Proverbs: collection 1

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 354 sections

B.18
lugal-bi ba-ra-an-de6-a
B.19
iri{ki} en3-du-bi maš2-šu-gid2-gid2-bi-im
The songs of a city are its diviners.
B.20
⌈?⌉ X […] X SI
(1 line fragmentary)
B.21
iri{ki} u3 ku-a ga-am3-kur9 iri{ki} mud ba-e-si
When I enter a sleeping city, the city will be filled with blood. When I board a deep-draught boat, it will go aground.
B.22
⌈{ĝiš}⌉ma2-su3-a ga-ab-u5
B.23
[peš10] ⌈mu⌉-un-tag-tag-ge-de3
B.24
dam-gara3 iri-ta ba-ra-e3 ganba ba-ra-an-du8
The merchant left the city and the market broke up.
B.25
iri-a niĝ2 bal-bal ba-an-ĝar šu-KU6-de3 šukur2 ba-an-dab5-be2-eš
Things may be traded in the city but it is the fisherman who brings in the food supply.
B.26
iri i-di-bi mu-bi-im
The name of the city is Idibi. Its king's name is Didibi. Its queen's name is No-good-at-all.
B.27
lugal-bi di-di-bi mu-bi-im
B.28
nin-bi nu-dug3-dug3-ga mu-bi-im
B.29
lag a-a gurud-da-gin7 bi-iz-za-a-na ḫe2-gul
Like a clod thrown into the water, may it be destroyed as it disintegrates.
B.30
kaš gud-dam ka kun4-bi-im
Beer is a bull. The mouth is its stairway.
B.31
in-a-ni mu-un-dub2 aš2-a-ni mu-un-ĝal2
He hurled his insult. He laid his curse.
B.32
aš2 dug4-dug4-ge aš2 nu-mu-ni-in-gi4
To a curse that is uttered, a curse is not reciprocated. A curse which is reciprocated will be retaliated against with yet another curse. The curse with which I would respond would cause another curse to be uttered.
B.33
aš2-e gi4-a aš2-a ba-ni-in-gi4 aš2 šu gi4-a-ĝu10 aš2 mu-un-dug4
B.34
in-na in-bi-im aš2-e aš2-bi-im
It is an insult resulting from an insult. It is a curse resulting from a curse. It is the constant renewal of destiny.
B.35
nam-tar-ra ki gibil-gibil-la2-bi
B.36
di gid2-i al-ĝal2 aš2 gid2-i nu-ĝal2
To accept a verdict is possible. To accept a curse is impossible.
B.37
puzur5 u3-bi2-dug4 ama5-e ḫe2-bur2-re
What has been spoken in secret will be revealed in the women's quarters.
B.38
{ĝiš}ma2 niĝ2-gen6-na ni2 ba-ra-ab-dirig
When a trustworthy boat is sailing, Utu seeks out a trustworthy harbour for it.
B.39
{d}utu kar gen6-na mu-un-na-ab-ši-kiĝ2-kiĝ2
B.40
{ĝiš}ma2 niĝ2-erim2-e ni2 ba-ra-ab-dirig
When a dishonest boat is sailing, it runs aground.
B.41
peš10-peš10-e im-ta-⌈tag⌉-[tag]-e
B.42
{ĝiš}ma2 ĝisal […] ⌈?-?⌉ X
The oars of a boat …… sink …… someone will ask …… like a raft.
B.43
⌈gi⌉-a-dag-gin7 lu2 en3-bi ⌈i3⌉-tar-re
B.44
[{ĝiš}]ma2-⌈addir⌉ zabalam{ki}-a ba-su
A ferryboat sank at Zabalam. Oh Utu of Larsam, who pulled out the mooring stake?
B.45
{d}utu larsam{ki}-ma a-ba-a ĝiš ba-da-an-zig3
B.46
[{ĝiš}]ma2-laḫ5 niĝ2 kur2
A boatman -- belligerence.
B.47
{ĝiš}ma2 ḫa-ba-su-su [barag] ḫa-ba-⌈ra-ur3⌉
If the boat sinks, I will pull out the cargo.
B.48
{ĝiš}ma2-gin7 a-⌈a⌉ [am3-zig3-zig3]
Like a boat, he always floats up in the water.
B.49
[{ĝiš}ma2]-⌈?⌉ da-bi [X X (X)]
…… a deep-draught (?) boat …… it should be a boat of sixty gur capacity …….
B.50
{ĝiš}⌈ma2⌉ 60 gur ḫe2-a […]
B.51
šag4 ma-la-ĝa2 šag4 ma-dim2-⌈ma⌉
My girlfriend's heart is a heart made for me.
B.52
šag4 igi […] ⌈?⌉-dim2-ma-ĝu10 a-ba-⌈am3⌉ ḫu-mu-pad3-de3
Who can reveal the heart that is …… made for me?
B.53
šag4-ĝu10 […]-ka ki-bi-še3 ba-du-de3-en
…… my heart …… let me go to that place.
B.54
[…] ⌈bi2⌉-in-dug4 na-⌈?⌉-gig-ga-ĝu10
(2 lines fragmentary)
B.55
[…] X ? […] X gig
B.56
šag4-ĝa2 lu2-ulu3-me-en igi-ĝa2 lu2 nu-me-en
In my heart you are a human being, but in my eyes you are not a man.
B.57
šag4-ga ub-dirig a-nir-ra
When the heart overflows, it is lamentable. He who can keep it in his heart is a prince. I am a prince who can keep it in the heart.
B.58
šag4-ga sig10-ga dumu lugal-la-ka ⌈šag4⌉-ga sig10-ga dumu ⌈lugal-la-me⌉-[en]
B.59
šag4-bi zig3-ga ugula nam-me
Those who get excited should not become foremen. A shepherd should not become a farmer.
B.60
sipad engar nam-me
B.61
šag4 ĝiš-a-ta e3-a
What comes out from the heart of the tree is known by the heart of the tree.
B.62
šag4 ĝiš-a-ta zu-am3
B.63
šag4-ge ba-dug3 bar-re ba-sag9
He is at ease, he is pleased, he makes a living, he offers a prayer.
B.64
gu7-e ba-te ?-e ba-gid2-i
B.65
in-gu7 nu-un-gu7 numun sag9-ga-am3
Whether he ate it or not, the seed was good.
B.66
in-pad šag4 an-dirig šu bi2-in-⌈!⌉
He broke it into pieces and sated his hunger. He licked his hands and belched.
B.67
bu-lu-uḫ2 mu-un-si-il-si-il-e
B.68
kaš naĝ-naĝ-e a ba-naĝ-naĝ
He who drinks beer drinks water.
B.69
niĝ2 maḫ gu7-gu7-e u3 nu-um-ši-ku-ku
He who eats too much cannot sleep.
B.70
šag4 ĝidru-ka i3 ḫe2-en-de2 lu2 na-me nu-⌈zu⌉
If one pours oil into the inside of a sceptre nobody will know.
B.71
šag4-ge šag4 ḫul gig nu-ub-tu-ud
A heart never created hatred; speech created hatred.
B.72
dug4-ge šag4 ḫul gig ib2-tu-ud
B.73
a-gar3-e a ba-ḫad2
The water dried up from the water meadows; there were no fishermen there. The fisherman caught no fish. The fisherman's wife …… could not bring it to her female friend's chamber.
B.74
šu-KU6-da-bi ba-nu
B.75
šu-KU6-de3 ku6 nu-un-de6
B.76
dam šu-KU6-da-ke4 a ku6 AN X X X-?
B.77
dag ma-la-ga-na-še3 nu-un-ši-de6
B.78
ḫe2-lu-a nam-ba-la2
Let it be plentiful, so that it is not deficient. Let it be excessive, so that it does not have to be supplemented. Let it be piping hot, so that it does not become cold.
B.79
ḫe2-dirig na-an-su-su
B.80
ḫe2-eb-šeĝ6 na-an-te-en-te-en
B.81
šag4 u8 bar u8 mu-ud-na lum-ma-lum-ma
Inwardly a ewe, outwardly a ewe, a most fecund spouse: Let the shepherd perish, but may you not perish.
B.82
sipad ḫe2-en-ḫa-lam za-e na-an-ḫa-lam-e-de3
B.83
si nu-mu-e-da-a-il2-⌈i⌉
You cannot butt me with your horns! Who is it that you are butting? You cannot kill me -- I am running away!
B.84
a-ba-⌈am3⌉ si il2-i-de3-nam
B.85
ĝe26-e nu-mu-e-da-gaz i-ni-du-du-[de3-en]
B.86
MU X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
B.87
edin nu-⌈mu⌉-[…]
(2 lines fragmentary)
B.88
ba-?-in-[…]
B.89
an bal ki bal an-ba ki an-ba
Across the heavens (an bal), across the earth, litter (anba) is distributed (anba) over the earth.
B.90
BU-UD-bar MA ad u3-su3-⌈ud⌉
(1 line unclear)
B.91
BU-UD-bar U3 BA MA X [X] X X
(1 line fragmentary)
B.92
⌈bid3-da tur⌉ […] KA [X X]
(1 line fragmentary)
B.93
{ĝiš}buniĝ(SUG) niĝ2-⌈silaĝ-ĝa2⌉ nu-luḫ-⌈ḫa⌉
A trough for kneading dough, not kept clean.
B.94
{ĝiš}buniĝ(SUG) šaḫ2 ⌈gu7-gu7⌉
A trough from which the pigs eat.
B.95
? KU ⌈šu-a⌉ ga-ra-⌈?⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
B.96
X KU šu e3-ni-da X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
B.97
gu-du-ba X […]
…… in their backside …… something ……. (unknown no. of lines missing)
B.98
niĝ2 X
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
C.1
[…] MU ? X […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
C.2
[…] ĜAR MU IM X [X]
C.3
[dam]-ĝu10 ma-an-dub-be2
My husband heaps up for me, my child measures out for me; let my lover pick the bones from the fish for me.
C.4
[dumu]-ĝu10 ma-an-aĝ2-[e]
C.5
[mu-ud]-na-ĝu10 ku6-ta ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2 [ḫe2]-eb-de5-de5-ge
C.6
u2 dam-gin7 ze2-ba edin-na nu-un-mu2
A plant as sweet as a husband does not grow in the steppe.
C.7
[…] mu-sag9-sag9-ge
…… pleasing …… divorce ……. (2 lines fragmentary)
C.8
[…] dam taka4
C.A
[X] X-da-? X
C.B
[X] X-da-? [X X]
C.9
[an] ⌈uga{mušen}-am3⌉
In the sky there is the raven; on the earth there is the mongoose; in the desert there is the lion ……; my husband! Where shall I go?
C.10
[ki] {d}nin-kilim-?
C.11
⌈edin⌉-na ur-⌈maḫ⌉-[am3]
C.12
[X X] KAŠ4 SA […]
C.13
[mu]-ud-na-ĝu10 ?-[še3 ga-ĝen]
C.14
[X] X X AN X […]
(2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
C.15
[X] X X mu-e-da-an-[X]
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.