1 Nebuchadnezzar
2 King of Babylon,
3 glorious Prince,
4 worshipper of Marduk,
5 adorer of the lofty one,
6 glorifier of Nabu,
7 the exalted, the possessor of intelligence,
8 who the processions of their divinities
9 hath increased;
10 a worshipper of their Lordships,
11 firm, not to be destroyed;
12 who for the embellishment
13 of Bit-Saggatu and Bit-Zida[1]
14 appointed days hath set apart, and
15 the shrines of Babylon
16 and of Borsippa
17 hath steadily increased;
18 exalted Chief, Lord of peace,
19 embellisher of Bit-Saggatu and Bit-Zida,
20 the valiant son
21 of Nabopolassar
22 King of Babylon am I.
23 When he, the Lord god my maker made me,
24 the god Merodach, he deposited
25 my germ in my mother's (womb):
26 then being conceived
27 I was made.
28 Under the inspection of Assur my judge
29 the processions of the god I enlarged,
30 (namely) of Merodach great Lord, the god my maker.
31 His skilful works
32 highly have I glorified;
33 and of Nebo his eldest son
34 exalter of My Royalty
35 the processions (in honor of)[2] his exalted deity
36 I firmly established.
37 With all my heart firmly
38 (in) worship of their deities I uprose
39 in reverence for Nebo their Lord.
40 Whereas Merodach, great Lord,
41 the head of My ancient Royalty,
42 hath empowered me over multitudes of men,
43 and (whereas) Nebo bestower of thrones in heaven and
earth,
44 for the sustentation of men,
45 a sceptre of righteousness
46 hath caused my hand to hold;
47 now I, that sacred way
48 for the resting-place of their divinities,
49 for a memorial of all their names,
50 as a worshipper of Nebo, Yav and Istar,
51 for Merodach my Lord I strengthened.
52 Its threshold I firmly laid, and
53 my devotion of heart he accepted, and
54 him did I proclaim
55 ... Lord of all beings, and[3]
56 as Prince of the lofty house, and
57 thou, (O Nebuchadnezzar) hast proclaimed the name of
him
58 who has been beneficent unto thee.
59 His name, (O god,) thou wilt preserve,
60 the path of righteousness thou hast prescribed to him.
61 I, a Prince, and thy worshipper
62 am the work of thy hand;
63 thou hast created me, and[4]
64 the empire over multitudes of men
65 thou hast assigned me,
66 according to thy favor, O Lord,
67 which thou hast accorded
68 to them all.[5]
69 May thy lofty Lordship be exalted!
70 in the worship of thy divinity
71 may it subsist! in my heart
72 may it continue, and my life which to thee is devoted
_(Continued on Column II_.)
[Footnote 1: Two of the principal temples of Babylon. The former occurs
below, Col. ii. 40, where it is followed by the epithet, "Temple of his
power." Dr. Oppert always renders it "la Pyramide et la Tour."]
[Footnote 2: Literally, "the goings." Compare Ps. lxviii. 24: "They have
seen thy goings, O God," i.e., processions.]
[Footnote 3: Of this line Mr. Norris (Dict., p. 166) states "that he
cannot suggest any rendering."]
[Footnote 4: It seems as if the hand were addressed.]
[Footnote 5: I.e., "in making me their ruler."]