Proverbs: collection 26
- gap
(approx. 25 lines missing)
- A.26
[X] ⌈mu⌉-ni-DU […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- A.27
⌈e2⌉-gal ni2-bi-⌈še3⌉ [gam-e-dam]
The palace bows down, but only of its own accord.
- A.28
an-ku4-ku4 [X X (X)]
Income ……. Expenditures never cease.
- A.29
ib2-ta-e3 nu-silig-⌈ge⌉-[dam]
- A.30
aš2 a2 zig3-ga bal-e di X [X] dumu-nitaḫ e2 ad-da-[na-ta] sar-ra niĝ2-gig {d}nin-urta-[ke4]
Violent cursing and chasing away a son from his father's house are abominations to Ninurta.
- A.31
uš7 dug4-ga saḫar nu-gi-[a] eme ak an-bar7 an-dul3 nu-ĝal2-la niĝ2-gig {d}utu-ke4
To spit without covering it up with dust and to use the tongue at midday without protection are abominations to Utu.
- A.32
šu gi4-gi4 niĝ2-gig {d}nin-urta-ke4
To take revenge is an abomination to Ninurta.
- A.33
nu-dug4-ga niĝ2-gig {d}nin-urta-ke4
Refusing to talk is an abomination to Ninurta.
- A.34
niĝ2 zu a-na-am3 ga-ra-ad-da-⌈be2⌉ niĝ2 nu-zu a-na-am3 lu2-ki-inim ba-ab-e3 niĝ2-gig {d}utu-ke4
When a man comes forward as a witness, saying: Let me tell you what I know, but does not know the relevant information, it is an abomination to Utu.
- A.35
ki-ta kur2 niĝ2-gig {d}nin-urta-ke4
To remove something from its proper place is an abomination to Ninurta.
- A.36
lu2 {ĝiš}ma2 dirig-ga lu2 {ĝiš}ma2 ru-ru-⌈gu2⌉ niĝ2 kab2 di-dam niĝ2-gig {d}suen-na-ke4
When a man sailing downstream encounters a man whose boat is travelling upstream, to demand an inspection is an abomination to Suen.
- A.37
{ĝiš}ma2 niĝ2-gen6-na ni2 ba-ab-dirig ⌈{d}⌉utu kar gen6-na mu-un-na-ši-kiĝ2-kiĝ2
When a trustworthy boat sets sail, Utu seeks out a trustworthy harbour for it.
- A.38
ni2 teĝ3-ĝe26 nam-sag9-ga in-tu-ud
Fear of god creates good fortune. Lamentation absolves sin. Offerings extend life.
- A.39
er2 nam-tag al-⌈du8-am3⌉
- A.40
sizkur nam-til3 ba-ab-taḫ-e
- A.41
⌈aš2⌉ dug4-ga-ĝu10 aš2 nu-mu-un-[gi]
I did not answer the curse uttered against me with a curse of my own. My answering a curse would be answered with another curse. (approx. 33 lines missing)
- A.42
[aš2]-⌈e⌉ gi-a-ĝu10 aš2 mu-un-⌈gi⌉
- gap
(approx. 33 lines missing)
- B.1
[…] X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.2
⌈nin⌉ […] {ĝiš}⌈li⌉ […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- B.3
{kuš}a2-⌈si udu⌉ [ḫa-ba-šum2]
Let the sheep be given the whip and let the shepherd ……. Where there is no toughness, no man can go about his business.
- B.4
ĝiš sipad […]
- B.5
ki saĝ-ki nu-ĝal2-⌈la⌉ [lu2 nu-dib2]
- B.6
šag4 {ĝiš}ĝidru-kam i3 ⌈?⌉-[en-de2] lu2 na-me [nu-zu]
If oil is poured inside the shaft of a sceptre, no one would know.
- B.7
šum2-ma-ab lugal-la-⌈kam⌉ […]
Give me! is what the king says. …….
- B.8
šum2-ma-ab ⌈lugal-?⌉-[kam …]
Give me! is what the king says. …….
- B.9
gu5-⌈li⌉ […]
…… friend …….
- B.10
⌈du14⌉ […]
(2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)
- B.11
X […]
- gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
- C.1
X […]
(1 line fragmentary)
- C.2
kug kalag-ga ⌈la2⌉ [ka kalag-ga sam2]
He who pays with high-valued silver negotiates a favourable position.
- C.3
niĝ2 sam2-ma niĝ2 ⌈sag9⌉-[ga …]
Something bought …… something good …….
- C.4
{ninda}gug2 du8 šag4 niĝ2-silaĝ-ĝa2 ⌈in⌉-[nu-u3]
There is no baked cake in the middle of the dough.
- C.5
ninda 2(MIN) MAŠ-⌈ta⌉-am3 du8-⌈?⌉ šag4-ĝu10 ba-ab-?tum2-<ŠE>-tum2-am3
My heart urged me to bake two loaves out of a half. My hands were unable to take them out of the oven.
- C.6
{im}šu-rin-na-ta šu-ĝu10 nu-ub-ta-e3
- C.7
lu2 kal-la-ĝu10 la-ba-an-na-kal-e
I am not dear to the man I hold dear. He has profited at my expense while I was flapping my arms like a bird.
- C.8
a2 dub2-ĝu10-ta mušen ku-dun mu-un-dug4
- C.9
lu2 kal-la-ĝu10 la-ba-an-na-kal-e
I am not dear to the man I hold dear. He took …… into his own hands. Because of him, my hands were filled with dust.
- C.10
KI ŠE3 KAL šu-na bi2-in-dab5
- C.11
e-ne-še3 saḫar šu-ĝu10 bi2-in-si
- C.12
lu2 kaš nu-zu-gin7 ni2 dar-dar-ra-⌈am3⌉
He is fearful, like a man unacquainted with beer.
- C.13
{tum9}u18-lu igi-ĝa2 saḫar-ra bi2-⌈in⌉-[sig9]
The south wind has filled my eyes with dust; why (?) does it kiss me backwards (?)?
- C.14
a-na-am3 eĝer-ra-[ĝa2] ne mu-un-su-ub-su-ub-[be2-en]
- C.15
nam-tar-ĝu10 ga-am3-⌈dug4⌉ [in-na-am3]
Let me tell you about my fate: it will be abuse. Let me reveal it to you: it will be an insult.
- C.16
pa ga-ab-⌈e3⌉ [su-lum mar-am3]
- C.17
in-na in-⌈bi⌉-[im …]
It is an insult resulting from an insult. (approx. 25 lines missing)
- gap
(approx. 25 lines missing)
- D.1
X NA TAB DU X […]
(1 line fragmentary) do not let a garment dry out.
- D.2
tug2 nam-⌈ba⌉-ša-ra-ge-[en]
- D.3
[ab]-ba i-de5-de5-ga ba-[…]
(1 line unclear)
- D.4
u2 de5-de5-ga kalag!(⌈SIG9⌉)-[ga-še3]
To collect firewood is a job for the strong man. The weak man sits waiting for him on dry land.
- D.5
sig9!(KALAG)-ga bar-rim4-ma ba-e-[tuš]
- D.6
en-te-en-na-ka a-šag4 nu-ur11-⌈ru⌉
He didn't plough the field in the cool season, and at harvest time he turned his attention to carding wool.
- D.7
⌈?⌉ buru14-a-ka šu-ni ga-rig2 an-du3-du3-e
- D.8
gud uš-ša numun nu-ĝa2-ĝa2
Low-quality oxen do not plant seed. He who eats during the harvest is not removing clods.
- D.9
buru14-ta gu3-e lag nu-bur12-re
- D.10
gud sur12-ra ab-sin2-bi ab-sag9-sag9
Furrows are pleasant to a threshing ox.
- D.11
ga-zi-in-bu lugal-ĝu10 ur-saĝ mu-bi-im
A stake, my lord; hero is its name.
- D.12
ga-zi-in-bu su la2-a nu2-nu2
Salted meat lying on a stake.
- D.13
gud gu3 ra-aḫ lag-bi nu-bur12-re
The bellowing ox does not remove the clods.
- D.14
gud sig9-ga saḫar-ra igi-bi zid2 ak-a
The ox which has sunk into the ground -- in its own eyes it was still making flour.
- D.15
{u2}numun2-bi {gi}en3-bar sumun2-bi niĝ2 izi sag3-ge niĝ2 an-ta ed2-de3
These rushes, these old reeds -- when set on fire, they come down from the sky.
- D.16
id2 niĝ2 ĝal2-la ḫe2-gid2-i
Let the river expand when there is something in it.
- D.17
⌈engar⌉-e a-šag4 na-ab-daĝal-la
A farmer should not widen the field. A god (?) should not increase for mankind his food demands.
- D.18
⌈?⌉ lu2-u18-lu šag4-gal-la-ni ⌈nam⌉-ba-ab-taḫ-e
- D.19
⌈ĝi6⌉ 50-am3 ud 50-⌈am3 ?⌉ lul 55-[am3]
The nights are fifty, the days are fifty; but the days (?) of lies (?) are fifty-five.
- D.20
[a]-da ! kur-šag4-ga ⌈igi⌉ [du8]
Those who live near the water look into the mountains. They don't look in their own direction. (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 23 lines missing)
- D.21
[ni2]-bi-še3 [igi nu-du8]
- D.22
[X] X […]
- gap
(approx. 23 lines missing)
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.