The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
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Proverbs: collection 16

Segment A

16.a1

1-6. 6 lines fragmentary

16.a2

7-9. 3 lines fragmentary

16.a3

10-16. 7 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

16.b1

1-3. 3 lines fragmentary

16.b2

4-5. (cf. 6.1.03.10) You should get rid of the shepherd, so his sheep will not come back into his charge.

16.b3

6-7. (cf. 6.1.03.11) The wise shepherd has become confused, and his sheep will not come back into his charge.

16.b4

8-9. (cf. 6.1.03.9, 6.1.23.7) A shepherd's sex appeal is his penis; a gardener's sex appeal is his hair.

16.b5

10. (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.22: ll. 26-27, 6.1.23.7) An unjust heir who does not support a wife, who does not support a child, has no cause for celebration.

16.b6

11-12. 2 lines fragmentary

16.b7

13-16. (cf. 6.1.03.6) "Let me go today" is what a herdsman says. Let me go tomorrow is what a shepherd boy says. ....... His property ....... Let me go!'.......

16.b8

17-18. 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Segment C

16.c1

1-2. (cf. 6.1.14.3, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 7-8) The farmer lifts his gaze to you (i.e. Enlil) : "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

16.c2

3-4. (cf. 6.1.14.4, 6.1.15.b1, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 9-10) The shepherd boy lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

16.c3

5-6. (cf. 6.1.14.5, 6.1.15.b2, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 11-12) The potter lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."

16.c4

7. (cf. 6.1.15.b4) What will the farmer with his vigilant eye do?

16.c5

8-10. (cf. 6.1.03.149, 6.1.14.6, 6.1.22: ll. 172-175, 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. unknown no. of lines missing

Segment D

16.d1

1-2. 2 lines fragmentary

16.d2

3-4. (cf. 6.1.03.17) "My friend" might last just one day. My colleague lasts forever.

16.d3

5-6. 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Segment E

16.e1

1-3. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. E 1) 3 lines fragmentary

16.e2

4. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. E 2) 1 line fragmentary

16.e3

5-6. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. E 3) He enters (?) through the slavegirl's window; he is indeed a merchant!

16.e4

7-9. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. E 4 = 21 Sec. C 1) A donkey can carry fifty things. Those who carry the baskets ....... Entering one at a time, they ask: "What did he carry?"

16.e5

10. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. E 5 = 21 Sec. C 2) They tore out weeds with long roots .......

16.e6

11-15. (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. C 3) 4 lines unclear
It is an abomination (?) to Suen.

16.e7

16-17. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 1 = 21 Sec. C 4; cf. 6.1.09.g5) Like a mountain mined for precious metals, he is a man whose judgment is unsound (i.e. full of holes) .

16.e8

18-19. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 2) Don't ...... like a barber. He coiffures (?) hair.

16.e9

20-21. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 3) 2 lines fragmentary

16.e10

22. (= Veldhuis 2000 p. 393 N 1009 (+) N 5187 obv. 3) ...... I part the waters (?) like Nirah.

16.e11

23. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 4) ...... collecting rushes .......

16.e12

24. (= Veldhuis 2000 p. 393 N 1009 (+) N 5187 obv. 4) ...... opens ...... the mouth.

16.e13

25. (= Alster 1997 l6 Sec. F 5) ...... you make the boat sail. {...... you will carry yourself away with it} {(1 ms. has instead:) ...... carry ......}.

16.e14

26. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 6) After becoming a thief, one becomes an outcast.

16.e15

27-29. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 7) 3 lines unclear

16.e16

30. (= Alster 1997 16 Sec. F 8) 1 line unclear
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment F

16.f1

1. (= Veldhuis 2000 p. 393 N 1009 (+) N 5187 rev. 1') 1 line fragmentary

16.f2

2. (= Veldhuis 2000 p. 393 N 1009 (+) N 5187 rev. 2'-3') 1 line fragmentary



Revision history

14.i.2002: JT, editor: adapting translation
17.ix.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: tagging