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Proverbs: collection 7

Segment A


7.1

1-6. (cf. 6.1.02.1, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. A ll. 1-2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 356 ll. 3-8) "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

Segment B


7.9

1.
1 line fragmentary


7.10

2. …… their father does not return.


7.11

3-4. (cf. 6.1.03.154, 1.8.2.1: l. 246) The clod on the one hand, the furrow on the other hand -- and as for me, I am the third one there.


7.12

5. (cf. 6.1.01.76) A clod thrown into the water is destroyed as it disintegrates.


7.13

6-7. (cf. 6.1.03.82) He moves like a lion against a louse, but when there is a job is to be done, he moves like a rat.


7.14

8. (cf. 6.1.03.124) The manicurist is himself dressed in dirty rags.


7.15

9-10. (cf. 6.1.03.155) Let me drink beer shandy and sit in the seat of honour!


7.16

11. (cf. 6.1.03.156) Although it was not important to him, he attended the festival.


7.17

12. (cf. 6.1.03.75, 6.2.5: YBC 9912) "I am stretching my legs on your behalf," says the man who delivers sesame seeds.


7.18

13.
1 line fragmentary
1 line missing


7.21

15-17. (cf. 6.1.01.88, 6.1.03.157) "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.


7.22

18-19. (cf. 6.1.01.167) I visit it by day, I visit it at nightfall. I always stand by the lamentation drum!


7.23

20-23. …… soldier (?) silences the argument.
3 lines fragmentary


7.24

24.
1 line fragmentary


7.25

25.
1 line fragmentary


7.26

26. …… that huckster …….


7.27

27. (cf. 6.1.02.d6) Let …… the head of a suḫur fish be eaten …… with the head of a mašgurašeš fish.


7.28

28-29. (cf. 6.1.01.81) To accept a verdict is possible. To accept a curse is impossible.


7.29

30-32. (cf. 5.4.01: ll. 14-15) Linen is stretched out for the flea. The …… reed mat is woven for the fly. The storehouse is built for the gecko.


7.30

33. (cf. 6.1.02.d3) The duck was not eaten in time.


7.31

34. He gathered everything for himself, but had to slaughter his pig.


7.32

35. He gathered everything for himself, but used up his wood.


7.33

36.
1 line fragmentary


7.34

37-39.
1 line fragmentary …… my burden …… the basket.


7.35

40.
1 line fragmentary


7.36

41. …… boat …… quay …….


7.37

42. (cf. 6.1.01.31) You don't return borrowed bread.


7.38

43-44. …… prostitute …… statue …….


7.39

45.
1 line fragmentary


7.40

46.
1 line missing
(This line may belong to the preceding proverb)


7.41

47. (cf. 6.1.11.21) He spoke, but went back on what he said.


7.42

48. (cf. 6.1.01.89) Like a boat, he always floats up in the water.


7.43

49. (cf. 6.1.03.45, 6.2.1: Ni 9832 Seg. B ll. 6-7) You are forever pushing, like a millstone torn out of its joint.


7.44

50. He whose speech is humble -- his wife is a slave girl.


7.45

51. (cf. 6.1.03.185) My mouth makes me comparable with other men.


7.46

52. In order to survey (?) the Land, he left his city.


7.47

53-54. (cf. 6.1.01.174) I walk about, I don't get tired. I keep moving, I don't sleep.


7.48

55-56. (cf. 6.1.03.55, 6.1.11.5) As long as you live, you should not increase evil by lying; for if you do, to succumb will be your lot.


7.49

57-59. (cf. 6.1.01.175) When clothes have been cut up into rags, when the barley has been lying in the dust, what more is there to be got?


7.50

60. Pouring water ……, placing barley …….


7.51

61. (cf. 6.1.01.100) Whether he ate or not, the seed was good.


7.52

62-63. (cf. 6.1.01.176) I am a lady who wears large garments. Let me cut my loincloth!


7.53

64-65. (cf. 6.1.01.177) You are the master of a broad river. You are eating …….
approx. 23 lines missing

Segment C


7.70

1-2. (cf. 6.1.02.11) Fate is a dog, well able to bite. It clings like dirty rags.


7.71

3-4. Inana ……
1 line fragmentary


7.72

5-7.
1 line unclear
…… something belonging to Inana ……
1 line fragmentary


7.73

8-10. (cf. 6.1.03.104) The dog moves, the knife moves, but still my man does not move.


7.74

11-12. (cf. 6.1.01.187) The ferryboat …… too many men: "My man shall not board it!"


7.75

13-14. This oil …… mourning rags ……. This barley …… in dust.


7.76

15-16. (cf. 6.1.01.183) My cry of joy …… by the nether world, but my mental faculties are not thereby taken away.


7.77

17-19. (cf. 6.1.03.179) 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.


7.78

20-21. (cf. 6.1.02.d15) Who removed the dust? Who …… the boat?


7.79

22-23. (cf. 6.1.03.166) The sun never leaves my heart, which surpasses a garden.


7.80

24. (cf. 6.1.03.60) I am a loyal steward, I am a strong pair of hands.


7.81

25-26. (cf. 6.1.02.93, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 31 ll. 5-6) A stranger's ox eats grass while one's own ox lies hungry.


7.82

27. (cf. 6.1.01.30) That which does not eat food is a wild bull of the mountains.
7 lines missing


7.87

35.
1 line fragmentary


7.88

36-39. "Let me ……, let me ……; let me destroy it" is characteristic of the slave girl of a lukur priestess.


7.89

40-41. (cf. 6.1.02.71) Tell a lie, tell the truth.


7.90

42. (cf. 6.1.03.180) He is working despite his pierced neck.


7.91

43. (cf. 6.1.03.181) He turns things upside down.


7.92

44. (cf. 6.1.03.182) He devours things as crows do a field.


7.93

45-47. (cf. 6.1.01.155) Conceived by no father, conceived by no mother, the reed came out of the breast of the storm.


7.94

48-50.
3 lines fragmentary


7.95

51-52. (cf. 6.1.03.140) Wheat and hulled barley was made to taste like honey. The nomad ate it and didn't recognise what was in it.


7.96

53-54. Don't pile up the poured (?) barley. When it has been carried to your barley and piled up, it will be eaten by your lord.


7.97

55-56. (cf. 6.1.02.121) The good thing is to find it. The bad thing is to have lost it.


7.98

57-58. (cf. 6.1.02.123) The pleasure -- it is the beer! The discomfort -- it is the journey!


7.99

59-60. (cf. 6.1.03.187) When present, it is considered a loincloth; when lost, it is considered fine clothing.


7.100

61. (cf. 6.1.03.33) He who says "Let me live today" is bound like a bull on a leash.
3 lines missing


7.104

65-66. (cf. 6.1.01.97, 6.1.11.53) Those who get excited should not become foremen. A shepherd should not become a farmer.


7.105

67-68. (cf. 6.1.03.183) A free weaver equals two slave girls. A free worker equals three slaves.


7.106

69. Crushed by a stone belonging to my lady.


7.107

70-71.
2 lines fragmentary


7.108

72-73. …… is mine; …… raised the …….
15 lines missing


7.120

89.
1 line fragmentary


7.121

90. (cf. 6.1.01.70) The songs of a city are its omen diviners.


7.122

91-96. We ……; we ……; we ate ……; we drank ……; …… cover ……; …… cover …….



Revision history

26.iv.2002: JT, editor: adapting translation
02.x.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: SGML tagging
20.vi.2003: JE, editor: web publication
01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion

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