(i 1) Shalmaneser (III), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of [Assyria, son of Ashurnasirpal (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II)], (who was) also [king of the world (and) king of Assyria], the valiant man who [is active] in the four quarters (of the world), [(...)] merciless [...] who defeats the fierce [... the one (...)] into whose hands are entrusted all (four) quarters (of the world), the destroyer of [...] those insubmissive to (the god) Aššur, the mighty floodtide [that has no opponent, the one] into whose hands [(the god) Aššur (and the great gods)] firmly placed the circumference of lands, king of the (four) quarters (the world), [controller of the obstinate, the one crowned] with splendor, the one who is fearless in battle, [...] whose lordship has entirely conquered fierce and merciless kings [from sunrise] to sunset, [...], Shalmaneser (III), faithful shepherd, vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, (and) superb [...].

(i 6b) At that time, (the god) Aššur, the great lord, called [my name for shepherdship of] the people, he crowned (me) with the exalted crown, [...] my dominion, (and) placed in my hands the sword, scepter, (and) staff appropriate for (rule over) the people. With the support of (the god) Aššur, the great lord, my lord, and the god Ninurta, who loves my priesthood, I always acted (and) they firmly placed in my hands all of the lands (and) mountains.

(ii 2b) Shalmaneser (III), strong king, sun(god) of all of the people: I overwhelmed like the Deluge (lit. “tells of the Deluge”) [from] the Sea of the Naʾiri land(s), the Sea of the interior of the land Zamua and the Great Sea of the land Amurru (and) the land Ḫatti to its full extent. I uprooted 44,400 of their troops (with) their officers (and) counted (them) as people of my land. I unleashed the radiance of my lordly majesty upon the land Ḫatti . Upon my passing by the sea, I created a colossal statue of my lordly majesty (and) erected (it) where the image of Anum-ḫirbe (stands).

(ii 4) I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities along my way (and) [received] the payment of [...]. I went down to the Great [Sea], washed my weapons in the Great Sea, (and) offered sacrifices to my gods. I received the payment of all of the kings by the sea. I created a colossal statue of my lordly majesty (and) wrote thereon the praises [of (the god) Aššur, the great lord, my lord, and the mighty deeds that] I had been accomplishing [by] the sea. I erected (it) by the sea.

(ii 5b) I conquered, destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire (the area) from the land Enzi to the land Daiaeni, from the land Daiaeni to [the city Arṣaškun, the royal city of Arr]āmu of the land Urarṭu. While I was residing in the city Arṣaškun, Arrāmu of the land Urarṭu, trusting in the might of his army, mustered all of his troops (and) attacked me to wage war and battle. I defeated him, crushed his soldiers, struck down 3,000 of his fighting men to the sword (and) filled the wide plain with the blood of his warriors. I took away from him his military equipment, his royal treasure, (and his) numerous cavalry. In order to save his (own) life, he ascended a rugged mountain. I slaughtered the wide land Guti like the god Erra. I thundered like the god Adad, the devastator, against (the territory stretching) from the city Arṣaškun to the land Gilzānu (and) from the land Gilzānu to the land Ḫubuškia. (Thus) I laid the brilliance of my lordly majesty over the land Urarṭu.

(iii 3b) (As for) Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”), who had been swaggering about with might and main since (the days of) the kings, my ancestors, at the beginning of my reign, I imprisoned him in his city. I uprooted his harvest (and) cut down his gardens. In order to save his (own) life, he crossed the Euphrates River and fortified himself in the city Šītamrat, a mountain peak that is situated on the bank of the Euphrates River, which is suspended from heaven like a cloud. In a second year, I went after him (and) laid siege to th(at) mountain peak. My soldiers flew up against them like the anzû-bird. I uprooted (and transported) 17,500 of his troops. I took for myself Aḫūnu, together with his troops, gods, chariots, (and) horses, brought (them) to my city, Aššur, (and) counted (them) as people of my land.

(iv 1) In the eponymy of Šamaš-bēlu-uṣur, at the time of Marduk-zākir-šumi, the king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), Marduk-bēl-usāti, his brother, rebelled against him (and) they divided up the land evenly. Marduk-zākir-šumi sent his messenger (with a plea) for help to Shalmaneser (III). Shalmaneser (III), the vigorous hero who is supported by the god Ninurta, took the road (and) ordered the march to the land Akkad. I approached the city Zabban (and) offered sacrifices to the god Adad, my lord. Moving on from the city Zabban, I approached the city Mê-Turnat. I laid siege to th(at) city, captured (it), slaughtered its (people), and plundered it. Moving on from the city Mê-Turnat, I approached the city Gannanāte. Marduk-bēl-usāti, the rebel king who did not know what he was doing, came forth to wage war and battle against me. I defeated him, made an extensive massacre, (and) imprisoned him in his city. I uprooted his harvest, cut down his gardens, (and) stopped up his canals.

(iv 5b) On a second campaign, in the eponymy of Bēl-būnāʾī, in Nisannu (I), the twentieth day, I set out from Nineveh. I crossed the Upper and Lower Zabs (and) approached the city Laḫīru. I laid siege to the city, captured, massacred, (and) plundered it. Moving on from the city Laḫīru, I approached the city Gannanāte. Marduk-bēl-usāti escaped like a fox through a hole, set out for Mount Yasubu, (and) fortified himself in the city Ḫalman (Arman). I captured, massacred, (and) plundered the city Gannanāte. I ascended th(at) mountain after him and imprisoned him in the city Ḫalman (Arman). I laid siege to th(at) city, (and) captured, massacred, (and) plundered it. I struck down Marduk-bēl-usāti with the sword and I did not spare any of his ḫupšu-soldiers.

(v 3b) After Marduk-zākir-šumi had conquered his enemies and Shalmaneser (III), the strong king, had achieved his heart’s desire, he (Shalmaneser) heeded the command of the great lord, the god Marduk, (and he) Shalmaneser (III), the king of Assyria, ordered the march to Babylon. He reached Cutha, the city of the hero of the gods, the exalted divine Utulu. He bowed down humbly at the gate of the temple and made sacrifices and offerings. He entered Babylon, the bond of heaven and earth, the abode of life, (and) ascended to Esagil, the palace of the gods, abode of the king of all. He reverently appeared in the presence of the god Bēl (Marduk) and the goddess Bēlt(īya) (Zarpanītu), properly performed their rites, slaughtered (and) offered up lofty sacrifices (and) holy offerings in Esagil. He (also) presented holy offerings at the shrines of (other) gods in Esagil and Babylon.

(vi 1b) He took the road to Borsippa, the city of the hero of the gods, son of Bēl (Nabû), the powerful ruler, (and) entered Ezida, the temple of destinies (and) the temple of his firm decision. He bowed down in the presence of the god Nabû and the goddess Nanāya, the gods, his lords, and reverently (and) properly performed their (lit. “his”) rites. He slaughtered (and) offered up superb oxen (and) fat sheep. He presented bursaggu-offerings at the shrines of (other) gods of Borsippa and Ezida in a similar fashion. For the people of Babylon and Borsippa, his people, he established protection and freedom under the great gods at a banquet. He gave them bread (and) wine, dressed them in multi-colored garments, (and) presented them with presents.

(vi 5b) After the great gods had looked joyfully upon Shalmaneser (III) — the strong king, the king of Assyria — they directed their faces (towards him), accepted his offerings and ..., (and) received his prayers. I moved out from Babylon (and) went down to Chaldea. I approached the city Baqānu, a fortress of Adīnu of (Bīt-)Dakkūri (lit. “son of Dakkūru”). I laid siege to th(at) city, captured (it), staged an extensive massacre, (and) carried off a valuable booty of oxen and sheep. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire th(at) city. Moving on from the city Baqānu, I crossed the Euphrates River in flood and approached the city Ḫurūdu, a royal city of the same Adīnu. The fearful splendor of the god Marduk, the great lord, overwhelmed Adīnu of (Bīt-)Dakkūri (lit. “son of Dakkūru”), and he grasped my feet. I received from him silver, gold, bronze, tin, iron, [...], meskannu-wood, ivory, (and) elephant hides. While I was residing in (the city) Ḫurūdu, I received tribute from (Bīt-)Yākīn (lit. “son of Yākīn”) (tribe) … (and) from Mušallim-Marduk of (Bīt-)Amukkāni (lit. “son of Aukānu”): silver, gold, tin, bronze, [...], meskannu-wood, ivory, (and) elephant hides.