Proverbs: collection 13

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 105 sections

1
[…] ⌈an⌉ ugu nam-lul-la nam […]
(1 line fragmentary)
2
[…] ⌈nam⌉-lul-la ba-gu7-gu7 […]
(1 line fragmentary)
3
lu2 la-ga an-ši-ed2-de3 lu2-lul-lul-⌈la⌉ […]
A robber was coming out, a liar …….
4
lu2-zuḫ-a lu2 lu-ub2{sar} ba-ab-dab5-be2-eš
They are thieves, these men who took the turnips. Why do you not …… them?
5
a-na-aš-⌈am3⌉ […] ⌈?⌉ nu-ub-[X (X)]
6
lu2-zuḫ-a ni2 igi piriĝ-ĝa2-ka
The thief, out of fear of facing a lion, becomes a man driven by fear of facing a lion cub.
7
lu2 [ḫub2] sar-re ni2 igi piriĝ-tur-[ra]-ka
8
lu2-zuḫ-a en-te-na-ka zag e2-me-eš-a-ka mu-ni-in-bur2
The thief extends winter to the beginning of summer.
9
lu2-zuḫ-a an-bar7-a igi mu-ni-in-du8-uš
They saw a thief at noon. They …… but it blinded them to him. Thus he carried the loot away.
10
KA ba-an-NE igi nu-mu-ni-in-du8-uš ba-an-tum3-e-še
11
lu2-zuḫ-a buru3-buru3-da i3-in-sal-e
When a burglar makes a hole, he makes it narrow.
12
lu2-zuḫ-zuḫ-a ab lugal [e2]-e-ke4 ḫe2-eb-kal-la-ge-e-še
The owner of a house should reinforce the windows against burglars.
13
lu2-zuḫ e2 buru3-buru3-da mu-ni-in-dab5-be2-eš
They caught a burglar breaking into a house: Let me …….
14
⌈lu2⌉ X ur3-ra-ka ga-mu-ni-in-us2-e-še
15
lu2 ḫuĝ-ĝa2 {ĝiš}zi-gan šu an-še3 ⌈?⌉-?
A hired worker who was lifting a rudder upwards …… gathering (?) wood …… said: What I gave you at the boat's bow -- let me now give it to you from the boat's stern. Do you know what it is?
16
⌈?⌉ al-de5-de5-⌈ge⌉ [X X]-ke4 an-na-ab-be2
17
ma2-saĝ-ĝa2-⌈ta⌉ e-ra-ab-šum2-mu
18
ma2-eĝer-ra-ta X ga-⌈e-ra⌉-ab-šum2-mu
19
a-na-am3 e-zu-e-še
20
a2-il2 kalag-ga lugal še-ke4 bi2-ib-ra-ra-e-[še]
Even the strongest labourer gets beaten by the owner of the barley.
21
galam-e ⌈?⌉-še3 ama-ni nu-un-⌈?⌉
A crafty man does not transgress (?) against his mother.
22
galam-e ušur kaš-de2 ak-⌈ak⌉
A crafty man lays on a party for his neighbour.
23
galam-e dab5-ba-an-ze2-en uĝ3-⌈bi⌉-še3 ⌈sar-re⌉-en-ze2-[en]
A crafty man exhorts the crowd: Seize him! Drive him away!
24
galam-e gu2-un-bi mu-na-⌈?⌉-dugud
The load is heavy for the crafty ones. Twice their knees go weak …….
25
? 2(MAN)-kam-ma-⌈ka⌉ ?-? ⌈im-da⌉-sig-⌈ge⌉
26
galam-e ? tab-ba-ni ba-ni-⌈in-?⌉
The crafty one wrapped herself in double-woven cloth (?) and …… from her jar of pressed oil as if from a river.
27
? i3 li2-ka-ni id2-gin7 ⌈u3-bi2⌉-in-[X]
28
galam-e niĝ2-nam kug ⌈nam⌉-bi2-la2-e-[še]
The crafty one hung whatever precious metal there was about herself (?).
29
galam-e šu gig X KA ba-an-[…]
A crafty one …….
30
na4 galam-e MAŠ-MAŠ giĝ4 [X]
A stone to a crafty man is two halves of a shekel.
31
ugu galam-e kalam-ma ⌈KA⌉ mu-ni-in-DU
The head -- a crafty person …… throughout the Land; and he, being crafty, speaks incessantly (?) about his head.
32
u3 e-ne galam-e ugu-na ZA ⌈bi2-ib⌉-dug4
33
kud-ku5-ra2 ama-⌈ni⌉ na-ab-be2-a
A lame man spoke to his mother: Where a man reclines in a chair, it is really comfortable! His mother replied: What is he afraid of? When did we last see you run away anywhere?
34
ki gu-za lu2 i3-nu2 ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2-ni na-ab-⌈sag9⌉
35
⌈ama-ni⌉ na-ab-be2-[a]
36
[a]-na-am3 ni2 te-ni-gin7
37
ḫub2 sar-re-zu igi u3-bi2-in-du8-un-de3-en-e-še
38
kud-ku5-ra2 lu2-kaš4-e igi u3-bi2-in-du8
A lame man saw some runners: The people who disappeared, where did they go? he asked.
39
erin2 u2-gu de2-a me-še3-am3 i3-re7-eš-am3-e-⌈še⌉
40
kud-ku5-ra2 na-ab-be2-a ĝiri3-ĝu10 ĝen-na-ab-ze2-en-e-še
A lame man spoke: Oh feet of mine, walk!
41
kud-ku5-ra2 a2-ki-te-a kaš4 di bi2-e3 lu2 na-ab-⌈be2⌉-[a]
A lame man came running to the New Year festival (?) and a man said to him: Insofar (?) as you were lame, you wouldn't be able to do that!
42
en-na nam-kud-ku5-ra2-⌈zu⌉ nu-ub-da-ak-e-[še]
43
? ⌈{kuš}⌉e-sir2-bi u2-⌈gu⌉ i-ni-in-de2
A …… lost his shoes. The man who found them said: Where shall I take them? …… for me?
44
lu2 šu ti-a-⌈bi⌉ me-še3-am3 ab-tum2-mu ĝe26-še3 X […]
45
SIG7-a 1/3 ma-na X
To a …… it is one-third of a mina. To the man who accepts it from him, it is half a mina.
46
lu2 šu gid2-i-ni MAŠ ma-[na X (X)]
47
SIG7-a uru2 bar-ra-še3 er2 al-ĝa2-ĝa2-ne
The grieving were making a lament at the outskirts of the city. A man who had followed them …… half way there. The man who took it from him said: Where you have gone ……?
48
lu2 u3-bi2-in-us2 kaskal MAŠ-a-ka ud-ne-ne ba-ni-[X X]
49
[X (X)] lu2 šu gid2-i-ni an-na-ab-be2 ki mu-e-re-ĝen-na MU X […]
50
[…] X u3-um-ĝen ⌈šu ša⌉-an-ša-ša-da ⌈šu⌉ […]
(3 lines fragmentary) (1 line fragmentary)
51
[…]-? ? ? X mu-?-? mu-?-X […]
52
[šu-ni] bid3-da ?-?-? ⌈?-?-?⌉ A ? A X […]-bi
A
[…] ⌈BA⌉ RA NI […]
53
[…] X X NE MU
(1 line fragmentary)
54
[…] X-bi lib4-lib4-ba-ĝu10-? mu-?-X […]
(2 lines fragmentary)
55
[…] X-ni ma-da ba-ni-?-X-X-bi a sed4 X […]
56
[…] X X X NE MU X […] X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
57
[…]-⌈? na4 UR2 AB TE-TE mu-e-ne-mur10⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
58
[…] ⌈bur12⌉-ra-gin7 a uru2-ke4 gu3 al-de2-de2-[e]
…… like a torn out …… the flood (?) waters were roaring.
59
[…]-e ni2 nu-mu-ni-te [X] X E LAG mu-ni-ib2-gi4 a-na-am3 iri bar-ra a2 dur2-zu-e-še
……did not fear …… …… . Why is the edge (?) of your dwelling on the outskirts of the city?
60
[X] X-e iri{ki} ĝa2-ĝa2 u3 ĝe26-e ḫe2-em lu2 ⌈na-me⌉ ḫe2-em-[e-še]
…… founding a city, whether it be me or anyone else.
61
[X X] X bar-me-en a-ba mu-da-gu7-en ⌈ḪAR-ra⌉-me-en a-ba ma-ni-?-?-?-?-[še]
…… I am ……. With whom am I eating? I am ……; who makes it pleasant (?) for me?
62
[{gi}kid]-⌈?⌉-šu2-a-gin7 du6-da en3 ab-tar-tar-re-en
Just as if you were concerning yourself with a reed mat on a hillside.
63
[…] X ḫub2-bi-gin7 igi lu2-dun-a-za-ka ti nu-mu-ni-ib2-bal-e-en
You did not …… like an acrobat in front of your guarantor (?).
64
⌈lu2⌉-zuḫ-a-gin7 ni2-zu ĝarza2-še3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
You subject yourself to rules -- as a thief does.
65
lu2-gub-⌈ba⌉ e2 lu2-še3 in-kur9-ma dam-ba nitaḫ-am3 ib2-tu-ud
An ecstatic entered a man's house, and a boy was born to his wife. Having swaggered out, he spoke to the neighbourhood children: A woman has given birth. When he had told the neighbourhood children that a boy had been born to that man's wife, he said to you: Your holy name has not been harmed; …….
66
⌈sun7⌉-na ed2-da-ni-ta dumu dag-gi4-a-še3 an-na-ab-be2 munus-e ib2-tu-ud
67
ud ⌈dam-ba nitaḫ⌉ ib2-tu-ud-da dumu dag-gi4-[a]-⌈še3⌉ u3-bi2-dug4
68
mu ?-zu nu-ḫul-ḫul X X NE E e-ra-dug4-e-še
69
lu2-gub-ba kan4 {d}inana-ka u3-bi2-in-gub
When the ecstatic had taken up position at Inana's gate, his daughter addressed the crowd: My mother's word is absolutely true.
70
dumu-munus-a-ni erin2-na an-na-ab-be2
71
⌈?⌉ ama-ĝu10 lul-aš gen6-na-⌈am3⌉-e-še
72
lu2-gub-ba-me-en u3 ?-zu en3 ⌈bi2⌉-tar-re-en
You are an ecstatic, so I am questioning your …….
73
[…] tug2 u2-gu mu-ni-in-de2
…… lost their clothes: This loincloth isn't big enough! …… said to him: Will you take an oath? Say: It's not ……; it's a loincloth"!
74
{tug2}⌈niĝ2-?⌉ ne-en nu-ub-gu-ul
75
[X X (X)]-ke4 an-na-ab-be2
76
nam-erim2 […] X-ku5-ru-de3-en-na
77
[X] in-nu {tug2}niĝ2-dara2 dug4-ga-ab-e-še
78
[…] kal-la-gin7 aĝ2-ĝa2 e2-e-ke4 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
Like a precious …… I comply with the instructions of the house.
79
[…] ?-bi inim am3-ĝar
…… complain ……. Why did the rejected (?) ones complain about your ……? …… those who are stronger than you; let them get up and wrestle.
80
lu2 zag ?-ke4-ne a-na-aš-am3 ?-ba inim am3-ĝar
81
[X] an-ne-eš lu2 kalag-ga-zu-ne-ne-a ĝešpu2-še3 ḫe2-en-ma-an-zi-zi-zi-e-še
82
[X X (X)] id2 kaskal ḫe2-en-na-til iri-?-am3 mu-ni-ib-gid2-i-de3
May …… complete the river journey; it will be a long way to the city!
83
⌈dumu {lu2}⌉nu-{ĝiš}kiri6-ke4-ne u3-mu-un-sar-re-eš
As the gardeners chased some boys away, one stayed where he was while another ate at his pleasure (?). The one who was hiding in the trees could not be encouraged to come out. Afraid, the one who stood where he was and who had been caught said: I will come down to you; and let the others here join me in coming down to you. Your collaboration is pleasing; I will not have you castigated in your father's house.
84
1(DIŠ)-am3 ki ba-an-gub 1(DIŠ)-am3 sag9-sag9-? ⌈gu7⌉
85
lu2 ĝiš-a ba-da-an-gub-ba ḫuĝ-ĝa2 nu-e3
86
ni2-ta en-⌈na⌉ ĝe26-e im-ši-ed3-de3
87
lu2 igi-za-ke4-ne u3 ĝe26-e ga-mu-e-ši-ed3-de3
88
lu2 gub dab5-⌈ba⌉ an-na-ab-be2
89
nam-giri17-šu-du3-⌈a sag9⌉
90
e2 ad-da-za-ka nu-šub-be2-en-e-še
91
e2 ur5-ra e2 šag4-ga nu-un-zalag
A house of debt is a house in whose interior no light shines.
92
e2 ur5-ra i-bi2 ḫe2-em-ed3-de3
Let the house of debts go up with the smoke.
93
e2 ur5-ra lugal-e mu-un-sar-re-eš
Creditors (?) have chased the indebted household away.
94
lu2-IM kug ba-an-zuḫ lu2 gen6-na giĝ4 mu-ni-in-ak-de3
The dishonest man stole silver; the honest man will earn his pay.
95
lu2-IM banšur-zu-uš ⌈kur9⌉-re-eš zi ba-an-ir-eš šu bi2-ib-ur3-ru-ne
When dishonest men come to your banquet, they are troubled and try to hide it (?).
96
[lu2]-IM im-gig ⌈al⌉-DU ma-da ḫa-lam-e-de3 ⌈an-na⌉-[ab-be2]
When the dishonest man is ill (?), he says: The whole country will be destroyed!
97
⌈lu2⌉ X-? mu-šubub-? ezen […]
(1 line fragmentary)
98
[…] X NAM X X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
99
gir5-ra in-na-an-ḫul-le-eš
They treated an immigrant badly. (1 line fragmentary) It is an abomination to Ninurta.

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.