The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
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This composition: composite text


(This file includes all unprovenanced manuscripts that consist of proverbs; some of these manuscripts are likely to be from Nippur. The manuscripts are presented in decreasing order of size. Some of the proverbs are duplicated in numbered collections.)

Proverbs: of unknown provenance


IM 62823 = TIM 9 18 (Alster 1997 p. 298)

Segment A

1. 1 line fragmentary

2. 1 line fragmentary

3. 1 line fragmentary

4. 1 line fragmentary

5. 1 line fragmentary

6. 1 line fragmentary

7. (cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 2) He who has silver is happy, and he who has grain feels comfortable.

8. (cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 3) He who has livestock cannot sleep.

9. (cf. 5.6.1: l. 69) The warrior is unique; he alone is the equal of many.

10. 1 line fragmentary

11. ...... rogue ...... unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1-2. 2 lines fragmentary

3. (cf. 6.1.19.d5) The um bird's song is unpleasant!

4. (cf. 6.1.19.d8) 1 line unclear

5. (cf. 6.1.21.c8) Dusk means joy for the palace.

6. ...... of a slave girl .......

7. (cf. 6.1.21.c9) It meant nothing to her; she is the slave girl of a .......

8-9. (cf. 6.1.21.c10, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 1-2) The slave girls brought out a balaj drum. Inana remained seated (?) in the village.

10. (cf. 6.1.15.c15) 1 line unclear

11-12. (cf. 6.1.03.36, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 3-5) The voluptuous slave girl says: "Let Ickur, ...... god ...... king ...... split the fertile ground like a cucumber."


BM 80722 = CT 58 30 (Alster 1997 pp. 287-288)

Segment A

1. A Dilmun ship sank although there was no wind.

2-3. Your water (?) will not ...... the huge trees. You will not sleep on your comfortable bed.

4-6. Although you poured out water from a river of mighty waters, it did not cool my temper. It did not put an end (?) to the sorcery affecting me.

7-8. Since you ...... and will not winnow, with your torch my reed altar (?) will not .......

9-10. 2 lines unclear

11-12. 2 lines fragmentary

13. 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. ...... a fool (?) ...... pronounces judgment (?) over me.

2-6. To the wolf vegetable, to the fox-grape (?) vegetable, to the lion plant, to the ...... plant, to the dog's-tongue plant, to the property plant, to the shouting plant, the lion roars out: "These have no names." The fool's lot was created by Utu.

7-8. The hero succumbed to starvation (?). After he had succumbed, they kept bringing him funerary offerings.


UM 29-16-39 (Alster 1997 p. 300)

1. 1 line fragmentary

2-4. 3 lines fragmentary

5. 1 line fragmentary

6-7. 2 lines fragmentary

8. 1 line missing

9. 1 line fragmentary

10-11. 2 lines fragmentary

12. 1 line fragmentary

13-14. 2 lines fragmentary

15-16. 2 lines fragmentary

17-19. 3 lines fragmentary

20-21. 2 lines fragmentary


UM 29-16-519 (Alster 1997 pp. 300-301)

Segment A

1. ...... may he bear it for us .......

2. 1 line fragmentary

3. 1 line fragmentary

4. ...... they have dragged it .......

5. ...... rejoicing ...... the gala singer .......

6. 1 line fragmentary

7-8. (cf. 6.1.14.3, 6.1.16.c1) The farmer lifts his gaze to you (i.e. Enlil) : "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

9-10. (cf. 6.1.14.4, 6.1.15.b1, 6.1.16.c2) The herdsman lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

11-12. (cf. 6.1.14.5, 6.1.15.b2, 6.1.16.c3) The potter lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

13-14. (cf. 6.1.15.b3) The gardener lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed." unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. (cf. 6.1.14.1) Let the favour be repaid to him who repays a favour.

2. (cf. 6.1.11.56, 6.1.25.9, 6.1.26.a2) A palace will fall of its own accord.

3-5. (cf. YBC 7351, 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259) 1 line fragmentary and chasing away a son from his father's house are abominations to Ninurta.

6. (cf. 6.1.11.66, 6.1.26.a6) To take revenge is the prerogative of Ninurta. (followed by one erased line)

7. To extend ...... share ...... is an abomination to Ninurta.


IM 43438 = TIM 9 19 (Alster 1997 pp. 298-299)

Segment A

1. (cf. 6.1.09.a1, 6.1.10.1) Whatever the man in authority said, it was not pleasant.

2. (cf. 6.1.09.a3, 6.1.10.3-4, 6.2.2: MDP 27 216) When the authorities are wise, and the poor are passed by, it is the effect of the blessing of Aratta.

3. 1 line fragmentary

4-5. My wife ....... 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1-2. The lady ...... did not speak ...... destroying the father's house .......

3. ...... companion of An .......

4. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 367 l. 1, 5.6.1: l. 184) The poor man inflicts all kinds of illnesses on the rich man.

5. 1 line unclear

6. Let it be your bane. Let wealth be the inheritance given to you.

7-8. 2 lines unclear


YBC 8713 (Alster 1997 p. 302)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.01.1, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 ll. 1-2) Who could compete with righteousness?

3. (cf. 6.1.01.2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 l. 3) Wickedness ...... its strength .......

4-5. (cf. 6.1.01.83, 6.1.26.a11, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 302) When a trustworthy boat is sailing, Utu seeks out a trustworthy harbour for it.

6. ...... man ...... his wife .......

7. (cf. 6.1.03.42, 6.1.22: ll. 278-279, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. C ll. 1-2) If there is a dispute at the mill, a slave girl reveals (?) what she has stolen.

8-9. An unreliable slave girl ......, a pestle (?) without a handle (?) .......

10-11. ...... together ...... ditch (?) ...... friendship .......

12. 1 line fragmentary


YBC 4677 (Alster 1997 pp. 301-302)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.19.b1, 6.1.21.b4, 6.1.24.2) When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered, one says: "Let me replace what I eat."

3-4. (cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.19.b2, 6.1.21.b5, 6.1.24.2) As the piglet roots around (?), it says: "I do not eat for pleasure."

5. (cf. 6.1.01.16) He who possesses many things is constantly on his guard.

6-7. (cf. 6.1.01.7) What has been destroyed belongs to a god. No one is able to take it away.

8-10. (cf. 6.1.03.25, 6.1.19.c1) What did Enlil make? Chaff! The lance struck. It went into the flesh.

11. (cf. 6.1.03.24) Enlil, when I am aroused (?), my loincloth is gone (?).


MLC 618 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1-2. Enlil ...... abomination .......

3-7. 5 lines fragmentary


UM 29-15-748 (Alster 1997 p. 299)

1. 1 line fragmentary

2-3. ...... elder brother ...... authority (?).

4-5. A brother ...... a wife. 1 line unclear

6-7. (cf. 6.1.14.45, 6.1.22: ll. 35-37) A pig was carrying something (?): "Where is my sow?" it said. As it neared its fate .......


BM 57994 (Alster 1997 pp. 109, 288)

Segment A

1-3. (cf. 6.1.03.170, 6.1.25.13, 6.1.26.a10) If a ...... boatman ...... demands an inspection, or if the hand touches a woman's genitals over her clothes -- it is an abomination to Suen. unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1-3. 3 lines fragmentary


CBS 6565 (Veldhuis 2000 fig. 2)

1-2. 1 line fragmentary "How can the thing that I have just eaten be standing here?"

3-5. A snake charmer had a snake. He pulled out the tooth ...... 1 line fragmentary


CBS 6855 (Alster 1997 p. 292)

1-5. The clown ...... 1 line fragmentary ...... your pot ....... The clown ...... 1 line fragmentary


Free Library of Philadelphia unnumbered (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1-3. He who despises a just decision, who loves wicked decisions, is an abomination to Utu.


MM 1134 (Molina 2000 p. 755)

1-3. A bird ...... a bird ...... fat ...... bowl.


YBC 7301 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1-3. An elderly bull running around said, after it had stopped running: "My former strength has returned (?) to myself." After it had been driven out (?) from the other side of the town, it said: My strength is conjectural!


YBC 7345 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1-3. (cf. 6.1.11.85) The cripple (?) took a reed basket. For (?) his words a man beats him. Mankind is .......


YBC 7351 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1-3. (cf. UM 29-16-519 Seg. B ll. 4-5, 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259, 5.6.1: l. 50) A judge who despises justice, cursing with the right hand, and the chasing away of a younger son from the house of his father are abominations to Ninurta.


YBC 7352 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1-3. Thanks to the word of his personal god, the fate of the man who speaks just words is favourable, and he is with him throughout the day.


Emory 106 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1-2. My king, the lord perfect in heaven, built a house in the barren marshes.


NBC 8070 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1-2. If the roof does not stand upright for its owner, its gutter cannot let out water.


P 374 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.02.61, 6.2.1: Ni 3318 l. 6) If the hearing of the fox is bad, its foot will be crippled.


YBC 7320 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1-2. Your exuberance is something that creates a household; the young people (?) get married.


YBC 7331 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1-2. The god of the river ordeal will admire the hearts of those who bear words of truth.


YBC 7344 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1-2. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 251 ll. 1-2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 252 ll. 1-2, 4.06.1: Seg. C ll. 3-4, 5.2.4: l. 9) A man without a personal god does not procure much food nor even a little food.


YBC 7347 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.03.188) If a leader is being consumed by fire, those behind him don't say: "Where is the leader?"


YBC 7348 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1-2. My wild stag's pen is lordly: the clan is fifty strong, for they multiply in the grass.


YBC 7693 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1-2. May the criminal (?) ...... for you ....... May the farmer in charge of the oxen put out (?) your wages for you.


YBC 9908 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.25.12, 6.1.26.a3, 5.6.1: ll. 95-96) Property. A king's property -- it enters, but does not go straight (?); it goes out, but never stops.


YBC 9916 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1-2. (cf. 6.1.12.c4) The man who did not tie up his water-skin made his friend angry.


Homsy Collection no. 21 (Waetzoldt 2001 p. 538)

1. Granting him a name, a dog (?) by the command of Cakkan.


Homsy Collection no. 22 (Waetzoldt 2001 p. 539)

1. The lady found the bull calf of heaven -- but has not yet found it.


NBC 8072 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. (cf. 6.1.14.2) May Lumma grant prosperity to him who performs good deeds.


P 376 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. (cf. 6.1.02.d13) They are present on Enlil's offering table.


TIM 10/1 2 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. (cf. 6.1.03.1, 1.8.1.1: l. 28) Who has the breath for that, as they say?


UIOM 1999 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. (cf. 6.1.01.66, 6.1.02.119) In the city of the lame, the halt are couriers.


YBC 1993 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. Like a grinding stone, it has no sharp edge.


YBC 7282 (Alster 1997 pp. 329-330)

1. "The father is attractive, the father is bound, he is a slave (?)!" said the mother.


YBC 7297 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. The voice of the forest kujanun bird is the glory of the tamarisks.


YBC 7300 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. The voice of the duck (?) is the glory of the marshes.


YBC 8934 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. (cf. 5.6.1: l. 99) Were I to go up to the man who said: "Let me give it to you!"


YBC 8937 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1. The king is a scribe, the king is a mighty bond blocking the river.


YBC 9906 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1. (cf. 6.1.12.c5) A millstone will float in the river for a righteous man.


YBC 9912 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1. (cf. 6.1.03.75, 6.1.07.17) "I am stretching my legs on your behalf," says a man delivering sesame.



Revision history

27.v.2002-06.viii.2002: JT, editor: standardisation
21.xi.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: SGML tagging