He (i.e. Marduk) made the stations for the great gods;
The stars, their images, as the stars of the Zodiac, he fixed.⁠a
He ordained the year and into sections he divided it;⁠b
For the twelve months he fixed three stars.
After he had organized the year,
He founded the station of Neberu to determine their bounds;
That none might err or go astray,⁠c
He set the station of Enlil and Ea along with him.
He opened great gates on both sides,
He made strong the bolt on the left and on the right.
In the midst of it he fixed the zenith;
The Moon-god he caused to shine forth, the night he entrusted to him.
He appointed him, a being of the night, to determine the days;
Every month without ceasing with the crown he covered(?) him, (saying):
“At the beginning of the month, when you shine upon the land,
You command the horns to determine six days,
And on the seventh day to [divide] the crown.
On the fifteenth day, halfway through each month, stand in opposition.
When Shamash [sees] you on the horizon,
Diminish in the proper stages and shine backwards.
On the 29th day, draw near to the path of Shamash,
[And on the … day] you shall stand opposite, and the Sun-god shall … […]
[…] to traverse her way.
[…] you shall cause to draw near, and you shall judge the right.
[…] Shamash, constrain [murder] and violence,
[…] me.
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[…]
At the end […]
Let there [be] the 29th day […]
After [he had … ] the decrees […]
The organization of front and […]
He made the day […]
Let the year be equally […]
At the new year […]
The year […]
Let there be regularly […]
The projecting bolt […]
After he had […]
The watches of night and day […]
The foam which Tiamat […]
Marduk fashioned […]
He gathered it together and made it into clouds.
The raging of the winds, violent rainstorms,
The billowing of mist—the accumulation of her spittle—
He appointed for himself and took them in his hand.
He put her head in position and poured out […]
He opened the abyss and it was sated with water.
From her two eyes he let the Euphrates and Tigris flow,
He blocked her nostrils, but left […]
He heaped up the distant [mountains] on her breasts,
He bored wells to channel the springs.
He twisted her tail and wove it into the Durmahu,
[…] the Apsu beneath his feet.
[He set up] her crotch—it wedged up the heavens—
[(Thus) the half of her] he stretched out and made it firm as the earth.
[After] he had finished his work inside Tiamat,
[He spread] his net and let it right out.
He surveyed the heavens and the earth […]
[…] their bonds […]
After he had formulated his regulations and composed [his] decrees,
He attached guide-ropes and put them in Ea’s hands.
[The Tablet] of Destinies which Qingu had taken and carried,
He took charge of it as a trophy (?) and presented it to Anu.
[The … of battle, which he had tied on or had put on his head,
[…] he brought before his fathers.
[Now] the eleven creatures to which Tiamat had given birth and […],
He broke their weapons and bound them (the creatures) to his feet.
He made images of them and stationed them at the [Gate] of the Apsu,
To be a sign never to be forgotten.
[The gods] saw it and were jubilantly happy,
(That is,) Lahmu, Lahamu and all his fathers.
Anshar [embraced] him and published abroad his title, “Victorious King,”
Anu, Enlil and Ea gave him gifts.
Mother Damkina, who bore him, hailed him,
With a clean festal robe she made his face shine.
To Usmu, who held her present to give the news,
[He entrusted] the vizierate of the Apsu and the care of the holy places.
The Igigi assembled and all did obeisance to him,
Every one of the Anunnaki was kissing his feet.
They all [gathered] to show their submission,
[…] they stood, they bowed down, “Behold the king!”
His fathers […] and took their fill of his beauty,
Bel listened to their utterance, being clothed in the dust of battle.
[…]
Anointing his body with […] cedar perfume.
He clothed himself in [his] lordly robe,
With a crown of terror as a royal aura.
He took up his club and held it in his right hand,
[…] he grasped in his left.
[…]
[…] he set his feet.
He put upon […]
The sceptre of prosperity and success [he hung] at his side.
After he had […] the aura […]
He adorned(?) his sack, the Apsu, with a fearful […]
Was settled like […]
In [his] throne room […]
In his cella […]
Every one of the gods […]
Lahmu and Lahamu […]
Opened their mouths and [addressed] the Igigi gods,
“Previously Marduk was our beloved son,
Now he is your king, heed his command!”
Next, they all spoke up together,
“His name is Lugaldimmerankia, trust in him!”
When they had given kingship to Marduk,
They addressed to him a benediction for prosperity and success,
“From now on you are the caretaker of our shrine,
Whatever you command, we will do!”
Marduk opened his mouth to speak
And addressed the gods his fathers,
“Above the Apsu, the emerald (?) abode,
Opposite Esharra, which I built for you,
Beneath the celestial parts, whose floor I made firm,
I will build a house to be my luxurious abode.
Within it I will establish its shrine,
I will found my chamber and establish my kingship.
When you come up from the Apsu to make a decision
This will be your resting place before the assembly.
When you descend from heaven to make a decision
This will be your resting place before the assembly.
I shall call its name ‘Babylon’, ‘The Homes of the Great Gods’,
Within it we will hold a festival: that will be the evening festival.”
[The gods], his fathers, [heard] this speech of his,
[…] they said,
“With regard to all that your hands have made,
Who has your […]?
With regard to the earth that your hands have made,
Who has your […]?
In Babylon, as you have named it,
Put our [resting place] for ever.
[…] let them bring our regular offerings
[…]
Whoever […] our tasks which we […]
In it […] its toil […]
[…]
They rejoiced […]
The gods […]
He who knows […] them
He opened [his mouth showing] them light,
[…] his speech […]
He made wide […] them […]
[…]
The gods bowed down, speaking to him,
They addressed Lugaldimmerankia, their lord,
“Formerly, lord, [you were our beloved] son,
Now you are our king, […]
He who […] preserved [us]
[…] the aura of club and sceptre.
Let him conceive plans […]
[…]