprê River, I approached the city Kunulua, the royal city of Lubarna of the land Pattinu. He took fright in the face of my raging weapons (and) fierce battle and grasped my feet in order to save his (own) life. I received from him 20 talents of silver, 1 talent of gold, 100 talents of tin, 100 talents of iron, 1,000 oxen, 10,000 sheep, 1,000 linen garments with multi-colored trim, decorated couches of boxwood with inlay, beds of boxwood, decorated ivory beds with inlay, (and) many ornaments from his palace, the weight of which could not be determined.

(52) (As for) the ancient city Kalḫu, which Shalmaneser (I), king of Assyria, a ruler who had come before me, had built, that city had become dilapidated (and) it laid dormant. I built that city anew. I took people that I had conquered from the lands over which I had gained dominion, from the land Sūḫu, (from) the land Lāqê in its entirety, (from) the city Sirqu, which is at the crossing of the Euphrates River, (from) the land Zamua to its full extent, (from) Bīt-Adini and the land Ḫatti, and from Lubarna of the than Pattinu. I settled (them) therein.

(55b) I cleared away the old ruin hill (and) dug down to water level. I sank (the foundation pit) down to a depth of 120 layers of brick. I founded therein a palace of cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, boxwood, meskannu-wood, terebinth, and tamarisk as a residence of my royal majesty (and) for my lordly leisure for eternity. I made (statues of) beasts of mountains and seas of white limestone and parūtu-alabaster (and) stationed (them) at its gates. I splendidly decorated it. I surrounded it with knobbed nails of bronze. I installed doors of cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, (and) meskannu-wood in its gates. I took silver, gold, tin, (and) bronze — booty from the lands over which I gained dominion — in great quantities (and) deposited (them) therein.