Sîn-šarru-iškun 07

(i 1') [I, Sîn-šarra-iškun, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; the one whom the deities Aššur, Mullissu, Marduk, Zarpanītu], Nabû, (and) [Tašmētu] steadfastly looked [upon] with [their benevolent] glance [and] selected for [kingship]; whom the light of he[aven, the god Sîn, cr]owned with the cro[wn of lordship] (i 5´) to make the foundation of [the land] firm, to direct the peop[le], t<o> put in o[rder] what is confused, (and) to repair [what is de]stroyed; [whose hand] the god N[abû, overseer of the world], made gra[sp (i 10´) a just scepter (and)] a tr[ue] st[a]ff for sh[epherding a] wi[despread populati]on; magnani[mous, discerning], (i 15´) who comprehends r[eason] and [counsel], who learned d[eliberation; reliable] judge, who speaks about trut[h and justice; (i 20´) to wh]om [treacherous talk] is anathema (and) l[ies an abominat]ion; [pious ruler, capable] gov[ernor, true shepherd, leader of a widespread popula]tion; [whose] kingship [the great gods made as pleasing] in al[l of the lands as the finest oil];

(ii 5) son of Ashurban[ipal, great king, strong king], king of the world, king of Assyria, [king of the land of Sumer] and Akkad, king of the [fo]u[r] quarters (of the world); son of Esarhaddon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, (ii 10) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; son of Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of [Assyri]a, ruler who has no rival; [descendant of Sarg]on (II), gr[eat] king, [strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and] Akkad;

(ii 16) [At the beginning of my kingship, af]ter the gods Aššur, [Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, Sîn], Šamaš, [Ninurta, Nergal, and] Nusku [ch]ose me [among my brothers] and (ii 20) [desired (me)] as king, guided me [like a father and a moth]er, and [killed] my [f]oes, [cut down] my [e]nemies, performed [good deeds] for me, (and) (ii 25) [gladly p]laced me [on the roya]l [throne] of the father who had engendered me; [I constantly gave thought to providing for cu]lt centers, [...] ...

(iii 1') [... it became o]ld. [For a] long [tim]e, [it fell] into dis[repair and beca]me level [with] the groun[d]. (iii 5´) The god Na[bû] (and) the goddess Tašmētu, m[y] lords, [took up residence] <in> the temple of the Assyria[n Ištar and] (there) they receiv[ed] str[ewn offerings]. The kings, [my ancestors] who came be[fore me], (iii 10´) did not th[ink about] (re)building that temple [and] they did not pay (it any) attention.

(iii 12') I, Sîn-šarra-iškun, king of the world, king of Assyria, the one who reveres the great gods, (iii 15´) who is assiduous towards their places (of worship), conceived in my heart to (re)build that temple and wanted (to carry it out). According to its original plan, (iii 20´) [on] its former [sit]e, [in a favorable month], (on) an auspicious day, [according to the craft of the incantation priest, I filled in (its) foundation with] limestone

(iv 1') [I built (and) complet]ed (it) [from its foundations to its crenellations. ... m]y [...] and [made (it) s]hine [like daylight. I brou]ght [the god Nabû (and) the goddess Ta]šmētu, [the great gods], my lords, out [of the temple of] the Assyrian Ištar and, [in a favorab]le [month], (on) an auspicious day, (iv 10´) I made (them) enter [in]side [it] and made (them) dwell on (their) eternal dais(es).

(iv 12') I offered prime quality [pr]ize bulls (and) fattened fat-tailed sheep as pure food offerings before the god Nabû (and) the goddess Tašmētu, my lords, and (thus) I lavishly provided (for them) inside (that) temple. The god Nabû (and) the goddess Tašmētu (iv 20´) looked with pleasure upon my good deeds and constantly blessed my kingship.

(iv 22') [May] a future ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, [reno]vate its dilapidated section(s) [w]hen that temple becomes dilapidated and [o]ld. May he find an inscribed object [bearing] my [na]me, and (then) anoint (it) with [oil], m[a]k[e an offering (and) (v 1) place (it) with an inscribed object] be[aring his name]. The deities Ašš[ur, Mullissu], Mard[uk, Zarpanītu], Nabû, (and) [Tašmētu will (then) hear] his prayers.

(v 7) (As for) the one who removes an inscribed object be[aring my name and] does not place (it) with an inscribed object bearing his name and does not write my name with his name, may the deities Aššur, Mullissu, Marduk, Zarpanītu, Nabû, (and) Tašmētu not be present for his prayers and (v 15) not heed his supplications. May they curse him angrily and [make] his name, his seed, (and) his offspring [dis]appear [from the land].

(v 18A) [...], ...th [day, eponymy of ...].

(v 18B) [..., ...th day], epony[my of ...].

(v 18C) Tašrītu (VII), [...th day], eponymy of [...].