Proverbs: collection 2 + 6

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 318 sections

A.1
ki gul-la-ba ki ḫe2-en-gul
In those places which have been destroyed, let more places be destroyed. And in those places which have not been destroyed, let a breach be made there. Let his place become like chopped-up turnips! -- Their rituals were alienated. Where there were bonds, that place was destroyed. Their place in the universe was eradicated. -- You should not alienate their rituals! Where there are bonds, you should not destroy the place! You should not eradicate their place in the universe. You should not move the oxen from their places!
A.2
ki nu-gul-la-ba gu2-ĝiri3 ḫe2-en-ĝal2
A.3
ki-ni ki lu-ub2{sar} kud-da ḫe2-a
A.4
ĝarza-bi ĝiri3 ba-da-kur2
A.5
di-ir-ga-a ki ba-e-gul
A.6
me-bi ba-da-ḫa-lam
A.7
ĝarza-bi ĝiri3 na-ab-ta-ab-kur2-ru-de3-en-ze2-en
A.8
di-ir-ga-a ki nam-ba-e-gul-lu-de3-en-ze2-en
A.9
me-bi na-ab-ta-ab-ḫa-lam-e-en-ze2-en
A.10
gud-de3 ki-gub-ba na-ab-ta-ab-kur2-ru-de3-en-ze2-en
A.11
nam-tar-ĝu10 ga-am3-dug4 in-na-am3
Let me tell you about my fate: it is an insult. Let me explain it to you: it is a disgrace.
A.12
pa ga-am3-e3 su-lum mar-am3
A.13
nam-tar-ĝu10 ušur-ĝa2 ga-na-ab-dug4
Were I to tell my neighbour about my fate, he would heap insults upon me.
A.14
in-na ma-ĝa2-ĝa2
A.15
a-a igi i-ni-in-bar nam-tar-ĝu10 ba-dib-ba
I looked into the water. My destiny was drifting past.
A.16
ud nam-tar gig-ga-ka ba-tu-ud-de3-en
I was born on an ill-fated day.
A.17
nam-tar-ĝu10 gu3-nam ama-ĝu10 mu-da-an-kur2
My fate is her voice: my mother can change it.
A.18
zu-a ur3-ra mu-un-ne-e-ed3
An acquaintance has gone up onto the roof to them.
A.19
ušur ama-ĝu10 e2-a-na zi mu-un-di-ni-gi4
The neighbour is on friendly terms with my mother in her house.
A.20
nam nu-tar-re ki-gul-la gaba ba-an-⌈ri⌉-[me-en]
I am one whose fate has not been determined, confronted by a waif. I will be the one who knows how to settle the account; let me take my position in front of you, she said to me.
A.21
lu2 kug la2 zu-me-en igi-za ga-gub ma-an-dug4-e-še
A.22
nam nu-tar-re a2-sag3-e gaba ba-an-ri-me-en
I am one whose fate has not been determined, confronted by a sickness demon. I am one who knows wealth and possessions; let me take my position in front of you, he said to me.
A.23
kug niĝ2-gur11 zu-me-en igi-za ga-gub ma-an-dug4-e-še
A.24
nam-tar ur-ra-am3 zu2 mu-un-da-an-kud
Fate is a dog -- well able to bite. Like dirty rags, it clings, saying: Who is my man? Let him know it.
A.25
tug2-mu-dur7-ra-gin7 im-ma-tab-tab
A.26
a-ba-am3 lu2-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-un-da-an-zu
A.27
nam-tar tug2-ga-am3 edin-na mu-un-na-an-la2
Fate is a cloth stretched out in the desert for a man.
A.28
nam-tar ud ḫuš kalam-ma ri-a
Fate is a raging storm blowing over the Land.
A.29
du-lum nam-tar ur-gir15-ra-am3 eĝer-ra-na mu-un-DU
Hard work Fate is a dog walking always behind a man.
A.30
ukur3-re niĝ2 gu7-u3-da-ni-še3 igi an-ši-du3-du3
The poor man must always look to his next meal.
A.31
ukur3 bu-lu-uḫ2 si-il-⌈?⌉ lu2 niĝ2-tuku-e igi tur nam-ba-e-gid2-i
The belching poor man should not look scornfully at the rich man.
A.32
ukur3-re še ur11-ru nu-mu-un-zu-a ziz2 a-na ba-ur11-ru
How can a poor man who doesn't know how to cultivate barley manage to cultivate wheat?
A.33
ukur3 nu-kal
The poor man is not appreciated.
A.34
ukur3-re niĝ2 šu ti-a-ni zu2 an-ur5
The poor man chews whatever he is given.
A.35
en-te-na-ka a-šag4 nu-ur11-ru
He didn't plough the field during winter. And at harvest time he turned his hand to carding.
A.36
⌈? buru14⌉-ka šu ga-rig2 am3-du3-du3-e
A.37
[X] X X niĝ2-na e2 šar2-ra [X] X X X BAR
…… incense burners …… a multitude of houses …….
A.38
ukur3-re ⌈al⌉-ĝal2-la X X
When someone is poor ……, they dine on the broth of the human breast.
A.39
tu7 ⌈ubur⌉-ra bi2-in-šu2
A.40
ukur3-re dumu-ni tibir 1(DIŠ)-am3 [šu nu-um-ma-ni-dug4-ge]
The poor man does not strike his son a single blow; he does not …… highly forever.
A.41
gi16-sa da-ri2-še3 nu-mu-[…]
A.42
ukur3-re niĝ2-tuku-na ?-na [X X]
The poor man …… arrogance toward his patron.
A.43
[…] X X [X X]
A.44
e2-? ⌈?⌉-!-? teš2-e la-ba-gam-e
Not all the households of the poor will bow down together.
A.45
inim ukur3-ra-še3 šu la-ba-ši-in-ti
The word of a poor man is not accepted.
A.46
du-du nam-ukur3-ra a2 bi2-ib-ĝar
Moving about defeats poverty. He who knows how to move around becomes strong. He will live longer than the sedentary man.
A.47
lu2 du-du zu in-kalag ugu lu2 tuš-a nam-til3 bi2-ib-taḫ-e
A.48
ukur3 a-na-am3 al-tur-re
How lowly is the poor man! The area around the oven is a mill-house to him. His torn clothes will not be repaired. That which he has lost will not be searched for.
A.49
e2-{na4}kinkin(ḪAR)-na gu2 {im}šu-rin-na-ka
A.50
tug2 bir7-ra-ni nu-kalag-ge-dam
A.51
niĝ2 u2-gu de2-a-ni nu-mu-un-kiĝ2-kiĝ2-dam
A.52
ukur3 ur5-ra-am3 al-tur-re
The poor man is this lowly: his debts are paid off with what is taken from his mouth.
A.53
ka-ta kar-ra ur5-ra ab-su-su
A.54
ukur3 kug tukur2
A poor man chewing at silver.
A.55
ukur3 si-ig kalam-ma-ka
The poor are the weak in the Land.
A.56
gu5-li ukur3-ra-ka
It is the companion of the poor. It is the weakness of the widows.
A.57
niĝ2 ḫu-ḫu-nu nu-mu-un-su-a-ka
A.58
muš3-me ukur3-ra-ka
The face of the poor man is set as though he were having to sit in the face of the storm.
A.59
gaba ud-da-kam ?-tuš-tuš-u3-de3 i-ni-in-ĝar
A.60
du-du nam-ukur3-re a2 bi2-ib2-ĝar
Moving about defeats poverty.
A.61
lu2 du-du-ra ? ?-na-⌈šum2⌉
(A man speaks:) Were I to give food to the man who roves about, how could I bring it to him who does not rove about? (A woman speaks:) Were I to give food to the man who roves about, how could I bring it to him who does not rove about?
A.62
lu2 nu-du-du-⌈ra⌉ me-ta ga-mu-na-ab-tum3
A.63
lu2 di-di-ra ninda ga-na-ab-šum2
A.64
lu2 nu-di-di-ra me-ta [da]-mu-na-i-ir
A.65
[…] ⌈?⌉ dub-ba […]
…… a tablet …… a scribe himself …….
A.66
⌈dub-sar ni2-te⌉-a-⌈ni⌉ X X X […]
A.67
[dub-sar-me]-en mu ni2-za nu-zu [igi ni2-za] X-ge
You are a scribe and you do not know your own name? Shame (?) on you!
A.68
[dub]-sar-re mu 1(DIŠ)-am3 ḫe2-en-zu
If a scribe knows only a single line but his handwriting is good, he is indeed a scribe!
A.69
[šu]-ni ḫe2-sag9-sag9 e-ne-am3 dub-sar-re
A.70
nar-re en3-du 1(DIŠ)-am3 ḫe2-en-zu
If a singer knows only one song but makes the sound pleasant, he is indeed a singer!
A.71
ad ša4-am3 ḫe2-en-sag9 e-ne-am3 nar-ra
A.72
dub-sar šu ka-ta sa2-a e-ne-am3 dub-sar-ra-am3
A scribe whose hand can follow dictation is indeed a scribe!
A.73
nar za-pa-aĝ2 nu-dug3-ga ḫu-ru-um nar-e-ne
A singer whose voice is not sweet is a wretch among singers!
A.74
dub-sar ḫu-ru a-[ga-aš gi4] e2-dub-ba-X
A wretched scribe, the most backward in the school!
A.75
dub-sar šu nu-a nar ĝili3 nu-a
A scribe without a hand. A singer without a throat.
A.76
dub-sar an-ta-me-en lu2 ki-ta nu-me-en
You are an outstanding scribe; you are no lowly man.
A.77
dumu um-mi-a {na4}gug-gin7 ti-ba un-buru3
The pupil of a master, like cornelian pierced through its side. He is indeed a scribe!
A.78
e-ne dub-sar-ra-am3
A.79
ti-ba un-buru3 {na4}za-gin3-na-am3
That which is pierced through its side is indeed lapis lazuli!
A.80
dub-sar eme-gir15 nu-mu-un-zu-a a-na-am3 nam-dub-sar-ra-ni
What kind of a scribe is a scribe who does not know Sumerian?
A.81
lu2 a-a nu-mu-un-da-ak-da-am3 eme kaš4-kaš4 me-da ḫe2-en-tum3
Someone who cannot produce a-a -- from where will he achieve fluent speech?
A.82
dub-sar eme-gir15 nu-mu-un-zu-a inim bal-e me-da ḫe2-en-tum3
A scribe who does not know Sumerian -- from where will he produce a translation?
A.83
dub-sar šudum-ma im-ma ba-an-lal
The scribe trained in counting is deficient on clay. The scribe skilled with clay is deficient in counting.
A.84
dub-sar [im]-⌈ma⌉ šudum-e ba-an-lal
A.85
dub-sar šag4-ba-me-en KA […]
You are a …… scribe …….
A.86
dub-sar lu2 gu3 ra-aḫ nam-tag-ga-ni ab-gu-⌈ul⌉
A chattering scribe's guilt is great.
A.87
dub-sar-tur ninda šag4-gal-⌈la⌉-ni-še3 bi2-ib2-dirig-dirig-ge
A junior scribe is too concerned with feeding his hunger; he does not pay attention to the scribal art.
A.88
nam-dub-sar-ra-še3 ĝeštug2 nu-ub-ši-ĝa2-ĝa2
A.89
dub-sar pe-el-la2 lu2-mu7-mu7-ma-kam
A disgraced scribe becomes an incantation priest. A disgraced singer becomes a flute-player. A disgraced lamentation priest becomes a piper. A disgraced merchant becomes a con-man. A disgraced carpenter becomes a man of the spindle. A disgraced smith becomes a man of the sickle. A disgraced mason becomes a hod-carrier.
A.90
nar pe-el-la2 lu2-gi-di-da-kam
A.91
gala pe-el-⌈la2⌉ lu2-<gi>-⌈gid2⌉-a-kam
A.92
dam-gara3 pe-el-la2 da-ba-ri-ri-a-kam
A.93
nagar pe-el-la2 lu2-{ĝiš}bal-a-kam
A.94
simug pe-el-la2 lu2-{urud}gur10-a-kam
A.95
šidim pe-el-la2 im-BU-BU-kam
A.96
kindagal eme-gir15 ba-an-zu-a
A barber who knows Sumerian.
A.97
[…] lu2 eme-⌈gir15⌉ […]
…… Sumerian …….
A.98
dub-sar šag4 dab5-ba nu-un-zu-a inim bal-e me-da ḫe2-em-tum3
A scribe who does not know how to grasp the meaning -- from where will he produce a translation?
A.99
nar za-pa-aĝ2 ḫe2-en-dug3 e-ne-am3 nar-am3
When a singer's voice is sweet, he is indeed a singer.
A.100
ka5-a-a {d}en-lil2 lul ba-⌈e⌉-[…]
The fox lies (?) even to Enlil.

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.