SAA 10 160. Twenty Able Scholars, Fit for Royal Service (CT 54 057+) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the ki]ng of the lands, the strong king, the king of the world, his lord: your servant Marduk-šapik-zeri, the dead body, the leprous skull, the constricted breath whom the king, my lord, raised up and appointed from among corpses. May I die as the substitute of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the lord of kings, my lord!

(6) I have now been kept in confinement for two years and, for fear of the king, my lord, though there have been good and bad portents for me to observe in the sky, I have not dared to report them to the king, my lord.

(9) Now, however, afraid that it might turn into my fault, I have decided to write to the king, my lord.

(11) If Jupiter becomes steady in the morning: enemy kings will make peace; one king will send peaceful messages to another.

(13) If Auriga carries radiance: the foundation of the king's throne will be everlasting.

(14) If Jupiter stands in Pisces: the Tigris and the Euphrates will be filled with silt. Idim (means) "silt," idim (means) "spring," diri (means) "to be full: there will be prosperity and abundance in the land.

(17) [If ...... ......] will send [peacef]ul messages [to ...].

(18) [If ...... ......] there will be [...].

(19) [If ...... ......] will experience joy

(20) [...... ......] will be happy.

(21) [If the stars of Leo ...]: the king will be victorious wherever he goes.

(22) [......]: there will be battle. Me (means) battle.

(23) [......] Urmah (means) "lion"; Regulus is bright.

(24) [......] strengthening of the king of Subartu

(25) [If ......: the king of ... will become strong] and overthrow his enemies [in all lands] in battle.

(26) [......] I saw

(27) [...... being afra]id of the king

(28) my [......]

(29) [...] in tru[th ......]

(30) I wrote [...]. Now then [......]

(31) [...] my apprenticeship. Let the king, my lord, see [...]; let me die of the sword of the king, my lord, but let me not die in imprisonment and hunger!

(33) Let the king, my lord, summon me, and if I am to die, let me die; if I am to live, let me keep watching the stars of the sky, and if there is a portent that I see, let me report it to the lord of kings, my [lord].

(36) I fully master my father's profession, the discipline of lamentation; I have studied and chanted the Series. I am competent in [...], 'mouth-washing,' and purification of the palace [...]. I have examined healthy and sick flesh.

(40) I have read the (astrological omen series) Enūma Anu Enlil [...] and made astronomical observations. I have read the (anomaly series) Šumma izbu, the (physiognomical works) [Kataduqqû, Alandi]mmû and Nigdimdimmû, [... and the (terrestrial omen series) Šum]ma ālu.

(43) [All this I lear]ned [in my youth]. Under the aegis of the king, my lord, I have perfected my [...], and [......]. I am competent in the profession of my father; [let the lord of kings] do [......].

(47) Among the [...... apprentices] who studied with me [in ......], there are [......] who [have returned] from Elam, [scribes, chanters], exorcists, haruspices, and physicians; [I shall gather them] and give them [to the king], my lord.

(r 1) [NN] has crossed over from Elam; [he fully masters] extispicy and is an expert in [Enūma A]nu Enlil, ancient and Sumerian hermeneutics [and the secrets of heaven and e]arth; he is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 4) [NN], an exorcist, is a refugee in Assyria; he is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 5) Sin-aha-šubši, an exorcist, is us[eful] to the king, my lord.

(r 6) Marduk-naṣir fully masters the Series and the discipline of lamentation; [he is usef]ul to the king, [my lo]rd.

(r 7) Ningišzida-bel-mati fully masters the discipline of lamentation; he is useful [to the ki]ng, my lord.

(r 8) The apprentice Ningišzida-iqbi fully masters [...] the discipline of lamentation; he is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 10) Aqrea is a refugee in Assyria; he has brandmarks on his face and wrists but is a very competent exorcist, and is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 13) Kudurru [is] a refugee in Ass[yria]; he is a competent [haruspex] and has read exorcism and scribal lore; he is use[ful to the king], my lord.

(r 15) His son Bel-rimanni [......]; he is useful [to] the king, my lord.

(r 16) [NN ......] is a competent [harusp]ex, [useful to the king, my lord.]

(r 18) [NN ......] ... [......]; he is useful [to the king], my lord.

(r 20) [NN ......]; he is useful [to the king, m]y [lord].

(r 21) [NN ...] is a competent [... and has read] the vast lore of [...]; he is useful to the king, my lord].

(r 23) His son Nabû-šuma-iddin [......]; he is useful [to the ki]ng, my lord.

(r 25) [NN] is [a refugee in Assyria; he ......] stelae and is useful [to the king, m]y [lord].

(r 27) [NN] fully masters [...]; he and his family are ......] useful [to the ki]ng, my lord.

(r 28) His son Nabû-kudurri-uṣur [is a compet]ent chanter, useful to the king, my lord.

(r 30) La-baši is proficient in the Series and exorcism, he is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 31) Kudurru is proficient in extispicy and has read Enūma Anu Enlil; he is useful to the king, my lord.

(r 33) Aha-šubši is a very able physician; he is useful to (the king) my lord.

(r 35) In all twenty able scholars worth royal desire who will be useful to the king, my lord, and are guaranteed to meet the king my lord's desire. I shall gather them and give them to the king, my lord.

(r 38) I am a dead body. Let me behold the face of the king, my lord, and die.