Supplication of Nebuchadnezzar
"I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the exalted prince, the favourite of the god Marduk, the beloved of the god Nabu, the arbiter, the possessor of wisdom, who reverences their Lordship, the untiring governor who is continually anxious for the maintenance of the shrines of Babylon and Borsippa, the wise, the pious, the chief son of Nabopolassar, King of Babylon.
"To Marduk my Lord I make supplication: O eternal prince, Lord of all beings, guide in the straight path the king whom you love and whose name you have proclaimed as is pleasing to you. I am the prince, your favourite, the creature of your hand. You have created me, entrusted me with dominion over all people. According to your favour, O Lord, which you bestow on all people, cause me to love your exalted Lordship. Create in my heart the worship of your divinity and grant whatever is pleasing to you, because you have fashioned my life.
"By your command, merciful Marduk, may the temple which I have built, endure for all time and may I be satisfied with its splendour. In its midst may I attain old age, may I be sated with offspring. Therein may I receive the heavy tribute of all mankind. From the horizon of heaven to the zenith, may I have no enemies. May my descendants live therein forever, and rule over the people."
Excerpts from a translation by RF Harper (1901) of the inscription found in the ruins of Babylon.
I took the picture of the tablet (above) at the British Museum in 2001. As a kid, with too many Sunday School stories stuffed into my unquestioning head, I used to imagine Nebuchadnezzar as some barbaric king whom God punished because of his pride. Now I know Nebuchadnezzar was just as pious in his own light as any other ancient ruler. He too worshipped God except his name for the diety is Marduk while the Hebrews and Christians call him Yahweh. In Singapore, we southern Chinese migrants call him Tua Pek Kong.
In the days of Nebuchadnezzar (630-562BC), Babylon was the greatest city of the world, ruling over almost the entire Middle East.
