Proverbs: from Urim

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 6 - Proverb collections · 673 sections

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UET 6/2 252
v83.1
lu2-ulu3 diĝir-da nu-me-a
A man without a personal god does not procure much food, does not procure even a little food. Going to a river, he does not catch any fish. Going to a field, he does not catch any gazelle. He is unsuccessful in ritual preparations, he is unsuccessful in important matters. Yet were his god favourable toward him, anything he might name would be provided for him.
v83.2
u2 la-ba-gu-le-en u2 la-ba-tur-en
v83.3
id2-da a-⌈dib2⌉-be2 ku6 nu-[um]-dab5
v83.4
a-šag4-ga i3-dib2-be2 maš-da3 nu-⌈um⌉-dab5
v83.5
di-ir-ga sa2 nu-ub-du
v83.6
di gal-gal-la sa2 nu-ub-⌈du⌉
v83.7
tukum-bi niĝ2 diĝir-ra-ni a-⌈na⌉-[dug3]
v83.8
⌈niĝ2 mu sa4⌉-[a an]-⌈na⌉-<ĝar>-⌈ra⌉-[X]
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UET 6/2 371
v84.1
inim ab-ba-še3 ĝizzal ak-de3 ši-<bi-im> !-te-qi2-a-am
One should pay attention to an old man's words and one should reap the benefits.
v84.2
ni2 šu-a gi4-gi4-de3 !-ma-an-šu ?-lu-?-am
v84.3
dumu ama-ni-ir sun5-na teĝ3-ĝe26-dam
A child should behave with modesty toward his mother. He should take the older generation into consideration.
v84.4
nam-ab-ba šid-de3
v84.5
en-na kug-zu kug ban3-da-na
No matter how much wisdom exerts itself (?), you, fool, achieve what you need.
v84.6
na-ĝa2-aḫ a2-aš2 sa2 e3-de3-en
v84.7
šeš-gal šeš-ban3-da dugud-de-⌈dam⌉
A younger brother should honour an older brother. He should treat him with human dignity.
v84.8
nam-lu2-ulu3 ak-⌈dam⌉
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UET 6/2 310
v85.1
ĝeštug2 kug-zu ⌈?⌉ […] ka-še3 nam-lu2-⌈ulu3⌉ […]
Should not intelligence, wisdom and understanding become perfect …… to the mouth …… mankind? At the place of testimony …… friendship …… (1 line unclear) the slippery place …… the place of god …… let …… who knows what to say …… to the mouth.
v85.2
šu na-ba-an-du7-[du7 …]
v85.3
ki inim-ma-ke4 nam-⌈gu5⌉-[li …]
v85.4
KA nu-erim2-gin7 ĝiš […]
v85.5
ki-ma-an-ze-er KA […]
v85.6
ki diĝir-ra-ke4 ba-an-⌈?⌉-[…]
v85.7
inim-zu ka-še3 ḫu-mu-⌈un⌉-[…]
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UET 6/2 271
v86.1
⌈?⌉ IM-ma-ke4
One ferryman says to another ferryman: A …… cannot cross the river by himself.
v86.2
⌈ni2⌉-ta-a-ni
v86.3
id2-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-bal-de3
v86.4
lu2 ma2-addir
v86.5
lu2 ma2-addir
v86.6
gu3 im-ma-de2-de2-e
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UET 6/2 328
v87.1
dumu-munus ĝir2-su[{ki}] [X X]
A girl from Ĝirsu ……. Her lap …… a man. Her anus was ……. Bau …… a gate …… head …….
v87.2
ur2-ra-ni lu2 […]
v87.3
gu-du-ni ⌈ba⌉-[…]
v87.4
{d}ba-u2 […]
v87.5
kan4 […]
v87.6
saĝ […]
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UET 6/3 302
v88.1
[…] E
(3 lines fragmentary)
v88.2
[…] AN
v88.3
[…] X
v88.4
SU-SU-ni […]
(1 line fragmentary)
v88.5
{lu2}an-ta […]
A companion …… sleeping place.
v88.6
ki-nu2-a […] mu-⌈un⌉-[…]
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UET 6/2 238
v89.1
peš2 ĝiš-ur3-ra-ĝiš-ur3-ra mu-⌈šub⌉
A mouse fell down from the roof beams. A mongoose approached it: Is any part of you hurt? The mouse replied: You needn't come near me. I am equal to any part of you.
v89.2
{d}nin-kilim mu-un-na-te
v89.3
niĝ2 na-me-zu ab-ḫul
v89.4
za-e la-ba-an-e-te
v89.5
niĝ2 na-me-zu al-sa2-en-e-še
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UET 6/2 272
v90.1
[…] ⌈?⌉ […]
(2 lines fragmentary) his …… not draw a boat …… his bucket …… it is good.
v90.2
[…] X-la nu-MUNUS-[…]
v90.3
[…] X-a-ni ma2 nu-⌈?⌉-[…]
v90.4
[…] ⌈{gi}⌉buniĝ(SUG)-a-ni {gi}[…]
v90.5
[…] TUG2-am3 dug3-ga-am3 [(…)]
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UET 6/2 331
v91.1
[X] X ⌈zu⌉ mu-da-⌈kur2⌉
Your …… were changed. Their plans were overturned, so their cult decreased. Brothers don't see their brothers. What harm did the hero do to your ways or to your heart?
v91.2
⌈ĝiš⌉-ḫur-bi ba-da-⌈bal⌉
v91.3
⌈me⌉-bi mu-un-la2-e
v91.4
šeš-a šeš-bi igi nu-bar-e
v91.5
šul-e a-ra2-zu šag4-zu a-na-aš ḫul ba-dim2
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UET 6/2 349
v92.1
[kur]-gi4{mušen} na-ab-be2-⌈a⌉
A goose spoke as follows: …… seven times …… dwelling well, one of my feet in the middle of the night. (1 line unclear)
v92.2
X nam 7(IMIN)-e bal-e
v92.3
[X] gal-bi !-a
v92.4
ĝiri3 dili-ĝu10 ĝi6 u3-na-ka
v92.5
IM SU al-sa2-en-e-[še]
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UET 6/2 367
v93.1
lu2 niĝ2-tuku lu2 niĝ2 nu-tuku la-ap-nu-um a-na ša-⌈ri⌉-im gig-še3 mim-ma mu-ur2-ṣi2-im im-ĝar ša-ki-in-šu-um
The poor man caused all kinds of trouble for the wealthy man. (1 line unclear) …… skin disease lasts forever; …… forever; …… skin disease lasts forever.
v93.2
da-e-ru-a ḪAR-⌈ḪAR⌉ e-gu-[X X]
v93.3
su-gu7 niĝ2 ud da-ri2-[ka] ri-ši-tum ša da-ri-a-ti
v93.4
da-ri-a SUḪUR AN [X] SAĜ
v93.5
su-gu7 niĝ2 ud ⌈da-ri2⌉-ka
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UET 6/2 263
v94.1
[kug] in-[tuku] {na4}za-gin3 in-⌈tuku⌉
He who has silver, he who has lapis lazuli, he who has oxen and he who has sheep wait at the gate of the man who has barley.
v94.2
⌈gud⌉ in-tuku [udu] in-tuku
v94.3
⌈kan4⌉ lu2 še in-tuku
v94.4
[ud] mi-ni-ib!(ma)-zal-zal-e
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UET 6/2 296
v95.1
ka nam-lu2-ulu3-ka iz-zi-gin7 dul-bi gig-ga
What is in mankind's mouth is as difficult to hide as a wall. The boy who grew up in your town …… on you -- don't let your mouth accuse him; don't slander him; don't encourage violent retaliation against yourself.
v95.2
lu2-tur šag4 iri-za-ke4 MU a-? ugu-zu buluĝ3-ĝa2
v95.3
ka-zu na-ba-an-du3-du3-e eme sig nam-ba-an-gu7-gu7-e
v95.4
šu ḫul ugu-zu na-ba-an-⌈du3⌉-e
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UET 6/2 308
v96.1
peš2 tur-re ama-ni-ir na-ab-be2-a
The little mouse spoke as follows to his mother: As I came out, nobody saw me. His mother answered him: Anyone who saw you will carry you off!
v96.2
im-ta-e3 lu2 na-me igi nu-mu-du3
v96.3
ama-ni mu-un-na-ni-ib2-gi4-gi4
v96.4
igi du8-zu tum3-tum3-mu-e-še
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UET 6/2 380
v97.1
ga-am3-dug4 a-na-am3 šu ba-ni-in-ti lu-u2 aq-bi mi-nam el-qe2
Although I spoke, what did I gain? Although I spoke, what did it add? I covered up for myself, but what success did it bring me?
v97.2
nam-ba-an-dug4-ga-aš a-na-am3 ba-ab-dirig lu aq-bi mi-nam u2-wa-te-er
v97.3
niĝ2 ni2-ĝu10 ba-an-dul-dul ša ra-ma-ni-ia u2-ka-ti-im-ma
v97.4
a-na-am3 ki-še-er ba-ab-ĝar mi-nam a-na ku-ši-ri-im aš-ku-un
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UET 6/3 378
v98.1
šag4-zig3-[ga X X]
…… erection …… Sumerian …… forehead …… kneading dough …… (1 line unclear)
v98.2
eme-gir15-! ⌈?⌉-in-[X]

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.