Proverbs: collection 5

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 243 sections

D.23
e2 {ĝiš}tukul nu-me-a in-sig10-ge-en-e-še
D.24
ur-maḫ-e šag4-ne-ša4 im-?-la šu ba-ab-teĝ3-⌈?⌉
The lion who lives a life of compassion will receive it.
D.25
ur-maḫ-e gu3 u3-mu-un-ra-ra
When a lion roars, one says: Don't drop your food!
D.26
niĝ2-gu7-zu nam-ba-šub-be2-en
D.27
ur-maḫ-e niĝ2-ar3-ra al-gu7-e
Is the lion accustomed to eating that which is milled?
D.28
ur-maḫ-e ⌈nam⌉-lu2-kurun-na ⌈al⌉-ak-e
Is the lion accustomed to performing the brewers' craft?
D.29
ur-maḫ-e tu7 mu-un-kum2
If the lion heats the soup, who would say It is no good?
D.30
a-ba nu-dug3-ga ab-be2-e-še
D.31
ki ur-maḫ-e lu2 in-gu7-a
No-one walks for a second time at the place where a lion has eaten a man.
D.32
2(MAN)-kam-ma-še3 lu2 na-me nu-dib2-be2
D.33
igi ur-maḫ-a-ka uzu al-gu7-e
He eats meat in the presence of a lion.
D.34
[…]
(1 line missing) you drink water …….
D.35
a mu-e-⌈naĝ⌉ […] mu-zig3
D.36
ur-maḫ a-ne u3-bi2-te
Were a lion to approach him, you would chase only the wolf away!
D.37
ur-bar-ra mi-ni-ib2-sar-re-en
D.38
uzu ur-bar-ra nam-mu-ni-gu7
You should not eat the flesh of a wolf. Let me subdue it with all my might.
D.38A
maḫ-e ga-ba-an-gam
D.39
ku6 ur-maḫ X ki aĝ2 kud-de3 nu-ub-zu
Loving the lion's fish (?), he did not know how to cut it (?).
D.40
ur-bar-ra 9-bi 10-am3 udu ḫi-a u3-mu-ni-in-dab5
Nine wolves having caught 10 sheep, there was one too many and they did not know how to share out the portions. A fox came along and said: Let me allocate the portions for you! The nine of you take one sheep. I by myself shall take nine -- this shall be my share!
D.41
1(DIŠ)-am3 ab-si-am3 ḫa-la-be2-ne nu-⌈ḫa⌉-la-a
D.42
ka5-a ugu-bi-še3 u3-un-ĝen
D.43
ĝe26-e ga-mu-e-ne-ḫa-la
D.44
9 za-e-en-ze2-en 1(DIŠ)-am3 šu te-ba-ab-ze2-en
D.45
ĝe26-e dili-ĝu10-ne 9 šu ga-ba-ab-ti
D.46
ne-e ḫa-la šag4-ĝu10-e-še
D.47
ur-bar-ra ḫe2-gu7!(KA)-e {d}utu igi i-bi2-in-du8
Imagine a wolf is eating. Utu looks down on it and says: Provided you praise me you will grow fat would be the reply.
D.48
en-na teš2 i-i-X
D.49
i3-buluĝ3-e-še
D.50
ur-bar-ra alal ur3 ⌈?-?⌉-še3 u3-bi2-[…]
The wolf …… the drain-pipe of a house's roof: Last year we were nauseated (?) by your stench. Now this year we are still nauseated (?)! How much longer will we be cursed with your stench? -- Now, as for me, I am hungry! What can I eat?
D.51
mu-im-ma ze2-⌈da⌉-zu-še3 i3-⌈SAR⌉ […]
D.52
DU me-en-de3 ⌈mu-⌉u2-a ba-⌈SAR⌉ […]
D.53
me-na ze2-da-zu aš2 bi2-bal-en-⌈de3⌉-[en]
D.54
DU ĝe26-e šag4-ĝar tuku-a a-na ga-⌈gu7⌉-[e-še]
D.55
[…] X-⌈en⌉-e-še
(1 line fragmentary)
D.56
[ur]-⌈bar⌉-ra KA X X
A wolf …… sat …… a lamb.
D.57
[…] X sila4 am3-⌈?-dur2⌉-ru
D.58
ur-⌈bar⌉-ra {ĝiš}es2-ad u3-⌈mu⌉-mi-in-tuš
While the wolf sat stuck in a trap, he said to Utu: When I come out, let me henceforth eat no more sheep. When I am hungry, the sheep I've taken, whatever you mention -- what will they mean to me? I shall be bound by a righteous oath. -- Now, what can I eat?
D.59
{d}utu-ra an-na-ab-be2 i-im-ta-ed2-de3-en
D.60
a-da-al-ta sila4 na-an-gu7-e-en
D.61
ud šag4-ĝar an-tuku sila4 šu ba-ni-in-ti-a
D.62
niĝ2 mu-e-dug4-ga-zu a-na ma-nam
D.63
mu zid-ĝu10-a i-ni-dug4-ga
D.64
DU ĝe26-e a-na ga-gu7-e-še
D.65
ur-bar-ra {d}utu-ra er2 ⌈i3⌉-še8-še8 maš2-anše ba-du7-du7
The wolf wept before Utu: The animals frisk around together, but I am all alone.
D.66
ĝe26-e dili-ĝu10-ne-e-⌈še⌉
D.67
ur-!-gin7 lu2-keše2-keše2-da u3-[…]
He bites like a dog does when its tetherer …….
D.68
zu2 ab-kud-[…]
D.69
ki ur-bar-ra sila4 in-kar-ra
The shepherd cannot increase his flock where the wolf takes sheep.
D.70
sipad-de3 udu nu-mu-ni-lu-lu
D.71
ur-gir15-re ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2 nam-ba-an-sig10-ge-de3-en
Dog, you shouldn't …… bones.
D.72
ur-gir15 maš2-ĝi6 mud5-am3
To a dog a dream is a joy.
D.73
ur-gir15-re eš2-dam-še3 in-kur9-ma
A dog entered a tavern and said: I can't see a thing. I'll open this one!
D.74
niĝ2 na-me igi nu-mu-un-du8
D.75
ne-en ĝal2 taka4-en-e-še
D.76
ur-gir15 lugal-a-ni-ir na-ab-be2-a
A dog said to his master: If my pleasure is of no importance to you, then my loss should not be either!
D.77
tukum-bi nam-sag9-ga-ĝu10 ba-ra-ĝal2
D.78
i-bi2-za-ĝu10 nu-ra-ĝal2-e-še
D.79
ur-gir15-re e2 lugal-la-na-ka nu-dur2-ru-un
The dog does not let me sit down in his master's house.
D.80
ur mu2-? bar ⌈?⌉-[(X)]-a ḫul a-ab-gig
A rabid dog hates …… the chain (?) …….
D.81
ur-gir15-re šu te-ba-ab mu-un-zu
The dog understands Take it!, but it does not understand Put it down!
D.82
ĝa2-ĝa2 nu-un-zu
D.83
ur-gir15-re {na4}kinkin(ḪAR) eme KA ak mu-X-ĝar-ra-X-X eme mi-ni-ib-šub6-ba
The dog wags his tongue (?) at a millstone …… licks his tongue , and says to his companion: It is an omen from heaven! Let me clothe you in the lid of a measuring bowl!
D.84
tab-ba-ni-ir an-na-ab-be2 kiĝ2-gi4-a an-ta tug2 {ĝiš}ba-an ga-mu-ra-ab-mur10-e-še
D.85
ur-gir15-re lu2 ki aĝ2-bi mu-un-zu
The dog recognises a man who loves him; as the dog is judge, so its tail acts (?) as commissioner!
D.86
ur di-kud-dam kun-bi maškim ⌈?⌉
D.87
ur ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2 al-?-?
The dog gnawing on a bone says to his anus: This is going to hurt you!
D.88
gu-du-ni an-na-ab-be2
D.89
a-ra-⌈ab-gig-ga⌉-[(X)]-e-še
D.90
ur-gir15-re {uzu}i3-udu ḫe2-⌈eb2⌉-X-[(X)]
A dog which …… sheep-fat -- dog is indeed its name.
D.91
ur-gir15-re mu-bi-[im]
D.92
ur-gir15 {ĝiš}⌈ma2⌉-addir-⌈? ?⌉-gub-bu
A dog does not stand still on the ferry-boat!
D.93
⌈ur-gir15⌉-re ab-NI-en
A dog …… (1 line fragmentary)
D.94
[…] X la2 ? u3-bi2-?-KU-DU
D.95
ur-gir15-re nam zu2-lum-ma-ta {ĝiš}⌈kiri6⌉ u3-ba-ni-ib2-ed2-de3
When the dog goes out into an orchard to get dates, the owner of the orchard chases him away. The thief …… goes out …… dates. (1 line fragmentary)
D.96
lugal {ĝiš}kiri6-ke4 ib2-ta-an-sar-re
D.97
lu2-zuḫ ne-[e X (X)] ⌈?⌉-e ⌈?⌉
D.98
ed2-de3 zu2-lum-bi X [X (X)]-un-?-X
D.99
[…] en MU […] X ⌈NE⌉ [X] ⌈?⌉
D.100
ur-gir15-re lu2 X […]
A dog …… (1 line fragmentary)
D.101
u3 ? du8 en zu […]
D.102
ur-gir15-re ĜAR-bi ? ? […]
A dog …….
D.103
ur-gir15-re saĝ-du […]-?-?
A dog …… (1 line fragmentary)
D.104
[…] tuku
D.105
ur-gir15-gin7 ki za-za ḫul a-⌈ab⌉-gig
Like a dog, he hates to grovel.
D.106
ur-gir15 {ĝiš}ellag ra-gin7 dum-dam i3-ib2-za
He growls like a dog struck by a ball (?).
D.107
ur-gir15-re gu2 gid2-gid2-ab-ze2-en ur-tur ki aĝ2-ab-ze2-en
Control the dog, but love the puppy!
D.108
ur šag4 dab5-ba PU2 igi nu-zalag-ge
An angry dog …….
D.109
ur sam2-bi igi-za ĝal2 {ĝiš}gigir sam2-bi ba-an-ḫul
To purchase a dog is within your sights; to purchase a waggon is to be destroyed.
D.110
ur sag9-ga ur-tur-še3 ba-an-kur9
A dog which is played with turns into a puppy.
D.111
ur mu2-da-gin7 gu3 bi2-in-de2
He cried out like a dog in a frenzy; its reward was having its skin flayed.
D.112
kug kuš du3-u3-bi ba-ni-in-gi4
D.113
ur mu2-da-gin7 iti6-a šu-ne-ne X-ge
Like rabid dogs, …… their paws in the moonlight.
D.114
ur mu2-da-gin7 a lugal ?-<ni>-ir DU-?-bi
Like a rabid dog …….
D.115
ur mu2-da-gin7 id2-da gid2 TUG2 al-ak-e
You behave like a rabid dog stretching his neck into the river (?) …….
D.116
ur-gir15-re e2 ganba-še3
A dog entered a warehouse. The merchant broke his leg with a wooden door-bolt: Get out of here! The dog questioned his tail: Is there something behind me? Those things which make you happy! it was told. Well then, let me go back again tonight and receive something! And so, upon his return, his leg was again broken. He dragged his tail and sat in the street. A second time he questioned his tail: Did the bolt just come out from in front of you, like before?
D.117
šaĝan-la2 {ĝiš}suḫub4 ib2-ba-ni ba-an-ḫaš
D.118
e3-ma-ni-ta kun-bi en3 ab-tar-re
D.119
eĝer-ĝu10-ta niĝ2 na-me bi2-in-gub
D.120
niĝ2 sag9-ga-zu bi2-in-eš
D.121
DU ĝi6-da ga-gur niĝ2 na-me šu ga-an-ti

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.