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Proverbs: collection 22

approx. 18 lines missing
22.ll.19-20

19-20. (cf. 6.1.03.112, 6.1.28.28, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 311 ll. 4-5) 1 line fragmentaryI pick the bones from the fish .......

22.ll.21-25

21-25. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 311 l. 6) 5 lines fragmentary

22.ll.26-27

26-27. (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.16.b5, 6.1.23.7) 2 lines fragmentary 4 lines missing

22.l.32

32. 1 line fragmentary

22.l.33

33. (cf. 6.1.01.125, 6.1.14.41, 6.1.23.2) My husband picks the bones from the fish for me.

22.l.34

34. (cf. 6.1.01.126, 6.1.14.42, 6.1.19.c6, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 284) A plant as sweet as a husband does not grow in the desert.

22.ll.35-37

35-37. (cf. 6.1.14.45, 6.2.5: UM 29-15-748 ll. 6-7) A pig ....... "Where is my husband?" it said. When it realised (?) its fate ....... approx. 11 lines missing

22.ll.49-50

49-50. (cf. 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B ll. 4-5, 6.2.5: YBC 7351) The chasing away of a younger son from the house of his father is an abomination to Ninurta.

22.ll.51-52

51-52. "Speak!" is spoken. Rise! is risen.

22.ll.53-61

53-61. Let me ....... Let me ....... 4 lines unclear
Its ...... will be destroyed by wickedness ...... Utu .......

22.ll.62-63

62-63. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/3 31 l. 7, 5.6.1: l. 195) Good is in the hands. Evil is also in the hands.

22.ll.64-66

64-66. (cf. 5.6.1: ll. 196-198) The heart does not let go of the good; but the heart cannot let go of the evil either. As if it were a fertile spot, the heart does not abandon the good.

22.l.67

67. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/3 31 l. 8, 5.6.1: l. 199) The evil does not feed a storehouse with interest.

22.l.68

68. (cf. 5.6.1: l. 200) Let the boat sink in the river along with the evil.

22.l.69

69. (cf. 5.6.1: l. 201) Let the waterskin split in the high desert. approx. 10 lines missing

22.l.80

80. (cf. 6.1.02.133, 6.1.11.6, 6.1.26.d3) ...... for the strong man; the weak man ...... on dry land.

22.l.81

81. (cf. 5.6.1: l. 38) Don't offer advice .......

22.ll.82-84

82-84. 3 lines fragmentary

22.l.85

85. (cf. 6.1.03.83) By sunrise decisions are made .......

22.l.86

86. Keep your attention fixed on .......

22.ll.87-88

87-88. (cf. 6.1.01.145, 6.1.19.c3, 6.1.28.4) Accept your lot and make your mother happy! Run fast and make your god happy!

22.ll.89-93

89-93. 5 lines fragmentary approx. 4 lines missing

22.ll.98-101

98-101. 4 lines fragmentary approx. 25 lines missing

22.ll.127-133

127-133. 7 lines fragmentary approx. 6 lines missing

22.ll.140-145

140-145. (cf. 6.1.01.9, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 239, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 320, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 339 + UET 6/3 235 Seg. B l. 2) 5 lines fragmentary If I have any bread left over, a stranger consumes it.

22.ll.146-147

146-147. (cf. 6.1.01.128, 6.1.23.9, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 210) In the sky there is the raven; on the earth there is the mongoose; in the desert there is the lion ......; ......, where shall I go?

22.ll.148-150

148-150. (cf. 6.1.03.158) The figure is good. The father-in-law rejoices over it: "It is just like a real person!"

22.ll.151-154

151-154. 4 lines fragmentary 4 lines missing

22.ll.159-171

159-171. ...... a bird ....... A bird ...... your net ...... came. ...... was confused. ...... went ...... as his name ....... Reeds ...... standing in deep waters. ...... his (or: her) eyes ...... Utu ....... A young girl ...... the house of her (?) father-in-law (?) ....... Sitting ....... Her eyes ...... her women's quarters .......

22.ll.172-175

172-175. (cf. 6.1.03.149, 6.1.14.6, 6.1.16.c5, 6.1.25.1) It became cloudy, but it did not rain. It rained, but not enough for people to undo their sandals. The Tigris was not surging at its inlet, so water did not fill the arable lands.

22.ll.176-178

176-178. 3 lines fragmentary 1 line missing

22.ll.180-182

180-182. 2 lines fragmentary ...... is that of a thief.

22.ll.183-186

183-186. "Carry it!" -- I will carry it. Add more! -- I will speak.

22.ll.187-188

187-188. (cf. 5.4.01: l. 99) He builds himself up in the manner of a liar -- but he cannot raise himself up while carrying a waterskin in his hand.

22.l.189

189. (cf. 6.1.03.167, 6.1.04.4, 6.2.4: VAT 21604 (+) 21605 Seg. B l. 2) He holds up the sky, letting the earth dangle from his hands.

22.l.190

190. (cf. 6.1.09.a4, 6.1.10.5, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 80 l. 18) The mighty man is the ruler of the earth.

22.ll.191-193

191-193. (cf. 6.1.03.148, 6.1.28.27) "You should serve me" is what the purification priests say. I bow over your hips is what the leather-workers say. I swear by Enki that your garments will take no time in this house is what the fullers say.

22.ll.194-196

194-196. (cf. 6.1.01.165, 6.1.03.65, 6.1.17.b8) Children and wives and trading agents! How they use up silver! And how they use up barley!

22.l.197

197. (cf. 6.1.03.66) No matter how small they are, they are still blocks of lapis lazuli.

22.ll.198-199

198-199. Silver greater than ...... let me make increase .......

22.l.200

200. ...... together ...... is a prince.

22.ll.201-202

201-202. (cf. 6.1.01.96) When a feeding belly becomes bloated, it is lamentable -- a belly made obedient by the prince.

22.ll.203-206

203-206. (cf. 6.1.17.b2, 1.8.1.5: ll. 28-29, 1.8.1.5.1: ll. 12-13, 6.3.a: ll. 17-18) No one is tall enough to reach up and touch the heavens. No one is broad enough to encompass the whole earth. No one is strong enough even to stretch himself fully in his bed. But you, who roar like a storm -- may you establish yourself like a lion.

22.ll.207-208

207-208. ...... in a garden ....... 1 line fragmentary approx. 3 lines missing

22.ll.212-213

212-213. 2 lines fragmentary

22.ll.214-215

214-215. (cf. 1.4.3: l. 121) His hand is on the table; his tongue is in the palace.

22.ll.216-217

216-217. (cf. 6.1.03.15) To eat a little is to live splendidly. When you walk about, keep your feet on the ground!

22.ll.218-223

218-223. He who was seized by anger (?) poured it out (?): "I will glare (?)! In my enraged state I will destroy a boundary wall (?) for you! My anger (?) will be malign!" He who was seized by anger (?) poured it out -- it did not matter to him.

22.ll.224-226

224-226. Whatever I say, I will say it twice, and then I will repeat it again.

22.ll.227-229

227-229. The liar is quarrelsome. He always lies. He always slanders.

22.ll.230-232

230-232. Treacherous! Malicious! Shifty-eyed!

22.ll.233-235

233-235. (cf. 6.1.02.120) How can the frog stand up? How can he even sit down?

22.l.236

236. (cf. 6.1.02.28, 6.1.02.34A, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 260 l. 1) Moving about facilitates running around.

22.ll.237-249

237-249. Walking around (?) ...... lasts long. 8 lines fragmentaryThe liar tells me a lie (?). 1 line fragmentary approx. 6 lines missing

22.ll.256-270

256-270. 15 lines fragmentary

22.ll.271-275

271-275. Utu's glance is prayerful. Utu's heart is compassionate. A devotee of Utu is among the holy. Allotted by Utu to be fortunate, a ...... ship reaches the quay.

22.ll.276-277

276-277. A god seizes the man who eats .......

22.ll.278-279

278-279. (6.1.03.42, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. C ll. 1-2, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 l. 7) If there is a dispute at the mill, a slave girl will bring out (?) what she has stolen (?).

22.ll.280-283

280-283. (cf. 6.1.02.101) A lamentation priest became afraid of a lion in the desert, and said: "From Inana's gate ....... The purification priests come to you, asking: What is your brother doing in the desert?""

22.ll.284-286

284-286. (cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 ll. 2-3, 6.2.5: IM 62823 Seg. A ll. 7-8) He who has silver is happy. He who has grain feels comfortable. But he who has livestock cannot sleep.

22.l.287

287. 1 line fragmentary approx. 3-4 lines missing



Revision history

24.i.2002: JT, editor: adapting translation
27.iii.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: SGML tagging