Proverbs: collection 9

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 109 sections

A.1
nir-ĝal2-e a-na bi2-in-dug4 nu-sag9
Whatever the man in authority said, it was not pleasant.
A.2
nir-ĝal2-e a-na bi2-in-dug4 nu-zid
Whatever the man in authority said, it was not right.
A.3
nir-ĝal2 kug-zu-am3 ukur3 šu dim4-ma-am3
When the authorities are wise, and the poor are loyal, it is the effect of the blessing of Aratta.
A.4
šu ĝar ĝal2-la aratta{ki}-ka
A.5
a2-tuku lugal ki-in-du-ka
The mighty man is master of the earth.
A.6
usu ka lu2-⌈ta⌉ am3-kur9-kur9
It is from a man's mouth that strength comes.
A.7
usu igi-ĝal2-tuku nu-ub-da-sa2
Strength cannot keep pace with intelligence.
A.8
usu diĝir-ĝa2 ni2-ĝa2 ba-til
The strength of my god completes my own.
A.9
nam-ĝuruš-ĝu10 anše kar-⌈ra⌉-gin7 ḫaš2-ĝa2 ba-e-taka4
Youthful vigour has left my loins, like a runaway donkey.
A.10
nu-zu e2-gal-la ba-šar2
Ignoramuses are numerous in the palace.
A.11
zu-a nu-di is-ḫab2-ba-am3
He who knows but does not speak is a fool.
A.12
⌈kug⌉-zu nu-mu-un-da-sa2
No one can rival the wise man. (1 line fragmentary) (1 line fragmentary) ……, let him be cut down.
A.13
X [X] ? KA ⌈ka⌉ ba-[tar]
A.14
[X X X]-⌈?⌉ [X] ⌈in⌉-gaz-za […] nu-ĝa2-ĝa2
A.A
⌈NE⌉ KA ka bi2-tar
A.B
[X X] ⌈ka⌉ nu-tar-ra ?-en-gaz-i
A.15
[šaḫ2] niga ⌈ab⌉-šum-u3-de3 [niĝ2]-ĝu10 gu7-a-ĝu10 ga-an-sug6-e-še
When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered, one says: Let me replace what I eat.
A.16
[{šaḫ2}]ze2-eḫ tur-re šu ⌈al⌉-gud-gu4-ud
As the piglet roots around (?), it says: I do not eat for pleasure.
A.17
sag9-ga-aš ĝe26-e nu-gu7-e-še
A.18
dam u3-mu-un-⌈si⌉ [gam-am3 geme2 ug5-ga]-⌈am3⌉
The ruler's wife kneels, the slave girl dies. The ruler kneels, the slave dies.
A.19
u3-mu-un-⌈si⌉ gam-⌈am3⌉ [arad ug5-ga-am3]
A.20
šag4-ĝu10 A X ⌈IM⌉ X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
A.21
? ? X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
A.22
?-e X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
A.23
X X […]
(1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
B.1
na-an-[ni] […] libir-[ra mu-un-kal]
Nanni held his old age in high esteem …… king …… palace …….
B.2
KU […] ⌈lugal⌉ […] e2-gal […]
B.3
[X] ⌈?-?⌉-na-[…]
…… of the slave girl …… the slave girl's mistress …….
B.4
egir2 gi4-in-[…]
B.5
aĝ2 […] ⌈tukum⌉-[bi …]
…… thing …… if …….
B.x
B.12
lu2 ma-an-zi-[le … {kuš}]⌈suḫub2⌉ [šu ti-a]
The man whose feet are deformed accepts shoes.
B.13
{tug2}aĝ2-dara2 X [{tug2}aĝ2-lam2 šu ti-a]
It is the one who wears a loincloth who will accept the ceremonial garment.
B.14
u3-mu-[un] […]
The lord …….
B.15
e-re ⌈?⌉-[aĝ2-u3-mu-un] [ir-ra] gi4-in-⌈e⌉ [na-aĝ2-ga-ša-an ir-ra …]
Slave who has appropriated the role of lord, slave girl who has appropriated the role of lady …….
B.16
aĝ2-e mu-[…]
…… thing …… woman …….
B.17
munus-e ⌈?⌉ […]
B.18
? […]
(1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
C.1
niĝ2 […] ? […]
(1 line fragmentary)
C.2
ur-e […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
C.3
ur-e ⌈?⌉ […]
C.4
ur munus […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
C.5
NAGAR ḪI […]
C.6
? […]
(1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
D.1
⌈lu2⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
D.2
kug-⌈zu⌉ […]
The wise …… the knowledgeable …….
D.3
gal-⌈an⌉-[zu]
D.4
is-ḫab2 ki-bid3 X X
A fool who was overwhelmed …… by his backside stuck his hand up his backside.
D.5
šu ša-an-ša-ša-da šu-ni bid3-da ba-ni-ib-gid2
D.6
kaš4 <dug4>-ga-ab lugal-[la-kam]
Run! is the king's command. Because of my silver, because of my gold, because of my money chest ……, I am finished!
D.7
kug-ĝa2-ke4-eš kug-sig17-ĝa2-[ke4-eš]
D.8
dub-!-[ĝa2-ke4-eš (…)]
D.9
ĝe26-e [ba-til-de3-en]
D.10
X X X […]
(1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
E.1
me […]
(1 line fragmentary) …… his child …….
E.2
dumu-ni […]
E.3
ZA ⌈KID2⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary) …… spouse …… intelligence …….
E.4
dam igi sila3 X […]
E.5
ĝeštug-ga […]
E.6
IL2 MU UB […] igi mu-ni-in-du8
…… saw ……. Let me go! says the treacherous man.
E.7
ga-ba-ĝen lu2 niĝ2-lul-la-ka
E.8
{d}utu di-kud-me-en di-ĝu10 kud-de3
Oh Utu, you are my judge: pronounce my judgment! You are my decision-maker, decide my case! The dream that I have seen -- turn it into a favourable one!
E.9
ka-aš bar-bar-re-me-en ka-aš-ĝu10 bar-ra
E.10
maš2-ĝi6 igi ba-ni-in-du8-a sag9-ga-aš kur9-ni-ib2
E.11
si sa2-bi ga-ĝen tab-ba-ĝu10 sa2 ga-am3-dug4
Let me walk straight, so that I can catch up with my companion!
E.12
gi4-in ma2 gid2 u3-sa2 dab5
Supposing sleep overtakes those who drag the boat, supposing sleep overtakes them -- the only possibility is to walk along the road.
E.13
gi4-in u3-sa2 dab5 kaskal-la du
E.14
nam-sun5-na-da a-ba in-da-sa2 sag9-ga an-ši-ĝal2
Who can compare with humility? -- It is set in goodness. (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
F.1
X ⌈UN⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.2
⌈?-sar⌉ […]
…… scribe (?) …….
F.3
?-⌈sar⌉ […]
…… scribe (?) …….
F.4
{kuš}⌈?⌉-[sir2 …]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.5
ki ⌈?⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.6
kug […]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.7
⌈?⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.8
⌈BU⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
F.9
X […]
(1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
G.1
⌈UN⌉ [X] GU UL […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
G.2
⌈GU⌉ UL […]
G.3
[X X] niĝ2 še […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
G.4
[X X X] ⌈ze2⌉-eĝ3 NE […]
G.5
[…] ⌈NA⌉ X am3-[…]
(2 lines fragmentary)
G.6
[…] ma-ni-in-ŠUB X […]
G.7
[…] ⌈mu⌉-tum2-ma mu-⌈un⌉-?-X
…… him …… deliveries …… makes numerous for him the deliveries …… Lu-Suena's second-in-command.
G.8
[…] X mu-tum2-ma mu-un-da-an-?-?-lu
G.9
[…] ⌈RI⌉ nam-dumu-na ⌈lu2⌉-{d}suen-na-ka
G.10
[kur kug] ba-al-! lu2 dim2-ma nu-sag9
Like a mountain mined for metal ore, this man is not in a right state of mind. (unknown no. of lines missing)
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
H.1
[…] EŠ […] X ⌈gi4⌉
(1 line fragmentary)
H.2
[…] X LA [X]
(2 lines fragmentary) …… puts the standard (?) in his hands; …… do not fill my hands with dust!
H.3
[…] LA X AN NA X
H.4
[…] ĜAR !-? šu-na bi2-sig9
H.5
[…] ⌈?⌉ saḫar-! šu-ĝa2 la-ba-ni-in-?
H.6
[…] lu2-? nu-zu-gin7
…… that man like an ignoramus (1 line fragmentary) …… reaches the little (?) …….

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.