Proverbs: collection 3

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 351 sections

A.197
niĝ2 ga-til3 nu ga-til3 niĝ2 ba-til nu ba-til
Something offered is not offered. Something finished is not finished. Nothing changes.
A.198
niĝ2 nu-kur2-ra-am3
A.199
zilulu šu ḫal-la ab-zil-zil
A vagrant flays the skin of an opened hand.
A.200
2(MIN)-a-bi lu2 1(DIŠ)-gin7-nam
The two of them are like one man.
A.201
ki an-ba-ĝu10 e-ne in-pad3-de3
Were he to find where I put my rubbish heap, he would say: You shouldn't go there!
A.202
na-⌈an-ni-ib⌉-dib-be2-en
A.203
ud5-de3 nu-um-ĝen-na e2-ri-a an-zu
Although it has never been there, the goat knows the wasteland.
A.204
ka-ĝu10 tu7 bil-la2 ma-ra-sed-de3-en
With my mouth I cool the hot soup for you. I pick the bones from the fish for you.
A.205
ku6-ta ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2 ma-ni-ib-de5-de5-ge-en
A.206
ka-ĝu10 itid-da ka ⌈?⌉-da-si
My mouth, every month I fill you, my mouth.
A.207
eme-ĝu10 anše kar-ra-gin7 eĝer-bi-še3 nu-gi4-gi4
My tongue, like a runaway donkey, will not turn back.
A.208
ud gid2-da šukur2-ĝu10 bur12-ra šag4-ĝu10 X X
All day long my food ration is kept away from me, my heart ……, but even a dog can satisfy its hunger. It's over for me, but should I be happy? My mother would not give me second helpings.
A.209
ur-gir15 mu-un-di-ni-ib-?
A.210
ĝa2-ra ba-til ĝe26-e ba-ḫul2-le-en
A.211
ama-ĝu10 šukur2-ĝu10 2(MIN)-am3 ba-ra-ab-ba
A.212
gud-de3 mur-ra gub
The ox standing in the fodder abandoned the calf to enter the pen.
A.213
amar-ta e2-ubur-⌈ra⌉ ba-ni-in-kur9
A.214
teš2-e ḫe2-il2-il2 za-e lag-ga ḫe2-dur2
You may lift it all together but you will put it down in pieces.
A.215
niĝ2 zu-a-ni ga-ra-an-da-ab-be2
When a man comes forward as a witness, saying: Let me tell you what I know about him, but does not know the relevant information, it is an abomination to Suen.
A.216
niĝ2 nu-zu-am3 lu2-ki-inim-ma ab-ta-e3
A.217
niĝ2-gig {d}suen-na-kam
A.218
ka ĝal2 taka4-a nim ba-an-ku4-ku4
Flies enter an open mouth.
A.219
sizkur2-re nam-til3 i3-u3-tud
Offerings create life.
A.220
sun7-na nam-tag al-ĝa2-ĝa2 a2-sag3 al-il2-il2
Punishment is assigned for the swaggerer; he is afflicted with diseases.
A.221
ḫe2-em-ta-ab-ed3-de3
Let him go down.
A.222
a2 zid-da-zu maš2 ḫe2-da-ĝal2
You should hold a kid in your right arm, and a bribe in your left arm.
A.223
gab2-bu-zu kadra ḫe2-da-ĝal2
A.224
⌈umbin⌉ ku5-⌈ru⌉ tug2-mu-dur7-ra-am3 mur10
The manicurist is himself dressed in dirty rags.
A.225
⌈al⌉-ĝen al-zal al-til ki nu-um-gub
He came, he stayed a while; he finished, he did not stay put.
A.226
bi2-in-dug4 nu-mu-un-ni-[X-X]
He spoke …… not …… his mouth is full of lies. (2 lines fragmentary)
A.227
ka-ga14-ni lul-la-am3
A.A
[…]-⌈ĝal2⌉-?
A.B
[…] ⌈dug4⌉ nu-tar-ra-bi
A.228
umbin gig-ga ur2-ra ĝal2-la-ĝu10
My fingernail that hurts is clutched in my embrace. My foot that hurts is in my sandal. But who will find my aching heart?
A.229
ĝiri3 gig-ga {kuš}e-sir2 ĝal2-⌈la⌉-ĝu10
A.230
šag4 gig-ga-ĝu10 a-ba-a ḫu-mu-un-pad3-de3
A.231
{d}inana-ke4 šag4 gig-ga-ĝu10 i3 ḫe2-eb-de2
May Inana pour oil on my heart that aches.
A.232
tug2 dim-gal-la-ke4 id2-da bi2-ib-uš2-e
The sail on the mast blocks the river.
A.233
du14-da in-na di-da inim-ma ḫe2-ri-ib-pad3-de3
May you find the response to an insult hurled at you in a dispute.
A.234
an-na-dug3-ga mun ḫe2-gu7-e
If it is too sweet for him, let him eat salt. If it is not too sweet for him, let him eat licorice.
A.235
nu-un-na-dug3-ga {u2}munzer ḫe2-gu7-e
A.236
izi nu-ub-da-an-ten-a-aš li-gi4-in-zu sar-ra-ab
Before the fire has gone out, write your exercise tablet!
A.237
X (X) TE me-še3-am3 KA ki in-?
Where ……? Solve ……!
A.238
[X] bur2-ra-ab [X (X)]
A.239
X IM ? BA A geme2 te-⌈en⌉ BA gig-⌈ga⌉
…… slave girl …… ill …… basket …… myself …… you sprinkle the dirt on the …….
A.240
{ĝiš}dusu ni2-ĝa2 zag X a ? X
A.241
X bal-a saḫar-bi ba-su3-su3-un
A.242
⌈diĝir⌉ lu2-ulu3 sipad u2 kiĝ2-ĝa2 lu2-ulu3-kam
A man's personal god is a shepherd who finds pasturage for the man. Let him lead him like sheep to the food they can eat.
A.243
udu-gin7 u2 gu7-a ḫe2-en-tum2-tum2-mu
A.244
en-na-bi-še3-am3 ka silim šum2-ma
As long as the boasters haven't departed, their mouths make me uneasy.
A.245
nu-un-da-ab-da13-da13
A.246
ka-? igi niĝin2 ma-ab-tum2-⌈?⌉
A.247
an ba-gul-gul ki ba-sag3-sag3
The heavens were destroyed, the earth was shaken. After the heavens were destroyed and the earth was shaken, the people were still standing there on their own.
A.248
an ba-gul ki ba-sag3-!-ta
A.249
lu2 ni2-bi-a ba-an-gub
A.250
us2-saĝ si nu-sa2 eĝer-bi nu-gen6-na
The rigging is not ship-shape, and the stern is not seaworthy.
A.251
elam{ki} kur9-ra-am3 zu2-ni ba-da-keše2
He who entered Elam -- his lips are sealed.
A.252
elam{ki} ⌈?⌉-til3-la-ni nu-dug3-ga
He who has to live in Elam -- his life is not good.
A.253
gig gu2-nida lal3-gin7 ib2-ak
Wheat and hulled barley was made to taste like honey. The nomad ate it and didn't recognise what was in it.
A.254
mar-tu i3-gu7-a niĝ2 šag4-bi nu-un-zu
A.255
al-kar-kar-re eĝer-ra-ni al-⌈kar⌉
He who keeps fleeing, flees from his own past.
A.256
u18-lu igi-ĝa2 saḫar-! in-sig9-ga
The south wind got its sand into my eyes: Why do you strike me in the back?
A.257
a-na-aš-am3 eĝer-ra mu-un-dub2-be2-en
A.258
gi-gur-ta {ĝiš}ma2-?
Between the basket and the boat are the fields of Simurrum.
A.259
a-šag4 si-mu-ur4-ru-um{ki}
A.260
šaḫ2 tun3-pad ka ĝal2-la-gin7
You keep walking around the storehouse like a pig with a morsel in its mouth.
A.261
ĝa2-nun am3-niĝin2-niĝin2-e-en
A.262
zag tag-ga {d}inana ĝeštug2 u18-lu ma-mu2-da-ka-ni
For him who is rejected by Inana, his dream is to forget.
A.263
al-sa nu-sa ab-ta-dub-be2-en
Whether it is roasted or not, you should sprinkle the grain.
A.264
al-ur4-ur4-na-ka-nam
It is characteristic of your harvesting, it is characteristic of your gleaning, that they say: He is gone, he is gone.
A.265
al-de5-de5-e-na-ka-nam
A.266
ba-an-ĝen ba-an-ĝen mu-ni-ib-be2-ne
A.267
ḫa-ma-gub-be2-en gudug-e-ne
You should serve me is typical of purification priests. Bowing over your hips is typical of leather-workers. To be stationed in all corners is typical of lukur women. I will be there with you is typical of gardeners. I swear by Enki that your garments will take no time in this establishment is typical of fullers.
A.268
ḫaš2-za gur-ra ašgab-e-ne
A.269
ub-da an-gub lukur-e-ne
A.270
ga-ba-e-de3-gub nu-kiri6-ke4-[ne]
A.271
zi {d}en-ki i3-pad3 tug2-zu ?-a ud ba-ra-zal-e {lu2}azlag2-e-ne
A.272
ud al-šu2-šu2-ru im nu-šeĝ3-šeĝ3
The day became cloudy but it did not rain. It rained, but not enough for people to undo their sandals. The Tigris was not surging at its inlet, so water did not fill the arable lands.
A.273
im al-šeĝ3 {kuš}e-sir2 nu-du8
A.274
{id2}idigna-a ka-ba mu-un-zur-re
A.275
a-gar3-re nu-si-si
A.276
eridug{ki} ḫe2-ĝal2-la du3-a-ba
In Eridug, built in abundance, the monkey sits with longing eyes in the singer's house.
A.277
uguugu4-bi e2 nar-ra-ka igi la2-bi al-tuš
A.278
i3 ga {ĝiš}silig-ta ab-ta-šar2
Cream and milk are multiplied by an axe.
A.279
1(DIŠ)-bi 1(DIŠ) ḫe2-a igi-igi-bi an-di-ni-ib-kur2-kur2
Let the solitary one remain alone; he is forever treacherous.
A.280
ud5-de3 nam-um-ma ba-dug4 nam-u2-zug4 ib2-ak
The goat spoke in the manner of a wise old woman but acted in the manner of an unclean woman.
A.281
1(DIŠ) lag 1(DIŠ) ab-sin2 ĝe26-e 3(EŠ5)-kam-ma-bi-me-en
The clod on the one hand, the furrow on the other hand. And I am the third one there.
A.282
kašbirx(A.SUD)-a ga-naĝ zag gal-la ga-tuš
Let me drink beer shandy and sit in the seat of honour!
A.283
nu-mu-na-kal ezem-ma ba-DU
Although it was not important to him, he attended the festival.
A.284
ud mu-e-ši-zal a-na-am3 šu mu-!-⌈ti⌉
The time passed, and what did you gain?
A.285
alan mu-sag9 ušbar7 mu-un-da-ḫul2
The figure is good. The father-in-law rejoices over it: It is just like a real person!
A.286
i-gi4-in-zu lu2-ulu3-am3
A.287
inim dug3 gu5-li lu2 šar2-ra-ka
A good word is a friend to numerous men.
A.288
inim gul-la gud 4 la2-a
A destructive (?) word is four oxen yoked together.
A.289
šu nu-luḫ-ḫa ka-e tum3-da niĝ2-gig-ga-am3
Putting unwashed hands to one's mouth is disgusting.
A.290
engar igi-ĝal2-la e2-a ḫu-mu-e-da-an-til3
May a clever farmer live at home with you.
A.291
naĝ-ĝu10 id2-da ki-nu2-ĝu10 ki-kid-am3
My drink is a river. The place where I sleep is a place of reed mats.
A.292
muš-da-gur4-e suḫ am3-keše2-keše2
The gecko wears a tiara.
A.293
e2-še3 ga-ĝen-na saĝ a-ab-kal
I'm going home is what he prefers.
A.294
šag4-ĝu10 {ĝiš}kiri6 ḫa-ra-dirig-ga
The sun never leaves my heart, which surpasses a garden.

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.