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This composition: translation

(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. [...] X X ZI
2. [...] X-am3
3. [...]-am3
4. [...] lu2 X [(X)]-a-kam
5. [...] IG-bi [...] ki
6. [...] X X X [...] X
(cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 2)
7. [kug tuku cag4] /an-hul2\ ce tuku ur5 [an]-sag9
(cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 3)
8. [nij2-ur2-limmu2 tuku]-/e\ u3 nu-un-da-[ku]-/ku\
(cf. 5.6.1: l. 69)
9. [ur-saj dili na-nam dili]-/na?\ lu2 car2-ra-/am3\
10. [...] UD ba-X
11. [...] /EN\ is-hab2-ba X [X]
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. [...] X HA GU-bi AN [...]
2. [...] X a-a ba-an-ed3-de3-de3-en
(cf. 6.1.19.d5)
3. [UMmucen] gu3-de2 nu-sag9
(cf. 6.1.19.d8)
4. [X (X)] an-na KU6-da engur-ra ur5-da MUL-am3
(cf. 6.1.21.c8)
5. [ud cu2-cu2]-/ru\ X cag4-hul2-la e2-gal-la-kam
6. [X X] X geme2-a-kam
(cf. 6.1.21.c9)
7. [nu-mu]-/un\-na-kal geme2 X-ra-kam
(cf. 6.1.21.c10, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 1-2)
8. [gi4]-/in!\-gi4-in-ne balaj ba-ra-an-ed2-ec
9. [ga-ca]-an-an-na e-dur2-ce3 tuc-tuc
(cf. 6.1.15.c15)
10. [X] X-a cu na4 an-na-kur9!
(cf. 6.1.03.36, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 3-5)
11. [geme2 nij2-hi-li]-/a?-ke4\ dickur dijir lugal LIL2-e
12. [ukuc2-gin7 ki dug3] /hu\-mu-/dar?\-e-ce

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

Segment A

1. /gicma2\ dilmun-na tum9 nu-mir ba-an-da-su
2. jic mah a-zu cu NE li-bi2-TAG
3. ki-nu2 dug3-ga-zu u3-sa2 nu-mu-ni-nu
4. id2 a mah a mi-ni-ib2-de2-a-zu
5. bar-ra!-ju10 nu-mu-sed5
6. uc11-ju10 nu-mu-ni-til
7. IM DU-da-za ce nu-mu-ni-in-la2
8. izi-jar-zu-ta gi<cu>-bil-la2-ju10 cu-bar zid /li\-bi2-ak
9. gan gug-gug du-bu-ul-la ab-naj-a saj-ki nu-ut-tu-tu-ud-du-bi
10. ha-la-zu gan tur cu te ba-ab-HI-za nij2-bi-a gug-a-bi-e-ce
11. [X] X X IN MU ma-an-ra
12. [...] X X mu-na-gi-e-ce
13. [...] NE NE X
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. [...] X X lu2-dim3-ma ugu-ja2? di mu-un-dug4-dug4-e-ce
2. hi-iz-ur-bar-rasar gectin-ka5-asar-ke4 u2ug u2/pirij?\-GI?
3. u2eme-ur-gir15-ra-ke4 u2nij2-u2-rum u2gu3-i3-ra-ke4
4. ur-mah gu3 de2-de2
5. mu li-bi2-in-tuku-e-ce
6. jic-cub lu2-dim3-ma dutu al-dim2-e
7. ur-saj-e cag4(source: ZU) -jar-ta i3-gam
8. ba-an-gam-ma-ta ki-sig10-ga in-na-ab?-du-/du\-ne

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

1. X X IM A CI DU GA
2. X X IGI A X X rig5-ga-ce3
3. X X X BA NE NE X
4. X X /im\-ma nu-me nu-[X]
5. [...] X ZA cag4 [...]
6. [...] X BA lul [...]
7. [...] ki cag4 iri /SAL\ [X X]
8. [...]
9. [X] /BA DA\ [...]
10. gi [...]
11. TU [...]-e-ce
12. [X] JIR2 [...]-un-du3
13. lu2 lu2 IN X
14. [X X] /lu2\ he2-[X X] X
15. [...] ZI2 BA ZA KA
16. [...]-e-e-ce
17. [...] je26-e UD DU IN
18. [...] nu-NE-NE-e
19. [...] X-ju10-e-ce
20. [...] X ZI2 BA E
21. X-e X X X GA UN

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

Segment A

1. [...] X KA KA /he2\-me-ni-tum2-ma
2. [...] X EZEN /AN\ [X (X)] /UB\-ju10
3. [...] /UC\ [X X (X)] X DI
4. jic MU [...] ab-ur3-[ur3]-/re?\-e-/ec\
5. nij2 cag4-/hul2\-[la X X (X)]-/ta\ gala-ke4 na-an-/ze2?-en gu-ul\
6. cu-/na\ [...] X NE MA AN ZU im-ma-/ab?\-ja2-ja2
(cf. 6.1.14.3, 6.1.16.c1)
7. /igi\ engar-/e\ [mu-e-ci-in]-/il2\-la
8. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ha-[ba-ci]-in-il2-e
(cf. 6.1.14.4, 6.1.15.b1, 6.1.16.c2)
9. igi sipad-tur-re mu-/e?\-[ci]-/in\-il2-la
10. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ha-[ba-ci]-in-il2-la
(cf. 6.1.14.5, 6.1.15.b2, 6.1.16.c3)
11. igi bahar2-/e\ mu-[e]-/ci\-in-il2-la
12. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ha-ba-ci-in-il2-la
(cf. 6.1.15.b3)
13. [igi nu-gickiri6-e mu]-/e\-ci-in-il2-la
14. den-lil2-le iri nam [ku5]-/ra2\-ni /ha\-ba-ci-/in\-il2-/la\
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

(cf. 6.1.14.1)
1. cu [gi4-gi4-ra cu he2-en-na-gi4]
(cf. 6.1.11.56, 6.1.25.9, 6.1.26.a2)
2. e2-/gal\ [ni2-bi]-/ce3 gam\-[e-dam]
(cf. YBC 7351, 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259)
3. KU nu-jar-/ra!\ [(X)] X DI nu-jar-ra dib2-be2-X
4. dumu-nitah e2 /ad\-[da]-na-ka sa-ra!
5. nij2-gig dnin-urta-kam
(cf. 6.1.11.66, 6.1.26.a6)
6. /cu\ gi4-[gi4 nij2]-gig dnin-urta-kam (followed by: AC (erased line))
7. ha-la-/bi? ba-ab?\-[X (X)] X cec-da? gid2-i nij2-[gig] [d]nin-urta-kam

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

Segment A

(cf. 6.1.09.a1, 6.1.10.1)
1. nir-jal2-e a-na-am3 bi2-in-dug4 /nu-sag9?\
(cf. 6.1.09.a3, 6.1.10.3-4, 6.2.2: MDP 27 216)
2. nir-jal2-e /kug\-zu-/kam?\ <ukur3> cu dib-ba! /cu-jar?\ jal2-la [arattaki]
3. dam KU e2 X [...] X-ra e2 [...]
4. /dam-ju10 dam MU DA\ X [...]
5. /IG du8 X zag\ [...] tur-ra BI dug3-/ga\ [...]
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. nin u3-ma-ta-CEC.CEC li-bi!-/dug4\-[(X)]
2. e2 ad-ta gul-gul [(X)]
3. ib2-bi gu5-li an?-na [(X)]
(cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 367 l. 1, 5.6.1: l. 184)
4. lu2 nij2 tuku lu2 nij2 nu-tuku gig-ce3 in-[jar]
5. i3-jal2 nam-tar!-zu ad nu-ni-jal2
6. /nij2-gig\-zu he2-a nij2-tuku ha-la-ba-zu he2-a
7. NI ur-idim-bi ur-gir15 ur-X-ra
8. lu2 UR-a-[X]

YBC 8713 (Alster 1997 p. 302)

(cf. 6.1.01.1, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 ll. 1-2)
1. nij2-gen6-na-[da]
2. a-ba mu-un-/da\-[sa2]
(cf. 6.1.01.2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 l. 3)
3. nij2-erim2-me /a2\-[bi (...)]
(cf. 6.1.01.83, 6.1.26.a11, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 302)
4. [gic]ma2 nij2-gen6-[na ni2 ba-ra-dirig]
5. d[utu] /kar\ gen6-na [...-kij2-kij2]
6. lu2 X dam-a-ni X [X (X)]
(cf. 6.1.03.42, 6.1.22: ll. 278-279, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. C ll. 1-2)
7. e2-kin2-na du8 he2-jal2 geme2 [(X)] ha-ba-ra-be2-[e-ce]
8. geme2 lul-la kar HUR X (X) [X X]
9. gicgan-na cu-dib nu-tuku [(X)]
10. igi ba-KAL-KAL tec2-bi la2 [(X)]
11. /pa5\ ba-X nam-gu5-li ba-X [(X)]
12. [X] X /MU\ [X] nu-X X [...]

YBC 4677 (Alster 1997 pp. 301-302)

(cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.19.b1, 6.1.21.b4, 6.1.24.2)
1. cah2-/niga he2-cum?\-e
2. nij2 i3-gu7-a ga-ra-ab-gi4?
(cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.19.b2, 6.1.21.b5, 6.1.24.2)
3. cah2-ze2-eh tur-e al-gud-gu4-ud-de3
4. sag9-ga-ac je26-e nu-ub-gu7
(cf. 6.1.01.16)
5. nij2 am3-da-tuku-tuku igi am3-da-uru3-e
(cf. 6.1.01.7)
6. nij2 ha-lam-ma dijir-ra-kam
7. cu TU.TU nu-ub-zu
(cf. 6.1.03.25, 6.1.19.c1)
8. den-lil2-le a-na-am3 in-/ak\
9. in-/bul-bul\ urudcukur ma-an-ed2!
10. su-ju10 ib2-tej3-tej3
(cf. 6.1.03.24)
11. den-lil2 i3-zig3-ge-en-na-ju10 /tug2\-nij2-dara2-ju10 du-um

MLC 618 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. den-lil2 in-[X]
2. in-a nij2-gig
3. mac2 /ba-da-DU\
4. /mac2\ [X] X X
5. /ur2\ [(X)] X
6. MU X [(X)]
7. X X X X

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

1. /lu2\ X [X X] /nij2 ma\-an-[X]
2. X X RI KU tar-re
3. [(X)] cec gal-la sun5-/sun5\-[X]
4. cec-e dam mu-un-X
5. X mu-un-ne-X a2-a bi2-in-taka4
(cf. 6.1.14.45, 6.1.22: ll. 35-37)
6. cah2-e nij2 mu-un-la2 [me-a dam]-ju10 im-me
7. /nam\-[tar] /u3\-mu-un-/na-tej3\

BM 57994 (Alster 1997 pp. 109, 288)

Segment A

(cf. 6.1.03.170, 6.1.25.13, 6.1.26.a10)
1. /lu2\ gic/lu2?\ X (X) /nij2\-kab2-a di-/da\
2. [gal4]-la tug2-ga cu tag-ga
3. /nij2\-gig dsuen-na-kam
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. nin [...]
2. X [...]
3. X [...]

CBS 6565 (Veldhuis 2000 fig. 2)

1. X X [...]
2. a-na-gin7-/nam\ nij2 i3-gu7-a-ju10 gub-ba-e-ce
3. muc-lah5-e muc an-da-/jal2\
4. zu2 mu-ra-ze2-X
5. [X] X [...]

CBS 6855 (Alster 1997 p. 292)

1. ud-da-tuc A CEN [...]
2. X [...]
3. igi-a utul2-zu /KA\ [...]
4. /ud\-da-tuc A X [...] X [...]
5. [X] X [...]

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

1. /di nij2\-gen6!-na hul-a
2. di nij2-erim2-e ki aj2
3. nij2-gig dutu-kam

MM 1134 (Molina 2000 p. 755)

1. /mucen\ [...]
2. mucen A MU X /saj\ [...]
3. mucen libx(I3.UDU) mucen-bi bur [...]

YBC 7301 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. gud cu-gi4 ki ninni2-da kac4 u3-bi2-in-du
2. usu nij2-ud-bi-da-ju10 ni2-me-en gur-e-ce
3. iri re-ta e-da i3-me-am3 usu-ju10 nij2-tukum-ta-e-ce

YBC 7345 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(cf. 6.1.11.85)
1. kud-kud gi-gur ba-an-dab
2. inim-ma-a-ni-ra lu2 al-sig3-e
3. ZA AD RA-a lu2-/ulu3?\ al-NI?.DI

YBC 7351 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

(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)
1. di-kud nij2-gen6-na hul-a ac2 a2 zid-da bal-e
2. dumu-nitah tur-ra e2 ad-da-na-ka ib2-ta-an-sar-re
3. nij2-gig dnin-urta-ke4

YBC 7352 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. lu2 inim gen6-na bal-bal
2. inim dijir-ra-ni-ta nam-tar sag9-ga-am3
3. ud cu2-uc mu-da-jal2

Emory 106 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. lugal-ju10 en an-na cu du7
2. ambar a-ri-a e2 bi2-in-du3

NBC 8070 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. ur3 lugal-bi-ir nu-gub-ba
2. gicalal-bi a nu-um-de2-e-ce

P 374 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.02.61, 6.2.1: Ni 3318 l. 6)
1. ka5-a jectug-bi al-gig
2. jiri3-bi al-guz-e

YBC 7320 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1. a-la-zu ni e2 du3-du3-a
2. nam-tur-ra X dam tuku

YBC 7331 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1. inim-inim nij2-si-sa2 tum2-ma
2. did2-lu2-<ru>-gu2 cag4-bi u6 di-e

YBC 7344 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(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)
1. lu2-ulu3 dijir-da nu-me-a
2. nu la-ba-gu nu la-ba-tur-ra

YBC 7347 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(cf. 6.1.03.188)
1. lu2 igi-du-ke4 izi /al-gu7\-e
2. lu2 ejer na-/ab-be2\ me-am3 lu2-du11-/saj\

YBC 7348 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. amac cegbar-ju10 en-nam
2. ildu2 ninnu-am3 u2-a ba-an-lu

YBC 7693 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. jic-gu2-ka ha-mu-ra-an-KU TAR HU
2. engar gu4-ra-ke4 addir ha-mu-ra-an-/sig3\-ge

YBC 9908 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.25.12, 6.1.26.a3, 5.6.1: ll. 95-96)
1. nij2-gur11 [nij2]-gur11 lugal
2. an-ku4-ku4 nu-si-sa2 ab-ta-ed2-a nu-silig-ge

YBC 9916 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.12.c4)
1. lu2 kuca2-ja2-la2-ni nu-KEC2-da gu5-li-ni-da
2. cag4 bi2-in-dab5

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

1. /mu\ sa4-sa4 ur inim dcakkan2-/ta\\

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

1. nin amar an-na pad3-da nu-pad3-da

NBC 8072 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

(cf. 6.1.14.2)
1. dlum-ma lu2 nij2 sag9-ga-ra sag9-ga-ac he2-na-jal2

P 376 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.02.d13)
1. gicbancur den-lil2-la2-ka ba-jal2-la

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

(cf. 6.1.03.1, 1.8.1.1: l. 28)
1. a-ba zi-bi mu-un-tuku-e-ce

UIOM 1999 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.01.66, 6.1.02.119)
1. iri ad4-lu2-u3-ka ba-za lu2-kac4(source: DU) -e-kam

YBC 1993 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. na4 kalag-ga-gin7 ki-zu2-ur5?-ra nu-tuku

YBC 7282 (Alster 1997 pp. 329-330)

1. a-a hi-/li\ a-a KEC2 saj /ama\ bi2-dug4

YBC 7297 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. KU.JA2.NUN-/tir\-ramucen gu3-de2 giccinig-am6 me-te-bi

YBC 7300 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. TUR-uz-zamucen gu3-de2 ambar-am3 me-te-bi

YBC 8934 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

(cf. 5.6.1: l. 99)
1. ga-ra-ab-cum2-bi lu2-ra ga-ni-in-us2

YBC 8937 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1. lugal dub-sar lugal dur mah id2-da gib-ba

YBC 9906 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.12.c5)
1. /lu2\ si-sa2-/ra na4\kin2 id2-«UD»-/da\ mu-na-«cu2»-dirig-dirig

YBC 9912 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.03.75, 6.1.07.17)
1. hac2 ba-ra-an-gid2 nam lu2 ce-jic-i3 /bi2\-ib2-il2-il2

Print/Electronic sources

Alster 1997a, pp. 287-302, 329-334: commentary, score transliteration, translation
Alster 1999a: commentary
Krecher 1995: composite text, translation
Molina 2000a, p. 755, 760: score transliteration, translation, photograph, handcopy, commentary (MM 1134)
Veldhuis 2000c, pp. 394-396: score transliteration, translation, handcopy, commentary (CBS 6565)
Waetzoldt 2002, pp. 538-539: score transliteration, translation, commentary (Homsy Collection No. 21, 22)

Cuneiform sources

MLC 618
NBC 8070
NBC 8072
YBC 1993
YBC 4677
YBC 7282
YBC 7297
YBC 7300
YBC 7301
YBC 7320
YBC 7331
YBC 7344
YBC 7345
YBC 7347
YBC 7348
YBC 7351
YBC 7352
YBC 7693
YBC 8713
YBC 8934
YBC 8937
YBC 9906
YBC 9908
YBC 9912
YBC 9916
Emory 106
Free Library of Philadelphia, unnumbered
P 374
P 376
TIM 10/1 2
UIOM 1999
CBS 6565
BM 80722 (CT 58, 30; coll. J. Taylor)
IM 62823 = TIM 9, 18
IM 43438 = TIM 9, 19
UM 29-16-519
UM 29-16-39
UM 29-15-748
CBS 6855
MM 1134
BM 57994
Homsy Collection No. 21
Homsy Collection No. 22

Revision history

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