t
knoweth.
16 Of mankind the name (that) is fully proclaimed how can I
know?
17 Whether it be afflicted or whether it be blessed there is
none that knoweth.
18 O Lord, thy servant thou dost not restore.[2]
19 In the waters of the raging flood seize his hand.
20 The sin (that) he has sinned to blessedness bring back.
21 The transgression he has committed let the wind carry
away.
22 My manifold affliction like a garment destroy.
23 O my god, seven times seven (are my) transgressions, my
transgressions are before (me).
24 (To be repeated) 10 times.[3] O my goddess, seven times
seven (are my) transgressions.
25 O god who knowest (that) I knew not, seven times seven
(are my) transgressions.
26 O goddess who knowest (that) I knew not, seven times
seven (are my) transgressions.
27 My transgressions are before (me): may thy judgment
give (me) life.
28 May thy heart like the heart of the mother of the setting
day to its place return.
29 (To be repeated) 5 times.[4] Like the mother of the setting
day (and) the father of the setting day to its place (may it
return).
30 For the tearful supplication of my heart 65 times let the
name be invoked of every god.[4]
31 Peace afterward.
32 _(Colophon)_ Like its old (copy) engraved and written.
33 Country of Assur-bani-pal King of multitudes, King of
Assyria.

[Footnote 1: Or more literally, "hiding." The verb that follows means "to
lift self up so as to face another."]

[Footnote 2: In the Assyrian "quiet."]

[Footnote 3: A rubrical direction.]

[Footnote 4: A rubrical direction.]

THE BLACK OBELISK INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.

This inscription is engraved on an obelisk of black marble, five feet in
height, found by Mr. Layard in the centre of the Mound at Nimroud, and now
in the British Museum. Each of its four sides is divided into five
compartments of sculpture representing the tribute brought to the Assyrian
King by vassal princes, Jehu of Israel being among the number.
Shalmaneser, whose annals and conquests are recorded upon it, was the son
of Assur-natsir-pal, and died in 823 B.C., after a reign of thirty-five
years. A translation of the inscription was one of the first achievements
of Assyrian decipherment, and was made by Sir. H. Rawlinson; and Dr.
Hincks shortly afterward (in 1851) succeeded in reading the name of Jehu
in it. M. Oppert trans