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Proverbs: collection 26

Segment A


approx. 25 lines missing

26.a1

26.
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26.a2

27. (cf. 6.1.11.56, 6.1.25.9, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 2) The palace bows down, but only of its own accord.


26.a3

28-29. (cf. 6.1.25.12, 6.2.5: YBC 9908, 5.6.1: ll. 95-96) Income ....... Expenditures never cease.


26.a4

30. (cf. 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B ll. 4-5, 6.2.5: YBC 7351, 5.6.1: l. 50) Violent cursing and chasing away a son from his father's house are abominations to Ninurta.


26.a5

31. (cf. 6.1.03.8, 6.2.1: Ni 4122 ll. 2-5) To spit without covering it up with dust and to use the tongue at midday without protection are abominations to Utu.


26.a6

32. (cf. 6.1.11.66, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 6) To take revenge is an abomination to Ninurta.


26.a7

33. Refusing to talk is an abomination to Ninurta.


26.a8

34. (cf. 6.1.03.118) 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.


26.a9

35. To remove something from its proper place is an abomination to Ninurta.


26.a10

36. (cf. 6.1.03.170, 6.1.25.13, 6.2.5: BM 57994 Seg. A ll. 1-3) When a man sailing downstream encounters a man whose boat is travelling upstream, to demand an inspection is an abomination to Suen.


26.a11

37. (cf. 6.1.01.83, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 302, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 ll. 4-5) When a trustworthy boat sets sail, Utu seeks out a trustworthy harbour for it.


26.a12

38-40. Fear of god creates good fortune. Lamentation absolves sin. Offerings extend life.


26.a13

41-42. (cf. 6.1.01.79) 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.
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Segment B


26.b1

1.
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26.b2

2.
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26.b3

3-5. (cf. 6.1.15.c2, 6.1.28.7) Let the sheep be given the whip and let the shepherd ....... Where there is no toughness, no man can go about his business.


26.b4

6. (cf. 6.1.01.104, 6.1.11.54, 6.1.15.c3, 6.1.28.8) If oil is poured inside the shaft of a sceptre, no one would know.


26.b5

7. (cf. 6.1.03.86) "Give me!" is what the king says. .......


26.b6

8. (cf. 6.1.03.86) "Give me!" is what the king says. .......


26.b7

9. ...... friend .......


26.b8

10-11.
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unknown no. of lines missing

Segment C


26.c1

1.
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26.c2

2. (cf. 6.1.18.6) He who pays with high-valued silver negotiates a favourable position.


26.c3

3. Something bought ...... something good .......


26.c4

4. (cf. 6.1.01.52) There is no baked cake in the middle of the dough.


26.c5

5-6. (cf. 6.1.01.53) My heart urged me to bake two loaves out of a half. My hands were unable to take them out of the oven.


26.c6

7-8. 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.


26.c7

9-11. 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.


26.c8

12. He is fearful, like a man unacquainted with beer.


26.c9

13-14. (cf. 6.1.03.142) The south wind has filled my eyes with dust; why (?) does it kiss me backwards (?)?


26.c10

15-16. (cf. 6.1.02.2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 292 ll. 1-2) "Let me tell you about my fate": it will be abuse. "Let me reveal it to you": it will be an insult.


26.c11

17. (cf. 6.1.01.80) It is an insult resulting from an insult.
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Segment D


26.d1

1-2.
1 line fragmentary do not let a garment dry out.


26.d2

3. (cf. 6.1.02.132)
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26.d3

4-5. (cf. 6.1.02.133, 6.1.11.6, 6.1.22: l. 80) To collect firewood is a job for the strong man. The weak man sits waiting for him on dry land.


26.d4

6-7. (cf. 6.1.02.20) He didn't plough the field in the cool season, and at harvest time he turned his attention to carding wool.


26.d5

8-9. (cf. 6.1.02.87-88) Low-quality oxen do not plant seed. He who eats during the harvest is not removing clods.


26.d6

10. (cf. 6.1.02.86, 6.1.05.17) Furrows are pleasant to a threshing ox.


26.d7

11. A stake, my lord; "hero" is its name.


26.d8

12. (cf. 6.1.02.84) Salted meat lying on a stake.


26.d9

13. The bellowing ox does not remove the clods.


26.d10

14. (cf. 6.1.02.90) The ox which has sunk into the ground -- in its own eyes it was still making flour.


26.d11

15. These rushes, these old reeds -- when set on fire, they come down from the sky.


26.d12

16. Let the river expand when there is something in it.


26.d13

17-18. (cf. 6.1.02.131) A farmer should not widen the field. A god (?) should not increase for mankind his food demands.


26.d14

19. (cf. 6.1.14.62) The nights are fifty, the days are fifty; but the days (?) of lies (?) are fifty-five.


26.d15

20-22. (cf. 6.1.02.149, 6.1.11.69) Those who live near the water look into the mountains. They don't look in their own direction.
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Revision history

23.i.2002: JT, editor: adapting translation
26.iii.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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