CDLI Literary 000784, ex. 005 (P346257)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Ur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000784, ex. 005 |
|---|---|
| ID | P346257 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar) |
| Coordinates | 30.9607, 46.1063 |
English translation
By Peterson, Jeremiah · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| obverse col 1 1 | The one who sows (since) ancient time was the one who instructed his son |
| obverse col 1 2 | When you pass through the field |
| obverse col 1 3 | Inspect the dikes, ditches, and/of the threshing floor(?) that are to be opened |
| obverse col 1 4 | When you irrigate the field, its water (should) not rise (too high) in its midst |
| obverse col 1 5 | When (the field) (re)emerges from the water |
| obverse col 1 6 | Watch the wet patches of the field, after it has been fenced/reached the appropriate limit |
| obverse col 1 7 | Do not let the suhub oxen trample it |
| obverse col 1 8 | After you cut down the bundles (for reinforcement) and establish the suitable area (of) the field |
| obverse col 1 9 | Ten (times) level it with a light hoe weighing two-thirds mana |
| obverse col 1 10 | The alšub implement should cover up the oxen hoof (marks), may it sweep (the field clean) |
| obverse col 1 11 | The utag tool should touch the places (of?) “narrow intake"(?) for you |
| obverse col 1 12 | The hoe should encircle the four edges of the field |
| obverse col 1 13 | Until (the field) is dried, ... should be employing (the tools) together(?) for you |
| obverse col 1 14 | The implements should be prepared (their bindings restored?) for you |
| obverse col 1 15 | The equipment of your yoke should be bound for you |
| obverse col 1 16 | May your new whip hang from a nail for you |
| obverse col 1 17 | The handle bindings of your old whip |
| obverse col 1 18 | The craftsmen should repair (! this ms.: “pray”!?) it for you |
| obverse col 1 19 | The adze, chisel/drill, dur maul(?) and šumme saw, that which does/makes(??), your implements, your strength(?), should be constant(?) for you |
| obverse col 1 20 | The leather thong, braiding lever, cover/wrapping, and whip should be at your disposal |
| obverse col 1 21 | ... (should) check your basket for you, you should strengthen your arms |
| obverse col 1 22 | You should have what you require (for) the field in your house(?), do not neglect anything (pertaining) to your work |
| obverse col 1 23 | The plow ox has acquired an extra ox for you |
| obverse col 1 24 | The bond between oxen was made (sufficiently) slack |
| obverse col 1 25 | The plow was made to have an extra plow |
| obverse col 1 26 | The assignment(?) of 1 plow is 10 bur |
| obverse col 1 27 | (When) it is eight bur, (re)build the wood(en) object(?) |
| obverse col 1 28 | ... will make ... for you according to what you are to toil(?) |
| obverse col 1 29 | It is ... gur of barley that will be expended (for oxen feed)(?) in the 1 bur area |
| obverse col 1 30 | After working the field (with) the bardili plow by means of the force of one seed plow |
| obverse col 1 31 | After working the field (with) the bardili plow and the tugsig plow, use the tuggur plow |
| obverse col 2 1' | After the stars of heaven are appropriate (in the proper place) |
| obverse col 2 2' | Ten (times) the plow ... |
| obverse col 2 3' | The hoe should work everything for you |
| obverse col 2 4' | When you sow the field |
| obverse col 2 5' | Your plow should be marked/aligned |
| obverse col 2 6' | Lay down a ... on the kašu of your plow (to prepare it for seeding?) |
| obverse col 2 7' | Lay down your beam (with) a thin nail |
| obverse col 2 8' | Your boards/ears should be spread out, ... your furrow |
| obverse col 2 9' | Set up eight furrows per one ninda (of width) |
| obverse col 2 10' | The barley would have lodged in ... furrows |
| obverse col 2 11' | When you sow a field |
| obverse col 2 12' | Look (carefully) towards the one planting the barley seed |
| obverse col 2 13' | At a depth of two fingers, he should drop grain |
| obverse col 2 14' | He should set one gig of barley per one ninda |
| obverse col 2 15' | If the barley seed was not “incised/scratched in the stall” |
| obverse col 2 16' | Change your wedge(?) of the plowshare |
| obverse col 2 17' | If the bindings have slackened, reduce (i.e. tighten) the bindings |
| obverse col 2 18' | Where straight furrows were sown(?), sow “shepherd's crook” furrows |
| obverse col 2 19' | Where “shepherd's crook” furrows were sown(?), sow straight furrows |
| obverse col 2 20' | The straight furrow will not(!?) be ... with ... and ... edges(?) for you |
| obverse col 2 21' | Your twisted furrows should be straightened out |
| obverse col 2 22' | ... the “unobstructed"(?) furrows, ... the traversal furrows, and sow your “separated field” |
| obverse col 2 23' | Its brick(like?) clods should be collected for you |
| obverse col 2 24' | The blocking(?) deposits of the furrow should be beaten |
| obverse col 2 25' | The covering(?) deposits of(?) the furrow should be thinned out/weakened |
| obverse col 2 26' | Regarding the seedlings, it is good for you |
| reverse col 1 1 | After the seedlings have split the ground |
| reverse col 1 2 | Perform the rites of Ninkilim |
| reverse col 1 3 | Turn away the bite of the locust |
| reverse col 1 4 | When the barley exceeds the “narrow intake” of the furrow |
| reverse col 1 5 | Water it with the water of the first seed |
| reverse col 1 6 | When the barley stands in (the form of?) a reed mat, water it |
| reverse col 1 7 | Water the ripe grain |
| reverse col 1 8 | When the grain is filled with(?) offshoots, you should not water it, you would have(?) afflicted it in the manner of the samana disease |
| reverse col 1 9 | When the grain has become suitable for dehusking, water it |
| reverse col 1 10 | It(?) will acquire a profit of one sila grain for each ban |
| reverse col 1 11 | When you are to harvest the grain, do not let the grain bend itself over (overripe) |
| reverse col 1 12 | Harvest at that of its appropriate time |
| reverse col 1 13 | There is one cutter(?) and two(!?) people to bind the barley sheaves |
| reverse col 1 14 | And one who will “touch” the barley sheaves before him |
| reverse col 1 15 | (They) are three, they should harvest for you |
| reverse col 1 16 | Your grain gatherers should not break(?) the barley |
| reverse col 1 17 | They(!?) are not to split apart the barley of the stacks of sheaves |
| reverse col 1 18 | Your work of the day, when the day is young (i.e. at dawn) |
| reverse col 1 19 | The force of your “little ones” and your grain gatherers |
| reverse col 1 20 | Store/gather its number(?), lay down (the grain) in the manner of sheaves |
| reverse col 1 21 | Your work should be executed with care |
| reverse col 1 22 | After having old grain (for so long before the harvest?) |
| reverse col 1 23 | Do not have someone thresh the barley for your eating(?) |
| reverse col 1 24 | Give your barley sheaves a rest |
| reverse col 1 25 | The rites of the barley sheaf should be performed for you daily |
| reverse col 1 26 | When you bring up the barley (for transportation) |
| reverse col 1 27 | Set your paths in order |
| reverse col 2 1 | The leather (straps) that bind together the teeth of your threshing sledge should be coated with bitumen for you |
| reverse col 2 2 | When your oxen ..., the ones threshing the grain (by sledge) should stand for you (by their own?) strength |
| reverse col 2 3 | When he ... the barley |
| reverse col 2 4 | Perform the rites of grain that is not winnowed (impure grain) |
| reverse col 2 5 | When you are to bring up(!?) the barley |
| reverse col 2 6 | When you are to have someone who is to bring up(!?) the barley |
| reverse col 2 7 | Station an intelligent person (in the role of) standing “below” (winnowing/bringing up(!?)) the barley |
| reverse col 2 8 | Three grain movers(?) should be stationed there for you |
| reverse col 2 9 | Lay your winnowed grain down for the (measuring) stick |
| reverse col 2 10 | Perform the rites of its evening and night |
| reverse col 2 11 | When it is midday, spread out the grain |
| reverse col 2 12 | The instruction of Ninurta, the farmer of Enlil |
| reverse col 2 13 | Ninurta, lord, son of Enlil |
| reverse col 2 14 | Your praise is sweet |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| obverse col 1 | ||
| 1 | u4 ul uru4-e dumu-ni na# mu-un-de5#-[...] | |
| 2 | a#-sza3 dib2-da-zu-[ne] | |
| 3 | e pa5 sux(|LAGARxDISZ|)? duh-u3-de3 igi kar2-kar2-[...] | |
| 4 | a-sza3! a de2-a-zu-ne a-bi sza3-bi nu-x-[...] | |
| 5 | u4# a-ta i-im-me-e11-de3-x [...] | |
| 6 | a#-sza3 ki!-duru5-bi en-nu-ug3 ak-ab ki-sze-er a-ra-ab#-[...] | |
| 7 | gu4# suhub giri3 na-ra-ab-zukumx(|LAL2.SAR|)?-e# | |
| 8 | u2-sagx(UR4)-bi u3-bi2-zi2 a-sza3 ki-gar u3-bi2-du11# | |
| 9 | u {uruda}gin2-sal szanabi ma-na-ta sa2!-a-ab | |
| 10 | {gesz}al-szub-be2 umbin gu4 ha-ra-ab-szu2-szu2 sa ha-ra-ab-la2-la2 | |
| 11 | ki ka sal-la-bi u2-tag ha-ra-ab-tag-tag | |
| 12 | gu2 a-sza3!-ga ub-da# limmu2 {gesz}al-la ha-ra-ab-ni10-ni10 | |
| 13 | en-na a-sza3-ga al-sze6-sze6-ga2-dam tesz2# a-ra-ab-si-ge5 | |
| 14 | {gesz}szu-gar6-zu sa ha-ra-ab-gi4 | |
| 15 | {gesz}szudul4-zu a2-szita4 ha-ra-ab-kesz2 | |
| 16 | {kusz}usan3 gibil-zu {gesz}gag-ta ha-ra-ab-la2 | |
| 17 | {kusz}usan3 sumun-zu mud# la2-la2-bi | |
| 18 | dumu# gaszam-e-ne du10-UD ha-ra-ab-ak-en | |
| 19 | {uruda}gin2 {uruda}bulugx(BUR2) {uruda#}dur10# szum-me nig2 ak {gesz}szu-kar2#-zu a2-zu!? sag ha-ra-ab-us2-en | |
| 20 | {kusz}sag-kesz2 bar-e11#-de3# {kusz}ka-du10 {kusz}usan3 [...]-za#?-a#? he2-en-ha-za | |
| 21 | {gi}ba-an-du8-zu kab2#? di# mu-ra-an-ak a2 kal?-ga#-zu? ha-ra-an-ke3-en | |
| 22 | a2-asz2 a-sza3-zu e2?-za-a he2-en-gal2 kin2-zu nig2 nam-mu-un-szub-be2-en | |
| 23 | gu4# {gesz}apin gu4 diri a-ra-ab-tuku-a | |
| 24 | gu4 gu4-da dur bi-ib2-tu-lu-a | |
| 25 | {gesz#}apin#-bi? {gesz}apin-na a-ab-diri | |
| 26 | [...] {gesz}apin 1(disz)-e 1(bur'u) GAN2-am3 | |
| 27 | [...] 8(bur3) GAN2-am3 gesz du3-da-ab | |
| 28 | [...] kusz2#?-u3-da-zu?-gin7 a-ra-ab-dim2-e | |
| 29 | 1(bur3)# GAN2-ba 3(gesz2) sze gur-am3 ba-an-ga2-ga2 | |
| 30 | usu# {gesz}apin disz-ta a-sza3 {gesz}bar-dili-bi u3-bi2-ak | |
| 31 | {gesz}bar#-dili-bi {gesz}apin-[...] u3#-bi2-ak tug2-gur#-ra#-ab | |
| obverse col 2 | ||
| 1' | u4#? mul# [...] | |
| 2' | u {gesz#}apin# x [...] | |
| 3' | {gesz}al du3#-[...] | |
| 4' | a-sza3 uru4{+ru#}-[...] | |
| 5' | {gesz}apin-zu gu ha#-[...] | |
| 6' | {gesz}ka-szu2 {gesz}apin-na-zu {kusz}im-x-[...] | |
| 7' | {gesz}dam!-zu {gesz}gag sal-la szub#-[...] | |
| 8' | {gesz}le-um-zu a2 he2-bi2-tal2-tal2 absin3-zu# x | |
| 9' | disz ninda-ta-am3 absin3 ussu-am3 gub-ba-ab | |
| 10' | absin2 dur2-dur2-ru-na sze-bi gu2 a-ab-gid2 | |
| 11' | a-sza3 uru4{+ru}-da-zu#-ne | |
| 12' | lu2 sze numun gar-ra-zu-usz igi-zu gar-ni | |
| 13' | min szu-si-ta-am3 {d}asznan he2-en-szub | |
| 14' | disz ninda-ta-am3 sze disz gin2 ha-ra-an-gar | |
| 15' | tukumbi sze numun# e2-tur3-ra nu-um-suhur | |
| 16' | {gesz}nig2-ku5 {gesz}eme {gesz}apin-na-zu kur2-ra-ab | |
| 17' | tukumbi dur a-ab-tu-lu dur tur-ra-ab | |
| 18' | ki absin3 si sa2 i3-uru4{+ru}-ab absin3 {gesz}szibir uru4{+ru}-ab | |
| 19' | ki absin3 {gesz}szibir i3-uru4{+ru}-ab absin3 si sa2! uru4{+ru}-ab | |
| 20' | absin3 si sa2 gu4 ku5 gu4 TAG nu-mu-ra-ab-x | |
| 21' | absin3 lu-gu2-zu si ha-ra-ab-sa2 | |
| 22' | absin3 ab-ki-iz-bi DU-a absin3 gib-ba#? x GAN2 ku5-da-x uru4#?-[...] | |
| 23' | szeg12 lag-bi ha#-[...] | |
| 24' | ki-sahar us2-[...] | |
| 25' | ki-sahar [...] | |
| 26' | henbur2#-[...] | |
| reverse col 1 | ||
| 1 | u4 henbur2-e [...] | |
| 2 | siskur2 {d}nin-gi4#-x-[...] | |
| 3 | zu2 bir5{muszen}-a bala#-x-[...] | |
| 4 | u4 sze ka sal-la absin3-na-ka a-ab#-[...] | |
| 5 | a numun sag-ga2-ka du11-ga-[ab] | |
| 6 | u4 sze {gi}kid-ma2-szu2-a-ba a-ab-gub-ba a du11-ga#-[ab] | |
| 7 | {sze}lillan-bi a du11-ga-ab | |
| 8 | u4 sze# lu-ha am3-si-a a na-ab-be2-en sa-ma-na-asz#? ba-e-gig | |
| 9 | u4# sze birx(HI)#? ke3-de3 ba-ab-du7-a a du11-ga-ab | |
| 10 | {gesz}ban2{+an} 1(u) 1(disz) sila3-ta ku-dun ba-an-tuku-tuku | |
| 11 | sze gurx(UR4)-gurx(UR4)-ru-da-zu-ne sze ur5 gurum nam-ba-ak-e | |
| 12 | u4 a2-ba-ka gurx(UR4)-ru-a-ab | |
| 13 | |KID2xIM| disz-e lu2# sze zar kesz2-da min-am3 | |
| 14 | u3 lu2 disz-e igi-ni-sze3 sze zar hu-mu-na-ab-tag-ge | |
| 15 | esz5-am3# hu-mu-ra-ab-gurx(UR4)-gurx(UR4)-ru-ne | |
| 16 | lu2# sze de5-de5-ga-zu sze hum na-an-ke3-e | |
| 17 | sze# garadin-na na-ab-si-il-si-le-de3-en | |
| 18 | kin2 u4-da-zu u4 tur-gin7 | |
| 19 | usu# di4-di4-la2-zu-ne u3 lu2 sze de5-de5-ga-zu-ne | |
| 20 | szid?-bi#!? du6#-ul-la-ab zar#?-re-esz nu2-de3-eb | |
| 21 | kin2-zu# mi2 zi a-ra-ab-[...] | |
| 22 | sze sumun-e#? tuku#-a-[...] | |
| 23 | gu7-gu7-zu-usz# lu2 sze gesz# [...] | |
| 24 | sze# zar#?-ra ne#-[...] | |
| 25 | siskur2# [...] | |
| 26 | u4 sze ab-e11#-[...] | |
| 27 | har-ra-an-[...] | |
| 28 | x [...] | |
| 29 | x [...] | |
| 30 | x [...] | |
| reverse col 2 | ||
| 1 | zu2# gesz-bad-ra2-zu# kusz# la2-la2-bi esir2 ha-ra-ab-sub6-sub6 | |
| 2 | gu4 KU-KU-ru-da-zu-ne lu2 sze gesz bad-du8-zu usu he2-ri-gub-bu-usz | |
| 3 | u4 sze bi2-in-|LAGARxDISZ|!?-a | |
| 4 | siskur2 sze nu-nir-ra du11-ga-ab | |
| 5 | u4 sze al-la2-e11-de3-en-na-zu | |
| 6 | lu2 sze al-la2-e11-de3-en-na-zu | |
| 7 | lu2 sze ki-ta al-la2-e-na-gub lu2 gesztu2 tuku gub-ba-ab | |
| 8 | lu2 sze DU-a esz5-am3 ha-ra-gub-bu-usz | |
| 9 | sze nir-ra-zu {gesz}gidri-sze3 nu2-de3-eb | |
| 10 | siskur2 u4-te-en ge6-ba du11-ga-ab | |
| 11 | u4 sa9-a-gin7 sze bur2-ra-ab | |
| 12 | na de5 {d}nin-urta engar {d}en-lil2-la2 | |
| 13 | {d}nin-urta en dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 | |
| 14 | za3-mi2-zu du10-ga-am3 | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.