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The farmer's instructions (Q000784)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | The farmer's instructions |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000784 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Nippur |
| Coordinates | 32.1271, 45.2300 |
Transliteration (ATF)
From 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)
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ud-ul-ur₁₁-ru dumu-ni na mu-un-degₓ(RI)-ga-am₃ | The udulurru priestess, her child, is the one who ... |
| 2 | a-šag₄ dib-be₂-da-zu-ne | When you pass through the fields |
| 3 | eg₂ pa₅ du₆ du₈-u₃-de₃ igi kar₂-kar₂-ab | In order to dig canals, in order to watch them, |
| 4 | a-šag₄ a de₂-a-zu-ne a-bi šag₄-ba nu-il₂ | When you pour water into the field, its water does not carry water |
| 5 | ud a-ta im-mu-e-a-ed₃-de₃-a | When the storm rises from the water, |
| 6 | a-šag₄ ki duru₅-bi en-nu-uŋ₃ ak-ab ki-še-er a-ra-ab-tuku | The field, its irrigated area is kept watch, it is an open country |
| 7 | gud suhub₂ ŋiri₃ na-ra-ab-zukum-e | You should not cut oxen and sheep in the ditch for you. |
| 8 | u₂-saga₁₁-bi u₃-bi₂-ze₂ a-šag₄ ki-ŋar u₃-bi₂-dug₄ | (Sum) He smashed its brickwork, he made the field into a mound (Akk) Its brickwork I made perfect, I made it perfect |
| 9 | 10-am₃ {urud}giŋ₄ sal 2/3 ma-na-ta sa₂-a-ab | ten reed bundles of 2/3 mina each, |
| 10 | {ŋiš}al-šub-be₂ umbin gud ha-ra-šu₂-šu₂ sa ha-ra-ab-la₂-la₂ | “Its hoe is a hammer of oxen, may it be bound for you! |
| 11 | ki ka sal-la-bi u₂-tag ha-ra-tag-tag | (Sum) The place where the mouth is swollen, I want to touch it for you (Akk) May I touch the place of the mouth of the slanderer |
| 12 | gu₂ a-šag₄-ga ub-da 4-ba {ŋiš}al-e ha-ra-ni₁₀-ni₁₀ | May the four necks of the field be gathered for you |
| 13 | en-na a-šag₄-ga al-šeŋ₆-šeŋ₆-e-da teš₂ a-ra-ab-sig₁₀-ge₅-a | As long as he lives in the field, may he praise you. |
| 14 | {ŋiš}šu-kar₂-zu sa ha-ra-ab-gi₄-a | May your šukar prayer be answered to you |
| 15 | {ŋiš}šudul-zu a₂-šita₄-a-bi ha-ra-keše₂ | May your cloak be bound for you. |
| 16 | {kuš}usan₃ gibil-zu {ŋiš}gag-a ha-ra-ab-la₂ | May your new sandals be bound for you |
| 17 | {kuš}usan₃ sumun-zu {ŋiš}mud la₂-la₂-a-bi | Your old sandals and mud bands |
| 18 | dumu gašam-ta dug₃ ha-ra-ab-ak-e | May the son of Gašam drink it for you! |
| 19 | {urud}giŋ₄ {urud}bulug {urud}šum-me {ŋiš}šu-kar₂-zu a₂-zu si ha-ra-ab-sa₂-e | May the reed, the copper kettledrum, the šumme-bowl, and the ukar-vessel be properly arranged for you |
| 20 | {kuš}saŋ-keše₂ {kuš}bar-ed₃-de₃ {kuš}ka-du₃ {kuš}usan₃ saŋ-zu he₂-ha-za | The sakes, the barred, the kadu, and the šusan-shoes are your bundles. |
| 21 | {gi}ba-an-du₈-zu kab₂ di hu-mu-ra-ab-ak a₂ kalag-ga hu-mu-ra-an-ak-e | May your bāndu-bowl be opened for you, may it be positioned for you with a powerful weapon. |
| 22 | a₂-aš₂ a-šag₄-ga-zu da he₂-en-ŋal₂ kiŋ₂-zu igi kar₂-ka-ab | May your field be irrigated, may your place be seen. |
| 23 | gud-{ŋiš}apin gud dirig-ga a-ab-tuku-a | a plow ox, a dirigga bull that has no rival |
| 24 | gud gud-da dur bi₂-ib-tu-lu-a | If he wears a tiara and a neckband, |
| 25 | {ŋiš}apin-bi {ŋiš}apin-na a-ab-dirig | Its plow-oxen, a plough, I made flourish. |
| 26 | eš₂-gar₃ {ŋiš}apin 1-e 180 iku-am₃ | It is an ešgar of one plow, 180 iku |
| 27 | za-e 144 iku ŋiš du₃-ba-ab | You: write down 144 iku. |
| 28 | a₂ šag₄ hul₂-gin₇ a-ra-ab-dim₂-e | I will make it perfect for you like a beautiful wind |
| 29 | 18 iku-ba 3 še gur ba-an-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | 18 ikû |
| 30 | usu {ŋiš}apin 1(DIŠ)-e a-šag₄ {ŋiš}bar-dili-bi u₃-bi₂-ak | The strength of a plow, for 1 workday, the field Bardili did |
| 31 | {ŋiš}bar-dili-bi {ŋiš}apin tug₂-saga₁₁ u₃-bi₂-ak tug₂-gur-ra-ab | Its bardili and plowmen did the saga garment and wore the garment. |
| 32 | ŋiš ur₃-ra-ab ŋiš gi₄-a-ab ŋiš peš-bi₂-ib | “Lead me away, lead me away! Let me go away, let me enter! |
| 33 | ki sumur-bi {ŋiš}niŋ₂-gul-ta {ŋiš}gag-dag₂-aš u₃-bi₂-ak | From the place where its radiance is destroyed, it is shattered. |
| 34 | {ŋiš}mud {ŋiš}niŋ₂-gul-zu saŋ-za he₂-ha-za niŋ₂ al di-še₃ na-du-un | May your mud and niŋni-gul offerings be heaped up for you, may they be presented to you as an offering. |
| 35 | kiŋ₂ ak-zu-a ugu-ba u₃-bi₂-de₂ | In order to bring it to the place where you did it, |
| 36 | kiŋ₂ ak-zu-še₃ ŋa₂-la nam-ba-an-dag-ge | Do not abandon your place of work |
| 37 | a-šag₄ kiŋ₂-zu ak na-an-na-ab-be₂ | May he say to him “Ask your place!’ |
| 38 | ud mul-an-na šu im-ma-ab-du₇-a-ta | When the stars of heaven were perfected |
| 39 | 10-am₃ a₂ gud a-šag₄ zi-zi-i-da-še₃ igi-zu nam-ba-e-gid₂-i | You should not look at the ten oxen and cultivated fields |
| 40 | {ŋiš}al du₃-a-bi ha-ra-ab-ak-e | May the hoe do its work for you! |
| 41 | a-šag₄ ur₁₁-ru-da-zu-ne | When you are to plunder the field |
| 42 | {ŋiš}apin-zu gu ha-ra-ab-dub₂ | May your plow blow for you |
| 43 | {ŋiš}ka-šu₂ {ŋiš}apin-na-zu {kuš}im-du₅-mu šub-i₃ | Your beer, your plow, the imdumu-skin, the oil |
| 44 | {ŋiš}dam-zu {ŋiš}gag sal-la šub-i₃ | Your wife, your head is full of grain. |
| 45 | {ŋiš}le-um-zu a₂ he₂-tal₂-tal₂ ab-sin₂-zu gub-ba-ab | Your arrows should be spread out, your furrows should stand there |
| 46 | 1 nindan us₂ ab-sin₂ 8 gub-ba-ab | You set up 1 rod, the length of a furrow, 8 in number. |
| 47 | ab-sin₂ durun-dur₂-ru-na še-bi gu₂ a-ab-gid₂ | In her furrows, she stretches out her barley on her neck. |
| 48 | a-šag₄ ur₁₁-ru-da-zu-ne | When you are to plunder the field |
| 49 | lu₂ še-numun ŋar-ra-zu igi-zu ŋar-i₃ | (Sum) The one who sees your seed, look at your face (Akk) You see the man whose seed is seen |
| 50 | 2 šu-si-ta-am₃ {d}ezina₂ he₂-en-šub | 2 fingers apart, may Ezina stand there. |
| 51 | 1 nindan us₂-ta 1 giŋ₄ še ha-ra-ŋar | 1 long rod, 1 reed bundle of barley for the harābar festival |
| 52 | tukum-bi še-numun a-tur-ra nu-ub-suhur | If he does not remove the seed from the threshing floor |
| 53 | {ŋiš}niŋ₂-kud {ŋiš}eme-{ŋiš}apin-na-zu kur₂-ra-ab | Your plow-oxen and emeš-plows are changed. |
| 54 | tukum-bi dur a-ab-tu-lu dur tur-ra-ab | If he is ill, he will recover. |
| 55 | ki ab-sin₂ si sa₂ i₃-ur₁₁-ru-a ab-sin₂ {ŋiš}šibir ur₁₁-ru-ab | At the place where the furrows are arranged in a straight line, you will gather up the hair of a šibir cow |
| 56 | ki ab-sin₂ {ŋiš}šibir i₃-ur₁₁-ru-a ab-sin₂ si sa₂ ur₁₁-ru-ab | The place where furrows and šibir-floods were gathered, the furrow was arranged in a straight line |
| 57 | ab-sin₂ si sa₂ gu₂ tu-lu gu₂ TAG mu-ra-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The furrows whose horns are straight and whose necks are twisted, he ... for you. |
| 58 | ab-sin₂ lug-gu₂-zu si ha-ra-ab-sa₂ | May your furrows be straight for you. |
| 59 | ab-sin₂ ab-ki-iz-bi DU-a gana₂ ku₅-ra₂-zu ur₁₁-ru-ab | When you bring the furrows and kizbu plants to the field, you will retrieve your cut fields. |
| 60 | lag-bi ha-ra-ri-ri | Its limbs are torn out. |
| 61 | ki-sahar us₂-bi ab-sin₂ ha-ra-ni-ib-ra | May the furrows, whose roots are furrow-like, be scattered for you. |
| 62 | ki-sahar ka tab-bi ab-sin₂ ha-ra-sig-sig | May the furrows, whose mouths are swollen by furrow(?) |
| 63 | henbur₂-še₃ a-ra-sag₉ | the henburšu-flood is sweet |
| 64 | ud henbur₂-e ki im-ma-ab-dar-ra-ta | When the henbur plant grows in the earth, |
| 65 | sizkur₂ {d}nin-kilim-ke₄ dug₄-ga-ab | May the offering of Ninkilim be uttered |
| 66 | zu₂ bir₅{mušen}-ra bal-e-eb | he made the bir bird fly away. |
| 67 | ud še ka sal-la ab-sin₂-na-ka a-ab-dirig | In the day when the mouths of the furrows are full of grain, |
| 68 | a numun saŋ-ŋa₂-ke₄ dug₄-ga-ab | May the water of the fertile seed be poured out for you |
| 69 | ud še {gi}kid-ma₂-šag₄-ga-ba ab-gub-ba a dug₄-ga-ab | When the barley stands in the reed mats, water is to be poured. |
| 70 | še lillan-ba a dug₄-ga-ab | May water be poured into the well |
| 71 | ud še luh-ha an-sud-a a na-ab-be₂-en sa-ma-na₂-aš ba-gig | May you not say “Alas, the storm is overflowing with blood, do not be afraid of him! |
| 72 | ud še bir ak-de₃ a-ab-du₇-a a dug₄-ga-ab | When you make the šēdu-tree suitable for harvesting, pour out water for me! |
| 73 | {ŋiš}ba-an-ba 1 sila₃ še ku-dun ba-tuku-tuku | ... 1 sila3 of barley, kudun-flour, acquired |
| 74 | še gur₁₀-gur₁₀-ru-da-zu-ne še ur₅ nam-ba-gam-e-en | When you carry barley, do not heap up barley! |
| 75 | ud a₂-ba-ka gur₁₀-gur₁₀-ra-ab | Bring it to me at the appointed time! |
| 76 | kidₓ(|KID₂.IM|) 1-e u₃ lu₂ zar keše₂-da 1-am₃ | It is one kid and one weaver, |
| 77 | u₃ lu₂ 1-e igi-ni-še₃ zar hu-mu-ra-ab-sa₂-e | And may one man put a net for you before him. |
| 78 | 3-am₃ hu-mu-ra-ab-gur₁₀-gur₁₀-re | May he bring it to you three times! |
| 79 | lu₂ še degₓ(RI)-degₓ(RI)-ga-zu še šu huz na-an-ak-e | The one who is to smite you should not do it with a hand full of blood |
| 80 | še-garadin₃-e še na-an-si-il-si-il-le-e-ne | The merchants should not carry barley. |
| 81 | kiŋ₂ ud-da-zu ud tur-ra-gin₇ | Your place, like a small storm, |
| 82 | usu di₄-di₄-la₂-zu-ne u₃ lu₂ še degₓ(RI)-degₓ(RI)-ga-zu-ne | strength of your tiny ones, and the one who ... |
| 83 | šid-bi du₆-ul-la-ab zar-re-eš₂ nu₂-a-ab | Its sweepings are to be strewn, it is to be spread out like a sherd |
| 84 | kiŋ₂-zu mi₂ zid ha-ra-ab-dug₄ | May your place be pleasing to you. |
| 85 | dabin še sumun-e tuku-a-ta | When you have poured out fine flour |
| 86 | ka-gu₇-zu-še₃ lu₂ še ŋiš na-ab-ra-ra-an | When you eat, a man should not scatter the barley |
| 87 | še-zar-ra ne-ha-ab | “Lead me to the šēzara-vessel! |
| 88 | sizkur₂ še-zar-ra ud šu₂-uš-e ha-ra-ab-dug₄ | May a šēzar prayer be uttered to you today |
| 89 | ud še al-ed₃-de₃-en-na-zu-ne | When you go to the day when the barley is plentiful |
| 90 | lu₂ še la₂-la₂-zu-ne 30 giŋ₄ ha-ra-an-ak-ak | When you pour out barley, may 30 reeds be poured out for you |
| 91 | kislah-zu ki-ŋar dug₄-ga-ab | May your courtyard be a place of relaxation. |
| 92 | har-ra-an gur-zu si sa₂-sa₂-ab | Your road that is to be turned is straight. |
| 93 | {ŋiš}mar-gid₂-da-zu si ha-ra-ab-sa₂ | May your ‘carnelian’ be straight for you |
| 94 | gud {ŋiš}mar-gid₂-da-zu mur gu₇-bi₂-ib | Your oxen and bison will eat the mur. |
| 95 | {ŋiš}šu-kar₂-zu ha-ra-x x | May your emmer ... for you |
| 96 | sur₁₂ du₈-a-zu ud 5-am₃ ha-ba-ne-ha | May your ‘cutting-of-the-throat’ ritual be performed for 5 days. |
| 97 | sur₁₂ ba₉-ra₂-zu-ne niŋ₂-ur₅-ra du₈-i₃ | When you crawl, it is made perfect for you. |
| 98 | ud še ba₉-ra₂-zu-ne | When you harvest the barley |
| 99 | zu₂ ŋiš-ba₉-ra₂-zu kuš la₂-la₂-bi esir₂ ha-ra-ab-sub₆-sub₆ | May your ‘cutting-of-the-throat’-plant and its trimming be covered with a bitumen for you |
| 100 | gud dur₂-dur₂-ru-da-zu-ne | When you sit on oxen, |
| 101 | lu₂ še ba₉-ra₂-zu usu he₂-en-de₃-gub | May you establish strength for the one who has given you barley. |
| 102 | ud še ki ba-e-ni-us₂-sa | when the day had elapsed |
| 103 | sizkur₂ še nu-nir-ra dug₄-ga-ab | Give me a sizkur prayer that cannot be changed |
| 104 | ud še al-la₂-e-na-zu | When you bring in the barley |
| 105 | lu₂ še ki-ta al-gub-bu-a lu₂ ŋeštug₂-ga gub-ba-ab | The one who stands on the ground, the man who stands in the garment |
| 106 | lu₂ še DU-a 2-am₃ ha-ra-gub-bu-uš | May the one who carries barley stand for you for two days |
| 107 | ud še ba-e-nir-ra ŋidru-še₃ nu₂-a-ab | When the day has passed, he lies down at the threshing floor |
| 108 | sizkur₂ a₂ ud te-en ŋi₆-ba dug₄-ga-ab | May a sizkur prayer be uttered at dawn |
| 109 | ud MAŠ-a-gin₇ še bur₂-ra-ab | Like a dream you set out the barley |
| 110 | na degₓ(RI)-ga {d}nin-urta dumu {d}en-lil₂-la₂-ke₄ | ... of Ninurta, son of Enlil |
| 111 | {d}nin-urta engar zid {d}en-lil₂-la₂ za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga-am₃ | Ninurta, the faithful farmer of Enlil, your praise is sweet. |
Sources & licences
- 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 2026-10-18.