Proverbs: collection 7
- A.1
[ki gul-la-ba ki] ⌈ḫe2⌉-en-gul
In those places which have been destroyed, let more places be destroyed. In those places which have not been destroyed, let a breach be made there. Let his place become like chopped-up turnips. Their place in the universe was destroyed. -- Where there are bonds, you should not destroy the place! You should not destroy their place in the universe. (approx. 14 lines missing)
- A.2
[ki nu-gul]-la-ba [gu2-ĝiri3] ḫe2-en-ĝal2
- A.3
[ki-ni ki lu-ub2]{sar} ku5-ra2 ḫe2-a
- A.4
[me-bi] ba-da-ḫa-lam
- A.5
[di-ir-ga-a ki nam]-ba-e-gul
- A.6
[me-bi na]-ab-da-[ḫa-lam-e-en-ze2-en]
- gap
(approx. 14 lines missing)
- B.1
[…] X X X [X]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.2
[…] a-a-bi nu-gur-⌈re⌉
…… their father does not return.
- B.3
[1(DIŠ) lag 1(DIŠ)] ab-sin2
The clod on the one hand, the furrow on the other hand -- and as for me, I am the third one there.
- B.4
[ĝe26-e 3(EŠ5)-kam]-ma-bi-me-en
- B.5
lag a-[a] ⌈gurud2⌉-da bi-iz-bi gul-la
A clod thrown into the water is destroyed as it disintegrates.
- B.6
umun3-še3 piriĝ-gin7 du
He moves like a lion against a louse, but when there is a job is to be done, he moves like a rat.
- B.7
kiĝ2 ak-⌈de3⌉ niĝ2-gilim-gin7 du
- B.8
umbin kud tug2-mu-dur7-ra mu4-mu4
The manicurist is himself dressed in dirty rags.
- B.9
kašbir-a ga-!
Let me drink beer shandy and sit in the seat of honour!
- B.10
[zag] ⌈gal⌉-la ga-tuš
- B.11
[nu-mu]-⌈na⌉-kal ezem-ma ba-DU
Although it was not important to him, he attended the festival.
- B.12
[ḫaš2 a-ra-an]-⌈gid2⌉-nam lu2 še-ĝiš-i3 [bi2-ib2-il2]-il2-i
I am stretching my legs on your behalf, says the man who delivers sesame seeds.
- B.13
[…] ⌈?⌉ ? ⌈ba-ra-an-?⌉
(1 line fragmentary) (1 line missing)
- gap
(1 line missing)
- B.15
ma2 ḫa-ba-su-su barag ga-ba-ra-ab-ur3
If the boat sinks, I will pull out the cargo. When it was all over, what had you gained? It is still floating: it did not sink.
- B.16
ud mu-da-zal a-na mu-e-ši-ti
- B.17
i3-dirig nu-su-su
- B.18
ud i3-di-de3-en ud šu2-uš i3-di-de3-en
I visit it by day, I visit it at nightfall. I always stand by the lamentation drum!
- B.19
balaĝ er2-ra im-ma-gub-gub-bu-de3-en
- B.20
X ⌈?-?⌉ du14 ⌈ĝiš⌉ ba-ni-ib-la2
…… soldier (?) silences the argument. (3 lines fragmentary)
- B.21
[…]-⌈an⌉-[X]
- B.22
[…]-me-en
- B.23
[…] DU-am3
- B.24
[…]-⌈?⌉-kam
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.25
[…] kur2
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.26
[…] ⌈ga⌉-sam2-bi
…… that huckster …….
- B.27
[…] ⌈saĝ⌉-du suḫur{ku6} saĝ-du maš2-gur-ra-ŠEŠ{ku6} […] ⌈ḫe2⌉-da-gu7-e
Let …… the head of a suḫur fish be eaten …… with the head of a mašgurašeš fish.
- B.28
[di gid2-i al-ĝal2]
To accept a verdict is possible. To accept a curse is impossible.
- B.29
⌈aš2⌉ gid2-i nu-ĝal2
- B.30
[umun3-e gada] ba-la2
Linen is stretched out for the flea. The …… reed mat is woven for the fly. The storehouse is built for the gecko.
- B.31
[nim-saḫar-ra] {gi}kid-aš-rin ba-e-sig9
- B.32
[muš-da]-gur4-ra ⌈šutum⌉ ba-na-an-du3
- B.33
[a-ra2-bu{mušen} niĝ2] a2-ba-ka nu-gu7
The duck was not eaten in time.
- B.34
[im-ma-an-de5-de5 šaḫ2-ni ba]-an-šum
He gathered everything for himself, but had to slaughter his pig.
- B.35
⌈im⌉-[ma-an-de5-de5 ĝiš-ni ba-an-til]
He gathered everything for himself, but used up his wood.
- B.36
du6 ⌈?⌉ X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.37
u2 ?-[…]
(1 line fragmentary) …… my burden …… the basket.
- B.38
gun2-ĝu10 X […]
- B.39
{ĝiš}dusu ⌈im⌉ […] UB bal-bal-am3 […]
- B.40
nam […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.41
ma2 kar ⌈?⌉ […]
…… boat …… quay …….
- B.42
ninda šu ti-a [li-bi2-in-gur-ra]
You don't return borrowed bread.
- B.43
IM TAR TUG2 ⌈kar-?⌉ […]
…… prostitute …… statue …….
- B.44
alan […]
- B.45
X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.46
[…]
(1 line missing)
- B.47
bi2-in-dug4 ba-da-an-gur
He spoke, but went back on what he said.
- B.48
{ĝiš}ma2-gin7 a-a am3-zig3-zig3
Like a boat, he always floats up in the water.
- B.49
{na4}kinkin(ḪAR) bur12-ra-⌈gin7⌉ al-du7-du7-du7-⌈un⌉
You are forever pushing, like a millstone torn out of its joint.
- B.50
ka ba-an-la2-a dam-a-ni gi4-in-nam
He whose speech is humble -- his wife is a slave girl.
- B.51
ka-ĝu10 lu2-[da] ⌈an-da⌉-sa2-e-en
My mouth makes me comparable with other men.
- B.52
u6 di kalam di-de3-<en> iri-ni mu-un-ed2-e
In order to survey (?) the Land, he left his city.
- B.53
al-di-di-de3-en nu-kuš2-u3-de3-en
I walk about, I don't get tired. I keep moving, I don't sleep.
- B.54
i3-di-di-de3-en u3 nu-ku-ku-me-en
- B.55
til3-la lul-la ḫul na-an-gu-ul-⌈e⌉
As long as you live, you should not increase evil by lying; for if you do, to succumb will be your lot.
- B.56
gam ḫa-la-zu mu-un-⌈ĝal2⌉
- B.57
tug2-me-en-ze2-er-še3 ba-X-⌈da⌉-[bir7-ra]
When clothes have been cut up into rags, when the barley has been lying in the dust, what more is there to be got?
- B.58
še saḫar-ba im-ma-an-⌈til3⌉-[la]
- B.59
ta šu ba-ni-[in-ti]
- B.60
a de2-a-bi ⌈en⌉ [X (X)] še sig9-ga-bi ⌈en⌉ [X (X)]
Pouring water ……, placing barley …….
- B.61
in-gu7 nu-un-gu7 [numun sag9-ga-am3]
Whether he ate or not, the seed was good.
- B.62
ga-ša-an tug2 gal-⌈gal⌉-[la-ĝen]
I am a lady who wears large garments. Let me cut my loincloth!
- B.63
{tug2}niĝ2-dara2-ĝu10 da-⌈an⌉-[kud]
- B.64
u3-mu-un id2 [da-ma-al-la-ĝen]
You are the master of a broad river. You are eating ……. (approx. 23 lines missing)
- B.65
[X BU] i3-[gu7-e-en]
- gap
(approx. 23 lines missing)
- C.1
nam-tar [ur]-am3 [zu2 mu-un-da-ab-kud]
Fate is a dog, well able to bite. It clings like dirty rags.
- C.2
tug2-mu-dur7-ra-gin7 [im-ma-tab-tab]
- C.3
ga-ša-an-an-na E X […]
Inana …… (1 line fragmentary)
- C.4
E EN KI AḪ […]
- C.5
MI RI IM IR MI X […]
(1 line unclear) …… something belonging to Inana …… (1 line fragmentary)
- C.6
niĝ2 ga-ša-an-an-⌈na⌉ […]
- C.7
aĝ2 ĝiri3-ba DI […]
- C.8
ur i-im-di
The dog moves, the knife moves, but still my man does not move.
- C.9
⌈me2⌉-[er] [im-di]
- C.10
lu2-ĝu10 ba-ra-⌈mu⌉-[un-di]
- C.11
{ĝiš}ma2-⌈addir⌉ [(X)] lu2 dirig [X X]
The ferryboat …… too many men: My man shall not board it!
- C.12
lu2-ĝu10 ba-ra-mu-[un-u5]
- C.13
i3-bi mu-dur7-ra ⌈am3⌉-[…]
This oil …… mourning rags ……. This barley …… in dust.
- C.14
še-bi saḫar-ra ⌈am3⌉-[…]
- C.15
e-le-lum-ĝu10 kur-re [X X]
My cry of joy …… by the nether world, but my mental faculties are not thereby taken away.
- C.16
umuš-ĝu10 ur5-re nu-um-ši-[kar-…]
- C.17
ux(PA)-a bi2-in-dug4 ma2 ba-⌈da-an⌉-[su]
He said: Woe! and the boat sank with him. He said: Alas! and the rudder broke. The young man said: Ah god! and the boat reached its destination.
- C.18
a-la-la bi2-in-dug4 {ĝiš}gi-muš ba-da-an-ḫaš
- C.19
ĝuruš-e u8-a diĝir-ra-am3 di {ĝiš}ma2 ki-bi ba-te
- C.20
a-⌈ba-am3⌉ saḫar mu-un-zig3
Who removed the dust? Who …… the boat?
- C.21
a-ba-am3 ⌈{ĝiš}ma2 bi2-in⌉-zu
- C.22
šag4-ĝu10 {ĝiš}kiri6 ⌈ḫa⌉-[ra-dirig]-⌈ga-ta⌉
The sun never leaves my heart, which surpasses a garden.
- C.23
{d}utu nu-mu-un-⌈ta⌉-[e3]
- C.24
aĝrig šu dim4-⌈ma⌉-[am3] sa-KU kalag-ga-me-en
I am a loyal steward, I am a strong pair of hands.
- C.25
gud kur2-ra u2 gu7-gu7
A stranger's ox eats grass while one's own ox lies hungry.
- C.26
gud ni2-ba i3-šim-! nu2-nu2
- C.27
niĝ2 u2 nu-gu7 am kur-ra-⌈kam⌉
That which does not eat food is a wild bull of the mountains. (7 lines missing)
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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.