Translation by Leo Oppenheim. Taken from Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (2nd edn, 1955): 315-16. Copyright permission granted by Princeton University Press.

One line destroyed

…[r]ims (of the world)…a weakling had been installed as the enu of his country; [the correct images of the gods he removed from their thrones, imi]tations he ordered to place upon them. A replica of the temple Esagila he had…for Ur and the other sacred cities inappropriate rituals…daily he blabbered [incorrect prayers]. He (furthermore) interrupted in a fiendish was the regular offerings, he…he established with the sacred cities. The worship of Marduk, king of the gods, he [chang]ed into abomination; daily he used to do evil against his (i.e. Marduk's) city… He [tormented] its [inhabitant]s with corvée-work (literally, a yoke) without relief; he ruined them all.

Upon their complaints the lord of all the gods became terribly angry and [he departed from] their region; (also) the (other) gods living among them left their mansions, angry that he had brought (them) into Babylon. (But) Marduk [who cares for]…on account of (the fact that) the sanctuaries of all their settlements were in ruins and the inhabitants of Sumer and Akkad had become like (living dead), turned back (his face); [his] an[ger] [abated] and he had mercy (upon them). He scanned and looked (through) all the countries, searching for a righteous ruler willing to lead him (i.e. Marduk) (in the annual procession). (Then) he pronounced the name of Cyrus, king of Anshan, pronounced [his] name to be(come) the ruler of all the world. He made the Guti country and all the Manda-hordes bow in submission to his (i.e. Cyrus') feet.