...... Ahikar was his name, a wise and erudite scribe, who instructed his son...... He said: The son will be...... for me before...... Ahikar, the Great Seal of Sennacherib, King of Assyria, and there was no son to me...... and Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had fulfilled (his days) and Sennacherib died...... his son, named Esarhaddon, and he was king of Assyria in the place of his father (Sennacherib)...... Assyria. Thereupon I took (my son) and I instructed him and virtue...... in the palace along with...... I presented him before Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria. And wisdom...... what he had asked him. And thereupon Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, loved him and said, (long) life (to Ahikar) the wise scribe, the counsellor of all Assyria, who has appointed as his son, and no son...... and I bowed down [before the king], I, Ahikar, before Esarhaddon (the king) of Assyria...... Ahikar, and when I saw the face of Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, favourably, I rose up (and said, as I was before) Sennacherib thy father, who was king (before thee)

I shall not be able to serve (the king) in the gate of this palace. ...... whose name is Nadin, my grown-up son, and he shall succeed me as Secretary,...... and Great Seal shall he be; and also my wisdom...... the king of Assyria. And he said to me, (like thyself shall he be) and in thy stead shall he do thy work. I went to my house...... and I set him in the gate of the palace...... and I said, he will seek after that which is good...... (my son Nadin) whom I have brought up, think on...... the king Sennacherib, thy father...... he is wise and according to his advice...... will much disquiet the king. Listen... as a son, who is not my son; as a son......

Answered (Esarhaddon) the king and said...... whom my father hath made great, who (ate) the bread of my father...... thou wilt seek, where thou canst find...... that old man Ahikar. He is a wise secretary. Whether he can corrupt the country against us, after that...... Assyria; he attached to him two men, in order to...... him, as I was walking in the vineyards. Nabušumiškun, the officer, rent his garment, and lamented...... the wise Secretary and master of good counsel who...... by whose counsel and words all Assyria was directed...... (Nadin, thy son) whom thou hast appointed at the gate of the palace, he hath undone thee...... Then was I much afeard, even I Ahikar: and I answered and said to Nabušumiškun...... I am he who aforetime saved thee from undeserved death, (when Sennacherib) the father of the present king, Esarhaddon, (was angry) with thee...... I brought thee to my house; thither was I bringing thee:

(I treated thee) as a man treats his brother, and I hid thee from the presence of (king Sennacherib); I said, I have killed him, until at another time, and after yet many days I presented thee before king Sennacherib, and caused thy sins to pass away before him; and no evil did he to thee. And with me also king Sennacherib was well pleased, because I had preserved thee alive and not slain thee. And now do thou also to me in the same fashion as I did to thee. Slay me not, but bring me into thy house until other days. King Esarhaddon is merciful as one...... towards another. He will remember me and will long for my advice. Thou wilt then present me before him, and he will suffer me to live. Thereupon answered Nabušumiškun and said to me, Fear not. Thou shalt live, Ahikar, the father of all Assyria, according to whose counsel Sennacherib and all the Assyrian army were wont to make war. Nabušumiškun, the officer, spake to those two men, his companions, who were with him: (Listen to me) and I will give you a piece of advice, and it is good advice too. The two men answered and said to him, Tell it us then. And Nabušumiškun answered and said to them, Listen to me. Yonder is Ahikar, a great man. He is the Great Seal of Esarhaddon. According to his counsel and word is the whole army of Assyria governed. Do not let us kill him. There is a eunuch that I have, and whom I will give you. He must be killed in the mountain; he shall be a substitute for Ahikar...... other people (may come and) see the body of yonder Ahikar, for the body of the young man, the eunuch whom I have (with me, is like to the body of Ahikar)...... until our brother Esarhaddon (shall have regret) over our brother and the heart of Esarhaddon (shall change concerning him). I will give you much treasure...... and the soul (of the officer) was content, with his two companions. (And they said), Do as thou counsellest...... Thereupon they slew the aforementioned eunuch in the stead of Ahikar...... At that time the report was made in the king's palace, (and they said) to the king, He hath been slain. Thereupon Nabušumiškun (brought me to his house) and he caused to be supplied to me there (meat and drink), and said, Let these things be furnished to my lord (Ahikar). Likewise he brought much treasure (and gave it to his two companions). Thereupon Nabušumiškun, the officer, went to Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, and informed him, saying, I went my way (as thou didst command me) and I found Ahikar (walking in his vineyards), and I have put him to death. And do thou, O king, enquire of the two men whom thou didst appoint. So spake he (to king Esarhaddon), until that Esarhaddon believed his words.