Proverbs: collection 5
- A.1
am-si ⌈ni2-te⌉-a-ni ⌈maš2⌉-[anše {d}šakkan2-ka]
The elephant spoke to himself: There is nothing like me among all the creatures of Šakkan! The wren (?) answered him: But I, in my own small way, was created just as you were! The elephant spoke to himself: Among all the creatures of Šakkan, the one that can defecate like me has yet to be created! The wren (?) answered him: But I, in my own small way, can defecate just as much as you!
- A.2
niĝ2 ĝe26-gin7-nam nu-ĝal2 na-[ab-be2-a]
- A.3
an-ti-ri2-gu7{mušen}-e mu-⌈na⌉-[ni-ib-gi4-gi4]
- A.4
u3 ĝe26-e igi-te-en-ĝu10-še3
- A.5
za-a-gin7-nam al-dim2-me-en-⌈e-še⌉
- A.A
am-si ni2-ta-na maš2-anše {d}šakkan2-ka um-ma pi-ru-um i-na ra-ma-ni-ša i-na bu-ul ša-am-ka-an
- A.B
niĝ2 ĝe26-gen6-na-am al-di-me-en nu-ĝal2 na-ab-be2-a ša ki-ma ia-ti-ma zu-u2 u2-ul i-ba-ši
- A.C
al-ti-ri2-gu mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 si-pi-di-qa2-ar i-ip-pa-al
- A.D
u3 ĝe26-e i-gi4-ten-ĝu10-uš u3 a-na-ku ki-ma ka-a-ti
- A.E
za-a-gen6-nam al-di-me-en-e-še a-na ma-na-ti-ia-ma ze2-a-ku
- A.6
am-si-gin7 ma2 su-a ed3-de3-de3 im-du-de3-en am-si ma sa-a e-de-de-en im-tu-mu-un-e-še pi-ra a-na i-li-pi ṭe-bi-tim a-na šu-li-i i-re-ed-du-u2
You go like an elephant to raise a sunken boat. An elephant is led to a sunken boat to raise it.
- A.7
am-e niĝ2-gig apin-na-kam
The wild bull is taboo for the plough.
- A.8
am-gin7 nam-sag9-ga ni2-zu-ka al-sag9-ge-en-e-še
Like the wild bull, you only do what pleases you.
- A.9
am-e {u2}numun2 !-ni10-ni10-e
The wild bull wanders about amid the rushes.
- A.10
am-e {ĝiš}apin-na du8-du8-u3
The wild bull is free from the plough (?).
- A.11
am-e gi KA tug2 ab-ur3-re-en
The wild bull …… I abandon the claim.
- A.11A
[am]-⌈e⌉ gu2 e3-a ⌈gu2⌉ […]
The wild bull …… enveloped …… above …….
- A.11B
[…] an-ta ba-[…]
- A.11C
am-e a2 kalag-ga-zu […] mu-e-du7 […]
Wild bull, you …… your strong limbs.
- A.11D
am-e u3-na-? ⌈?⌉ […]
The wild bull …… aggressively.
- A.11E
am-e ⌈? ?⌉ […]
The wild bull …….
- A.12
gud-de3 ĝiri3-zu-a al-dab5-be2-en
An ox will catch you in your path.
- A.13
gud-gin7 a-ga gur-ra nu-e-zu
Like an ox, you do not know how to turn back.
- A.14
gud naĝa dub2-ba-še3 ur-gir15-re ka-bi al-du8-du8-u3
The dog snarls at an ox scrubbed with soap.
- A.15
gud a2 la2-am3 lu2 a2 la2-bi an-gu-lu-uš
The ox has been tamed; its tamers are great.
- A.16
[gud X] X-še3 ?-an-da-il2-e
The ox …….
- A.17
[gud sur12-ra ab-sin2-bi] al-sag9-sag9
The furrows seem pleasant to an ox on the threshing floor.
- A.18
[gud …]-u3-de3
The ox ……. (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
- A.19
[…]-e-še
- gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
- B.1
⌈gud⌉ […]
The ox …… (1 line fragmentary)
- B.2
nu-mu-⌈?⌉-[…]
- B.3
gud šar2-ra šurum-bi nu-⌈ĝal2⌉-[la-am3]
From so many oxen, is there no dung?
- B.4
gud al-lu-lu-un šurum-bi al-de5-de5-ge-⌈en⌉
If you make the oxen multiply, you may collect their dung.
- B.5
gud šabra-gin7 sila-a al-ni10-ni10-en
O ox, you wander about in the street like a commissioner.
- B.6
gud lugal-bi in-ga-ḫul2 sukkal abul-la-kam
The owner of an ox is also happy at being the emissary at the city gate.
- B.7
ab2-⌈e šag4⌉ gen6-na-ni-ta mu-gud si nu-ub-tu11
The cow jumps to her heart's content, but she does not gore.
- B.8
ab2 ⌈?-a-gin7 eĝer lu2 ?⌉-gur-da-ka al-du-un
O cow, like a cat you walk behind the man carrying the food basket.
- B.9
⌈ab2⌉ šag4-⌈sug4-ga⌉-bi ⌈lu2⌉ na-me šu nu-bar-re
No one will give away even a barren cow for nothing.
- B.10
X ⌈?⌉ X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.11
ab2 u3-nu-tud-⌈da⌉-gin7 amar-za nu-me-a mi-ni-ib-⌈kiĝ2-kiĝ2⌉-e-en
Like a cow that has not given birth, you are looking for a calf of yours that does not exist!
- B.12
ab2-e ambar-ra ⌈amar-e⌉ bar-rim4-ma in-dib
The cow walks in the marsh, the calf on the dry ground.
- B.13
amar-e ⌈šag4⌉ X X X i-ni-in-kur9
A calf entered ……. It did not know how to get out. When the herdsman came to inspect, he hurled the churn towards it, smashing the churn. When the calf came out, it cowered -- but the churn was still smashed.
- B.14
⌈ed2-de3 nu-ub-zu⌉ sipad-⌈de3 saĝ en3⌉ un-tar
- B.15
[…] ⌈{dug}⌉šakir3 ⌈ba⌉-an-šub {dug}šakir3-e ba-an-gaz
- B.16
⌈ud⌉ amar-e im-⌈ta⌉-e3 amar-e ba-an-gam
- B.17
u3 {dug}šakir3 ba-an-gaz
- B.18
anše-kur-gin7 i3-⌈ḫur⌉-en i3-naĝ-zu
Like a horse you paw the ground where you drink.
- B.19
anše-kur lu2 u5-a-ni u3-mu-ni-in-šub
The horse, after throwing off his rider, said: Were my load to be like this forever, how weak I would become!
- B.20
tukum-bi gu2-un-ĝu10 da-ri2-še3
- B.21
ne-en-nam al-sig-en-e-še
- B.22
anše barag la2-a-ni u3-mu-ni-in-šub
The donkey, after he had thrown off his packs, said: Now I can forget the burdens of former days!
- B.23
⌈du⌉-lum ud-bi-ta ĝeštug2-ĝa2 ba-an-u18-lu-un-e-še
- B.24
[anše] X [X X] X X ⌈NU ?⌉ […]
The donkey ……. (unknown no. of lines missing)
- gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
- C.1
⌈anše⌉ mu-šubub ur-gir15-re in-[X]
The donkey stumbled, and the dog …….
- C.2
⌈anše⌉ id2-da al-dirig-dirig-ge-ma ur-gir15-re šu ba-ši-ib-de5-de5
While the donkey was swimming in the river, the dog was busy gathering food: When will he climb out and eat?
- C.3
[me]-⌈na⌉-am3 al-ed3-de3 al-gu7-e-še
- C.4
anše mu du3-u3-bi a2 bal-e
He who rents a donkey for a whole year kindles a fire in the moonlight.
- C.5
iti6-⌈ka⌉ izi mu-ni-in-⌈sag3⌉-ge
- C.6
anše ne-eš2-am3 tuš-ma-ab ĝiš3 pir2-bi il2-il2-ni-ib
Make the donkey sit like this! Make it lift its shrivelled penis!
- C.7
anše kug 1 giĝ4-e bal-še3 i3-ak-e
A donkey is being used to transport one shekel of silver.
- C.8
anše bar udu ḫi-a-ka ĝiškim nu-mu-e-da-tuku
Using a donkey in place of sheep will not provide you with an omen.
- C.9
[anše …] ⌈?⌉-ge-de3
A donkey ……: In order to grow powerful, don't let your …… dwell in the house of your brother-in-law! When you are able to support a ……, then you may choose a wife.
- C.10
e2 murum5-za-ka X-zu na-⌈an⌉-tuš-e
- C.11
X u3-bi2-in-il2-de3-en ⌈?⌉ mu-ni-in-kal-!-e-še
- C.12
⌈anše murgu2⌉-na mu-ni-ib-⌈ra⌉-ra-de3
If you keep beating a donkey on its back, what ……?
- C.13
a-na-⌈am3⌉ eme X [(X)]-⌈am3⌉
- C.14
anše ⌈edin⌉-še3 dib-dib-ba NE X [u3]-⌈bi2⌉-in-te
When the donkey, walking in the desert, met ……, it roused it from where it sat.
- C.15
⌈dur2⌉-bi-ta im-ma-⌈ra-an⌉-zig3
- C.16
⌈anše⌉ za-na tar lu2 za-na tar mu-un-⌈pad3⌉
A …… donkey came across a …… man: Do it and then go!
- C.17
⌈?⌉-e-de3 u3 ĝen-na-⌈e⌉-še
- C.18
[anše] tur5-⌈ra⌉ X X X mu-ni-in-ed3-de3
A sick donkey went up ……: How long have you not felt well? If until now you have not felt well, …… there is a canal inspector ……. Let him come to you, and your bones will feel well again. (unknown no. of lines missing)
- C.19
[en-na]-⌈bi-še3-? ?⌉-zu nu-ra-⌈sag9⌉-ge-en-e-še
- C.20
⌈tukum⌉-bi en-na-bi-še3-am3 ⌈su⌉-zu nu-ra-sag9-ge-en
- C.21
X X X zu ku3-ĝal2 i3-ĝal2 ḫe2-mu-e-DU
- C.22
⌈u3⌉ ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2-zu ḫu-mu-ra-sag9-ge-e-še
- gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
- D.1
anše kaš3 lu-[lu-a …]
The donkey …… plenty of urine …….
- D.2
anše nam X […]
A donkey …….
- D.3
ur-maḫ-e ud5 ḫu-nu-a u3-mu-ni-in-dab5
The lion had caught a helpless she-goat: Let me go! I will give you my fellow ewe in return! If I am to let you go, tell me your name! The she-goat answered the lion: You do not know my name? 'I-am-cleverer-than-you' is my name! When the lion came to the fold, he the lion cried: I release you! She answered him from the other side: You released me, but were you clever? As for the sheep, none live here!
- D.4
šu ba-am3 u8 tab-ba-ĝu10 gur-ra ga-mu-ra-ab-šum2
- D.5
tukum-bi šu mu-ri-bar-re mu-zu dug4-ma-ab
- D.6
ud5-de3 ur-maḫ-e mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 za-e mu-ĝu10 nu-e-zu
- D.7
umun2 mu-e-da-ak-e mu-ĝu10-um
- D.8
ud ur-maḫ-e {e2}tur3-še3 i-ĝen-na
- D.9
ur-⌈maḫ-e⌉ mu-e-bur2-e-en gu3 al-de2-de2-e
- D.10
e-ne gu2-re-ta mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
- D.11
mu-e-bur2-e-en umun2 mu-e-ak bar udu ḫi-a-ka nu-dur2-ru-na-e-še
- D.12
ud ur-maḫ-e {e2}tur3-še3 ur-gir15-re eš2 siki sur-ra i3-mur10
When the lion came to the sheepfold, there was a dog wearing a leash of spun wool.
- D.13
ur-maḫ-e šaḫ2 ĝiš-gi4 u3-mu-ni-in-dab5
When the lion caught a wild boar, he roared: Your flesh has not yet filled my mouth, but your squeals have deafened my ears!
- D.14
e-ne gu3 mu-ra-ra-ra
- D.15
en-na-bi-še3-am3 uzu-zu ka-ĝu10 nu-mu-ni-in-si
- D.16
za-pa-aĝ2-zu ĝeštug2-ĝu10 u2 ba-ni-in-ḫub2-e-še
- D.17
ur-maḫ-e pu2 niĝ2 ĝiri3-a-ka u3-mu-ni-in-šub
A lion having fallen into a trap, a fox came up to him and said: I'll take your sandals home to the other side for you!
- D.18
ka5-a ugu-bi-še3 u3-um-ĝen-ma {kuš}e-sir2-zu
- D.19
?-še3 e2-še3 mu-e-ši-tum3-mu-un-e-še
- D.20
ur-maḫ-e a2-taḫ-zu ĝiš-gi-a lu-lu-am3
O lion, your allies in the reedbeds are numerous.
- D.21
ur-maḫ-e ĝiš-gi-a lu2 zu-a-ni nu-ub-gu7
In the reedbeds the lion does not eat his acquaintance.
- D.22
ur-maḫ-e lu2 kišib sag3-ge-da in-sig10-ma
The lion …… the man who …… said: I shall put in place a house without weapons.
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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.