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CDLI Literary 000767 (Two Scribes) composite (P481441)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000767 (Two Scribes) composite |
|---|---|
| ID | P481441 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Nippur (mod. Nuffar) |
| Coordinates | 32.1271, 45.2300 |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| surface a | ||
| 1 | dumu e2-dub-ba-a u4-ul-la-am3 ga2-nu ga-na ga-ab-sa2-sa2-en-de3-en | The student of the scribal school, come on! Come on! Let us put it in order! |
| 2 | tukum-bi nam-dub-sar-ra i3-zu a-na-am3 i3-szid | If you know the scribal art, what have you learned? |
| 3 | mu didli zi-ga nam-dub-sar-ra | the many years of the scribal art, |
| 4 | nig2-zi-gal2 edin-na za3 lu2 szu-ka-sze3 | the life of the steppe, to the side of the man of the hand, |
| 5 | i3-sar egir-bi gu2 mu-e-du3 | After that he built a vegetable garden. |
| 6 | a-ra2 igi diri nig2-ka9 sahar gar-ra za3-bi-sze3 i3-zu | “For how long will you see? The account of the earth has been established, at its edge he knows. |
| 7 | ka inim-ma nam-dumu-e2-dub-ba-a-ke4-ne | In the mouth of the words of the scribal school |
| 8 | ga-ab-szid-en-de3-en diri-zu-sze3 i3-zu | Let us go and surpass you! |
| 9 | ga2-nu gaba-ri-gu10-usz gub-ba in-zu ga-mu-ra-ab-til | Come on, stand before me, I want to bring it to an end! |
| 10 | lu2-tu15 u2-hub2 gesztu2 la2-a | (Sum) The man, the uhub priestess, the one who hears prayers (Akk) The lutu priestesses, who hear prayers |
| 11 | gesz3-e gu-du kesz2 szir dili tu-lu | The gudu instrument, the single song, the širdunu instrument, |
| 12 | me-ze2 gid2 nundum hur ib2 ku5 gu-du ku-da | The long meze, the scepter of the mountain range, the sharpened gudu weapon, |
| 13 | ge26-e-gin7-nam al-dim2-me-en | I am fashioned like you. |
| 14 | lu2-tu15 umun3-e gada ba-an-la2 | The lutu priestess carried a linen garment. |
| 15 | nim-sahar-ra kid-asz-rin-na ba-e-si | In the Elamite mountains he filled the earth. |
| 16 | szah2 {tug2}u2-tu-gu-um al-tuku5-tuku5 | a pig dressed in utugû-garments, |
| 17 | am-si munu4 sig7-sig7 al-bara3-ge | Amsi, the yellow-green malt is to be poured out. |
| 18 | ka5-a {dug}utul2-ta ab-ta-bar | I removed the “gate’ from the jug; |
| 19 | lulim a2-gu-hu-um al-sig-ge | The lulim (and) the aguḫû-demon are bound. |
| 20 | ur-bar-ra-ke4 siki al-pesz6-a | The wolf weaves wool. |
| 21 | {d}nin-pesz2 x x x x x ta-si-si | Ninpeš |
| 22 | zehx(SZUL){ze2?-eh}-tur [...] x x | (Akkadian: “You are the one who is small(?) |
| 23 | x [...]-re | ... the ... |
| 24 | x-gi-a szurim-ga2-ke4 ka nu-gu7-da | The ... of my šuri-vessel does not eat the mouth. |
| 25 | lu2-tu15 i3 dug i3-ib2-hul | The man emptied the jug with oil. |
| 26 | SU-bi nig2-gal2-la e2 nig2-gur11-ra an-hul | Its ..., the property of the house, is destroyed. |
| 27 | a-sza3 ha-ma-tur e2-sze3 ga-ba-an-gen | I want to go to the house to cultivate the field. |
| 28 | tug2 ba-da-an-til tug2 siki ba-ni-in-du8 | He finished the garment, he trimmed the wool. |
| 29 | i3 {dug}silim2-ma ba-da-an-til er2-ba bi2-in-szesz4 | He finished the oil in the jug and wept. |
| 30 | gud3 uman-na kin ba-an-sa6-ga | The oxen of the humankind were good. |
| 31 | {tug2}nig2-dara2-ni a-gin7 ba-ab-nag-ga2 | How did he drink his nigdara garment? |
| 32 | nig2-u4-bi-ta nu-mu-e-da-sa2-e | Because of this, you cannot compare with me. |
| 33 | nam-tar egir-ra-ka mu-da-ab-sa2-e | The fate of the future he will determine for me. |
| 34 | a nu kasz nu duh nu dida nu zi3 nu zi3-milla nu tug2 nu {tug2}nig2-dara2 nu | no water, no beer, no malt, no emmer, no flour, no milla-flour, no garment, no sandals, |
| 35 | an-sze3 la-ba-te-ge26-en ki-sze3 la-ba-te-ge26-en | You cannot approach heaven, you cannot approach earth. |
| 36 | kasz tuku duh nu-tuku zi3 tuku in-bu5-bu5 nu-tuku | He has beer, he does not have flour, and he has flour. He has no flour. |
| 37 | lu2-tu15 za-e ga2-gin7-nam inim gaba-ri ba-ab-szum2-mu | (Sum) You are a man, like me, he gave you a favorable word. (Akk) You were a person, as if you were me. |
| 38 | bar-za en3 bi2-in-tar ur5-gin7 dumu lu2 al-gi-na nu-me-en | You have inquired after your body, but you are not a child of a man. |
| 39 | e2 ad-da-za-ka sza3-gal iti-da kasz zi3-munu4 sze-ta-am3 nu-ub-diri | In the house of your father there is a monthly šagal-offering of beer, flour and barley. |
| 40 | ama-zu-sze3 szu bala ak-am3 | It is a hand-lifting ritual for your mother. |
| 41 | huluh du6-ul-du6-ul-e {tug2}nig2-dara2 bur2-bur2-re | “The evildoer, the one who destroys everything, buries the nigdara garment. |
| 42 | du14 mu2-mu2 e-sir3-ra u3-ba-gub | The slanderer stands in the street. |
| 43 | lu2 ka-pirig dab5-ba ga-ba-al in-ne2-du3 | The one who seized the piriŋ drum, he built it. |
| 44 | lu2-bi geszbu2 aszkud-ta un-szar2-szar2 sza3-ga-na ab-szed7-de3 | Its man, who has been smitten by the yoke of the throne, will be frightened in his heart. |
| 45 | lu2-tu15 a-na-asz-am3 diri-zu-sze3 nig2 ab-gur4-re-en | What is it that makes a man surpassing you? |
| 46 | di i3-du11 egir-bi-sze3 nu-mu-un-til-e | The judgments that I made, I did not finish afterwards. |
| 47 | szu-zu ka-zu nu-ub-da-sa2 | Your hand does not equal your mouth. |
| 48 | nam-dub-sar-ra he2-bi2-szid ki-bi li-bi2-ib-gi4 | May the scribal art be accepted and restored to its place. |
| 49 | nig2-zi-gal2 edin-na za3 lu2 szu-ka-sze3 i3-sar-ra | The life of the steppe is written on the shoulder of the hand. |
| 50 | eme-gi7-sze3 eme-zu si nu-ub-sa2 | Your tongue is not good for the Sumerian, |
| 51 | a-ra2 he2-szid za3-bi-sze3 nu-zu | I did not know the way. |
| 52 | igi diri he2-du8 ki-us2 nu-ra-ab-dab5 | “If he looks at him with a magnifying eye, he will not seize his position. |
| 53 | ka inim-ma nam-dumu-e2-dub-ba-a-ka szu-zu ib2-szi-in-tum3 | He brought your hand to the mouth of the wording of the scribal school. |
| 54 | en3 nu-ra-tar szu-na ma-ni-ib2-szum2-mu | The one who does not inquire after you will give him his hand. |
| 55 | szu nu-sa6 ki nam-dub-sar-ra gu3 nu-ra-de2-e | The hand of the scribal art is not good, it cannot be said for you. |
| 56 | lu2-tu15 uh-ta ze2 sza3-gar-ta usz2 | (Sum) The liar dies from thirst, the šagar-demon dies(?) from hunger. (Akk) (The lilītu dies) from thirst. |
| 57 | nig2-ur5-ra uh ur5-da gen-na ur5-ra me-te-zu | You are the one who goes with the uḫurra-demon, the one that is appropriate to you. |
| 58 | gaba-ri-gu10 me-en | I am my rival. |
| 59 | a-na-asz-am3 ga2-e gaba-ri-zu nu-me-en | Why am I not your rival? |
| 60 | lu2-tu15 lul du11-du11 ra-gaba ki bad-ra2 | The one who lies, the courier goes to the faraway place. |
| 61 | gu4 sa ab-ku5-ku5 {gesz}szudul5-a nu2-nu2 | The ox is cut off, the šudula is lying down. |
| 62 | gu4 gu3 ra-ah bir-bir-re-ta zi-ir-zi-ir | The oxen, roaring loudly, rise from the ruins. |
| 63 | geme2 szu-ku6 gesz-ba-an-e u4 zal-zal | The female fisherman spends the day in the boat. |
| 64 | sag lu2-tu15 udun bahar2-ra-ka nu2-nu2 | The head of a criminal lies in the potter's oven. |
| 65 | szagan-la2 ku3 dam-gar3-ra-ka til-til | The šaganla-priest of the silver of the merchant is finished. |
| 66 | lu2 {kasz}kurun2-na zi3-munu4 gu7-gu7 | the man who eats beer and flour, |
| 67 | kiszi4-a ak ga2-nu lu2 sze10 sila-ta bar-bar | I want to do the kišiŋa prayer, but the one who goes out from the street is wandering about. |
| 68 | galam hu-ru-um usz11 za3-ga bar-bar | The ḫurûm-demon, the šēpēku-disease that covers the right side, |
| 69 | a-na-gin7-nam za-e ge26-da mu-da-ab-sa2-e | How do you compare with me? |
| 70 | ni2-su-ub lu2-tu15 dim2-ma {ugu}ugu4-bi | The nisub priestess, the one who sees the creation, |
| 71 | e2 nu-tuku e-sir2-ra nu2-nu2 | The one who does not have a house lies down in the street. |
| 72 | {im}szu-rin-na nam-lu2-ulu3{lu}-ka zi3-munu4 i-ni-bara3-bara3 | In the šurina of humanity flour was spread out. |
| 73 | {dug}utul2 ar-za-na {im}szu-rin-na-ta e11-da-zu-ne | When you bring out the bowl of Arzana from the šuri tree |
| 74 | ba-e-de3-gaz tu7 al-bil2-la-ta | After you have destroyed it, after you have carried off the soup, |
| 75 | {uzu}ma-sila3 sa-sal-zu su-a ab-sil2-sil2 | “Your sasal-vessel is covered in blood, |
| 76 | {gi}gur nisi-ga-ta zu2 e-da-ra-ah | “From the reed mats of the nīgû-festival he was tearing out the teeth. |
| 77 | {gi}gur szu-ku6-da-ka ku6 mi-ni-ib-kar-kar | In the reedbeds of the fisherman’s stall he fishes. |
| 78 | u4 didli geszbu2 da-kum-ta igi-giri17-zu al-gu4-gu4-ud | (Sum) The one who sees you all the time, your eyes are full of tears. (Akk) You see yourself all the times. |
| 79 | ga-ab-sa10 ganba lu2 sze sa-sa-a | I want to buy (it) for the market price of a man buying barley |
| 80 | lu2 ni2-su-ub-ba-gin7 igi-zu-ta ab-ta-kar-kar-re-en-de3-en | Like a man in a rage, we pass before you. |
| 81 | udun bahar2-ra-ka gur4-gur4-re-da-zu-ne | When you roll in the potter's oven, |
| 82 | gu2-murgu-zu-ta za3-gu-du-zu-sze3 | Because of your throne, because of your praise, |
| 83 | zu2-kesz2 simx(GIG)-ma ab-ta-si-si | I bind a knot of šumu-plant, |
| 84 | {gi}pisan ninda kurum6-ma lukur-e-ne-ke4 u3-mu-un-szub-be2 | The reed baskets of the bread offerings of the nadītu-priests fall down. |
| 85 | geme2 lukur-ra al-tur-tur-re-esz-am3 | The nadītu women are small, |
| 86 | igi-zu zehx(SZUL){ze2-eh} tur-gin7 am3-ur4-ur4-re-de3-esz | Your eyes tremble like a small pig |
| 87 | e2 dingir esz3 didli-ka i3-du8 gudu4-bi u3-sa2 igi-bi-ta a-ra-ab-dag en-nu-ug3 a-ra-ak-de3 | In the temple of the god of the various shrines, the doorkeepers and the gudu-priests keep watch over each other. |
| 88 | lu2-tu15 sag ka-bi nu-gu7 | A man whose head does not eat its mouth |
| 89 | sza3-gal-la-ni-sze3 kusz7 kalam-ma nigin | In his midst, the sheepfold of the Land is a total wreck. |
| 90 | a-na-asz-am3 in nu-zu-a-gu10 mu-un-dub2-dub2-be2-en | Why am I arguing with someone who does not know me? |
| 91 | a-ga-gu10-sze3 na-an-gub-be2-en igi-gu10-sze3 in-zu ga-mu-ra-ab-til | Do not stand before me, I want to bring you to an end! |
| 92 | al-gen al-zal kin-e ba-an-la2 | He went, he passed the time, and carried away the work. |
| 93 | ni2-bulug5 a-sza3-ga gen {kusz}a-ga2-la2 szu-sze3 la2 | I am the nibulug-priest of the field, carrying a sandal to the hand. |
| 94 | lu2 hun-ga2 egir kar-ke4-da-ka-ke4 | The hireling behind the quay |
| 95 | {gi}gur u2 de5-ga mi-ni-ib2-il2-il2-i | he raised the reed baskets with fresh grass. |
| 96 | u4 buru14-ka a2-zu sza3-gal-zu nu-ub-da-sa2 | At harvest time, your arm does not equal your heart. |
| 97 | kin-ta ba-zah2 ganba-ka szed15 du11 ba-gub-be2-en | You are the one who flees from work, you stand in lamentation at the market. |
| 98 | e2 lu2 dingir kasz-de2-a-ka u3-du-de3-en | I want to go to the house of the man of the god of beer. |
| 99 | egir lu2 kasz de2-a-ka ba-an-ku4-re-en | After you bring the beer, |
| 100 | ugu-za imhur4 ab-sag3-sag3-ge-de3 | In order to shake your head with a libation bowl, |
| 101 | gu2-zu ki-a u3-ba-e-ni-in-gar | You have set your neck on the ground, |
| 102 | ni2-zu szu nu-zu-a a-ra-ab-kar2 | Your aura, which knows no hand, will be turned away for you. |
| 103 | nig2-gu7-u3-da szu pap-hal-la ab-zi-zi-i | he raised the hand of the paphal-demon for food. |
| 104 | e2-me-esz KA gissu nigin | The house, the gate, the roof, |
| 105 | u4 szed7-da KA gaba u4-da nigin | On a cold day ... |
| 106 | lu2-tu15 sag gu2 ne-ka nu2-nu2 | The man lying on his head in the bed, |
| 107 | bala-bala-e-da-zu-ne a2-szu-giri3 ku5 kusz-a ab-sil2-sil2 | When you cross over, you sweep the ašūgiri canal with a cloth. |
| 108 | e2 bur3-bur3 dun du11-du11 | “The house that is to be smashed, to be cleaned, |
| 109 | a-na-asz-am3 ga-ba-al mu-un-du3-du3-e-en | Why do you spend time there? |
| 110 | in mu-e-dub2-ba-gu10 su-ga2 nu-gal2 | My one who screams, my body is not present. |
| 111 | ga2-nu e-sir2-sze3 e3-mu-da | Come with me to the steppe! |
| 112 | lu2 zu-ne igi he2-mu-e-du8-usz-am3 | “Let them look at the one who knows. |
| 113 | na-ga2-ah me-en egir inim-ma-zu nu-e-zu | I am a fugitive, I do not know behind your words. |
| 114 | lu2 sikil du3-a me-en nig2-nam nu-e-zu | You are a pure man who does not know anything. |
| 115 | is-hab di-da nu-tak4-tak4 me-en | I am the one who does not stop wailing. |
| 116 | lu2 sag gi4-a inim-ma la-ba-an-dab5-be2-am3 | The one who did not seize the head of the head, |
| 117 | lu2 gu3 ra-ah sza3 de3-ka nu2-nu2 | The one shouting bitterly lies down in the heart. |
| 118 | lu2 sza3-gar-ra ninda kar-kar-re | The one in charge of the šaŋara, who eats bread, |
| 119 | lu2 dab5-ba {gi}pisan e2 dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 sag-bur2-bi nu-un-na-kal-e | The one seized by the basket of the house of the gods does not eat its head. |
| 120 | ze2-za gu3 de2-de2-e dag-gi-a a-ra-lu3-lu3 | When you speak to your sweet, Arallulu! |
| 121 | lu2 pe-el-la2 tesz2 tuku-tuku nu-zu | The defiled man, who has no rival, |
| 122 | lu2 kar2-ga nig2-ur2-ra gu7-gu7 | The one who eats food in the quay, |
| 123 | lu2 sag-DU-a dumu lu2 nu-zu | The one who ... the child of a stranger. |
| 124 | ki-ma-an-ze2-er lu2 kal-la nu-zu | Kiman-zer, the mighty man, who does not know. |
| 125 | ur-sag gub-ba szu-bi-sze3 la2-a | the hero stationed there, in his hand bound, |
| 126 | i3-gub nu-mu-un-ge-en i3-tusz li-bi2-in-sa6 | (Sum) He did not stand there, he did not dwell there (Akk) I did not sit there and did not rejoice |
| 127 | i3-szid ba-e-ul4-e-en i3-sar szu ib2-ta-an-ur3 | (Sum) You are the one who gathers up the reed bundles, (Akk) You gather up the buds, (var.) The one that gathers them, the one that removes them |
| 128 | nig2 im-sar-re gu3 nu-ub-ta-de2-e | Nothing was written down, it was not spoken. |
| 129 | dugud-bi ab-sar-re szu-ni al-zu-hu-ul | Its weight is written down, its hand is destroyed. |
| 130 | szid-da-asz la-ba-ab-du7 sar-re-da me-te-bi in-nu | (Sum) The scribal art is not perfected, it is not suitable for writing (Akk) It is not appropriate for writing |
| 131 | dub ha-ma-tur ul4-la-bi ga-ab-til | May the tablet be small, I want to finish it quickly! |
| 132 | ki-gub-ba-ni u2-gu i-ni-in-de2 | (Sum) He smote his standing place (Akk) His standing place he made tremble |
| 133 | ki-tusz-a-ni i3-bir-bir-re | her dwelling place he splits up |
| 134 | dim2-ma ab-ta-szub-ba inim ab-ta-giri11-da | (Sum) The one who abandoned a creation, the one who uttered a word to it (Akk) He abandoned the creation, he made a claim to it |
| 135 | a-ba-am3 gu3 e-ra-an-de2-ma | Who is it that will speak to you? |
| 136 | a-na-zu al-gal2-ma du14-sze3 im-ta-an-e3 | What is it that you are capable of? He has come out to speak with you. |
| 137 | gub-ba lu2-tu15 ga-ba-al he2-mu-e-du3 nam-mu-du3-du3-e-en | Stand, man, I want to go! You should build it, you should not build it! |
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
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-18.