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Proverbs: collection 7 (Q000800)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Proverbs: collection 7 |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000800 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
| proverb 7.1, | ||
| 1 | ki gul-la-ba ki he₂-en-gul | May he destroy the place that has been destroyed. |
| 2 | ki nu-gul-la-ba gu₂-ŋiri₃ he₂-en-ŋal₂ | In a place that cannot be destroyed may a canal be irrigated. |
| 3 | ki-ni ki lu-ub₂{sar} ku₅-ra₂ he₂-a | may his foundation be a cut-up lurch |
| 4 | me-bi ba-da-ha-lam | its divine powers were destroyed. |
| 5 | di-ir-ga-a ki nam-ba-e-gul | Do not destroy the place of the dike! |
| 6 | me-bi na-ab-da-ha-lam-e-en-ze₂-en | Do not destroy its divine powers! |
| proverb 7.9, | ||
| 1 | x X X X x | |
| proverb 7.10, | ||
| 2 | x a-a-bi nu-gur-re | ... its father does not return. |
| proverb 7.11, | ||
| 3 | 1(DIŠ) lag 1(DIŠ) ab-sin₂ | 1 flask, 1 furrow |
| 4 | ŋe₂₆-e 3(EŠ₅)-kam-ma-bi-me-en | It is the 3rd time |
| proverb 7.12, | ||
| 5 | lag a-a gurud₂-da bi-iz-bi gul-la | The ... of father and mother is destroyed. |
| proverb 7.13, | ||
| 6 | umun₃-še₃ piriŋ-gin₇ du | to the lord like a wild cow |
| 7 | kiŋ₂ ak-de₃ niŋ₂-gilim-gin₇ du | In order to make the earth tremble like a lion, |
| proverb 7.14, | ||
| 8 | umbin kud tug₂-mu-dur₇-ra mu₄-mu₄ | He fashioned a scepter and a mountain for it. |
| proverb 7.15, | ||
| 9 | kašbir-a ga-naŋ | I want to brew beer for him |
| 10 | zag gal-la ga-tuš | I want to sit on the great dais |
| proverb 7.16, | ||
| 11 | nu-mu-na-kal ezem-ma ba-DU | He did not eat, he ... the festival. |
| proverb 7.17, | ||
| 12 | haš₂ a-ra-an-gid₂-nam lu₂ še-ŋeš-i₃ bi₂-ib₂-il₂-il₂-i | I will give you a firm positive answer. |
| proverb 7.18, | ||
| 13 | x HA SAR ba-ra-an-ak | ... he did not do |
| proverb 7.21, | ||
| 15 | ma₂ ha-ba-su-su barag ga-ba-ra-ab-ur₃ | I want to ... the dais for you. |
| 16 | ud mu-da-zal a-na mu-e-ši-ti | (Sum) She spends the day with me (Akk) The day is spent with me |
| 17 | i₃-dirig nu-su-su | he smote, but he did not release him. |
| proverb 7.22, | ||
| 18 | ud i₃-di-de₃-en ud šu₂-uš i₃-di-de₃-en | We go day and night, we go at night |
| 19 | balaŋ er₂-ra im-ma-gub-gub-bu-de₃-en | We stand in tears during the reign. |
| proverb 7.23, | ||
| 20 | X aga-us₂ du₁₄ ŋiš ba-ni-ib-la₂ | ... the soldier swore an oath |
| 21 | x-an-x | ..., |
| 22 | x-me-en | I am |
| 23 | x DU-am₃ | ... ... |
| proverb 7.24, | ||
| 24 | x-ra-kam | it is of ... |
| proverb 7.25, | ||
| 25 | x kur₂ | ... changed |
| proverb 7.26, | ||
| 26 | x ga-sam₂-bi | ... its value |
| proverb 7.27, | ||
| 27 | x saŋ-du suhur{ku₆} saŋ-du maš₂-gur-ra-ŠEŠ{ku₆} x he₂-da-gu₇-e | May he eat the ... of the suhur-fish, the .... of the mašgurra-fish. |
| proverb 7.28, | ||
| 28 | di gid₂-i al-ŋal₂ | long judgments are to be rendered. |
| 29 | aš₂ gid₂-i nu-ŋal₂ | long tablet not carried |
| proverb 7.29, | ||
| 30 | umun₃-e gada ba-la₂ | The lord stretched out linen. |
| 31 | nim-sahar-ra {gi}kid aš-rin ba-e-sig₉ | He decorated it with a reed mat in the nimsahara plant |
| 32 | muš-da-gur₄-ra šutum ba-na-an-du₃ | He fashioned the hand of the serpent |
| proverb 7.30, | ||
| 33 | a-ra₂-bu{mušen} niŋ₂ a₂-ba-ka nu-gu₇ | The Arabû-demon does not eat the food of its own accord |
| proverb 7.31, | ||
| 34 | im-ma-an-degₓ(RI)-degₓ(RI) šah₂-ni ba-an-šum | He smote him, he seized his pig |
| proverb 7.32, | ||
| 35 | im-ma-an-degₓ(RI)-degₓ(RI) ŋiš-ni ba-an-til | He smote him, he ended his tongue |
| proverb 7.33, | ||
| 36 | du₆ kug X x | The holy mound ... |
| proverb 7.34, | ||
| 37 | u₂ im-x | ... plants |
| 38 | gun₂-ŋu₁₀ X x | speckled ..., |
| 39 | {ŋiš}dusu im x UB bal-bal-am₃ x | It is a šudû-plant ... that is torn out. |
| proverb 7.35, | ||
| 40 | nam x | the ... of |
| proverb 7.36, | ||
| 41 | ma₂ kar gana₂ x | barge at the quay of the field |
| proverb 7.37, | ||
| 42 | ninda šu ti-a li-bi₂-in-gur-ra | May he not return the hand of the man to its place |
| proverb 7.38, | ||
| 43 | IM TAR TUG₂ kar-ke₄ x | ... garment of the quay ... |
| 44 | alan x | a statue |
| proverb 7.39, | ||
| 45 | X x | |
| proverb 7.40, | ||
| 46 | x | |
| proverb 7.41, | ||
| 47 | bi₂-in-dug₄ ba-da-an-gur | he satisfied, he returned it. |
| proverb 7.42, | ||
| 48 | {ŋiš}ma₂-gin₇ a-a am₃-zig₃-zig₃ | Like a boat, the water rises. |
| proverb 7.43, | ||
| 49 | {na₄}kinkin bur₁₂-ra-gin₇ al-du₇-du₇-du₇-un | Like a ... stone, it is piled up. |
| proverb 7.44, | ||
| 50 | ka ba-an-la₂-a dam-a-ni gi₄-in-nam | The one who opens the mouth, his spouse is a maidservant |
| proverb 7.45, | ||
| 51 | ka-ŋu₁₀ lu₂-da an-da-sa₂-e-en | “I want to pacify the mouth of a man, |
| proverb 7.46, | ||
| 52 | u₆ di kalam di-de₃ iri-ni mu-un-ed₂-e | The one who sees the land, he goes around in his city. |
| proverb 7.47, | ||
| 53 | al-di-di-de₃-en nu-kuš₂-u₃-de₃-en | We go, we are not tired |
| 54 | i₃-di-di-de₃-en u₃ nu-ku-ku-me-en | We keep wandering about, but I do not sleep. |
| proverb 7.48, | ||
| 55 | til₃-la lul-la hul na-an-gu-ul-e | Do not let the evildoer destroy the living things! |
| 56 | gam ha-la-zu mu-un-ŋal₂ | Your share has been carried off. |
| proverb 7.49, | ||
| 57 | tug₂-me-en-ze₂-er-še₃ ba-X-da-bir₇-ra | ... was split into a garment |
| 58 | še sahar-ba im-ma-an-til₃-la | he finished the barley in its soil |
| 59 | ta šu ba-ni-in-ti | What did he receive? |
| proverb 7.50, | ||
| 60 | a de₂-a-bi en x X še sig₉-ga-bi en x X | Its water ... its good barley ... |
| proverb 7.51, | ||
| 61 | in-gu₇ nu-un-gu₇ numun sag₉-ga-am₃ | She eats, she does not eat, it is a good seed. |
| proverb 7.52, | ||
| 62 | ga-ša-an tug₂ gal-gal-la-ŋen | I am the lady of the great garments |
| 63 | {tug₂}niŋ₂-dara₂-ŋu₁₀ da-an-kud | a ni-dara-garment is to be worn. |
| proverb 7.53, | ||
| 64 | u₃-mu-un id₂ da-ma-al-la-ŋen | Lord, the river is there for me. |
| 65 | x BU i₃-gu₇-e-en | ... I eat ... |
| proverb 7.70, | ||
| 1 | nam-tar ur-am₃ zu₂ mu-un-da-ab-kud | The dog eats the fate. |
| 2 | tug₂-mu-dur₇-ra-gin₇ im-ma-tab-tab | Like a cloak, he covered it. |
| proverb 7.71, | ||
| 3 | ga-ša-an-an-na E X x | Gašanana |
| 4 | E EN KI AH x | ... . |
| proverb 7.72, | ||
| 5 | MI RI IM IR MI X x | ... ... |
| 6 | niŋ₂ ga-ša-an-an-na x | Gašanana |
| 7 | aŋ₂ ŋiri₃-ba DI x | labor of the inner city |
| proverb 7.73, | ||
| 8 | ur i-im-di | a dog ... |
| 9 | me₂-er im-di | he marched. |
| 10 | lu₂-ŋu₁₀ ba-ra-mu-un-di | he did not let anyone know. |
| proverb 7.74, | ||
| 11 | {ŋiš}ma₂-addir X lu₂ dirig x x | a boat ... |
| 12 | lu₂-ŋu₁₀ ba-ra-mu-un-u₅ | did Lu-bumun-u, |
| proverb 7.75, | ||
| 13 | i₃-bi mu-dur₇-ra am₃-x | Its oil ... |
| 14 | še-bi sahar-ra am₃-x | Its barley ... in the dust |
| proverb 7.76, | ||
| 15 | e-le-lum-ŋu₁₀ kur-re x x | Enlil ... in the mountains. |
| 16 | umuš-ŋu₁₀ ur₅-re nu-um-ši-kar-X | (Sum) He does not ... (Akk) The one who ... does not turn away(?) |
| proverb 7.77, | ||
| 17 | uₓ(PA)-a bi₂-in-dug₄ ma₂ ba-da-an-su | he was satisfied, but the boat was abandoned. |
| 18 | a-la-la bi₂-in-dug₄ {ŋiš}gi-muš ba-da-an-haš | The alala priest was satisfied, the gimus priest was appeased |
| 19 | ŋuruš-e u₈-a diŋir-ra-am₃ di {ŋiš}ma₂ ki-bi ba-te | The ewes are scattered, the boats are scattered. |
| proverb 7.78, | ||
| 20 | a-ba-am₃ sahar mu-un-zig₃ | Who raised the dust? |
| 21 | a-ba-am₃ {ŋiš}ma₂ bi₂-in-zu | who has known the boat? |
| proverb 7.79, | ||
| 22 | šag₄-ŋu₁₀ {ŋiš}kiri₆ ha-ra-dirig-ga-ta | After you have made the šagbû-offerings of the orchard great for you |
| 23 | {d}utu nu-mu-un-ta-e₃ | Utu did not come out |
| proverb 7.80, | ||
| 24 | aŋrig šu dim₄-ma-am₃ sa-KU kalag-ga-me-en | I am a mighty warrior, a creator of the universe |
| proverb 7.81, | ||
| 25 | gud kur₂-ra u₂ gu₇-gu₇ | a foreign ox eating grass, |
| 26 | gud ni₂-ba i₃-šim-ma nu₂-nu₂ | The wild ox lies down in its own bed |
| proverb 7.82, | ||
| 27 | niŋ₂ u₂ nu-gu₇ am kur-ra-kam | It is a wild bull that does not eat food |
| proverb 7.87, | ||
| 35 | šag₄ x | ... field |
| proverb 7.88, | ||
| 36 | ga-an-x | I want to |
| 37 | ga-ab-x | I want to |
| 38 | ga-ab-hul-hul | I want to destroy. |
| 39 | geme₂ lukur-ra-kam | It is a female nadītu. |
| proverb 7.89, | ||
| 40 | lul dug₄-ga-ab | falsehood |
| 41 | zid dug₄-ga-ab | “Lead me to the right! |
| proverb 7.90, | ||
| 42 | gu₂ zu-hu-ul-a-ni-ta du₃-du₃-am₃ | It was built from her damaged neck. |
| proverb 7.91, | ||
| 43 | gu₂ bal gu₂ ki-ta al-ak-e | The neck is twisted, the neck is bent back. |
| proverb 7.92, | ||
| 44 | a-šag₄ buru₄{mušen}-gin₇ zu₂ e-da-an-ra-ah | Like a burrowing eagle, he has gnawed his teeth at it |
| proverb 7.93, | ||
| 45 | ad-da a hur nu-ri | The father, the water of the nugig river, |
| 46 | ama-a a hur nu-ri | The mother, woe, the wind! |
| 47 | {gi}en₃-bar gaba ud-da X e₃-a | The enbar reeds coming forth from the storm |
| proverb 7.94, | ||
| 48 | x RA x RA | ... ... |
| 49 | x AN x AN | ... ... |
| 50 | X x x X X x x-bi | [......]... |
| proverb 7.95, | ||
| 51 | gig gu₂-nida-a lal₃-gin₇ ib₂-ak | He made a bitter pain like honey on the neck. |
| 52 | mar-tu i₃-gu₇-e niŋ₂ šag₄-bi nu-un-zu | The Martu-demon eats, but she does not know herself |
| proverb 7.96, | ||
| 53 | še sur-ra gu₂ na-an-mar-mar-re | He should not pour out a libation bowl for you |
| 54 | še-zu-še₃ tum₄ tu₁₁ lugal-zu ba-an-gu₇ | Your king eats what you bring, what you carry. |
| proverb 7.97, | ||
| 55 | sag₉-ga-bi pad₃-da | whose good attributes are chosen |
| 56 | hul-bi u₂-gu de₂-a | whose evil is to be undone, |
| proverb 7.98, | ||
| 57 | nam-sag₉-ga kaš-a | good fortune in beer |
| 58 | nam-hul kaskal-la | the evil of the journey |
| proverb 7.99, | ||
| 59 | al-ŋal₂-la {tug₂}niŋ₂-dara₂-am₃ | It is an albala garment, a nidara garment |
| 60 | u₂-gu ba-an-de₂ tug₂-ga-am₃ | ... clothed. |
| proverb 7.100, | ||
| 61 | ud-da ga-til₃-e gud-gin₇ saman₂ bi₂-in-la₂ | I want to live in the storm like a bull, he carried a spear. |
| proverb 7.104, | ||
| 65 | šag₄-bi zig₃-ga ugula nam-me | Its branches are raised, foreman: Namme |
| 66 | sipad engar nam-me | You are the shepherd and farmer. |
| proverb 7.105, | ||
| 67 | uš-bar du₈-a geme₂ 2(MIN)-am₃ | ... female laborers, 2 (minas) |
| 68 | uŋ₃-il₂ du₈-a arad 3(EŠ₅)-am₃ | U’il, born in Dua, is a slave of 30 (shekels). |
| proverb 7.106, | ||
| 69 | na₄ niŋ₂ ga-ša-an-ŋa₂-a-ke₄ gaz-za-am₃ | She is the one who crushes the holy stone of Gašanba |
| proverb 7.107, | ||
| 70 | lu₂ x-ke₄ ŋi₆-a-ka | The ... of the river |
| 71 | X X du₇-du₇-du₇-un | I want to ... |
| proverb 7.108, | ||
| 72 | ki DIM₃-e ŋa₂-a-kam | It is the “place of the demon’s disappearance.' |
| 73 | X mu-ni-ib-zig₃-zig₃ | ... rises. |
| proverb 7.120, | ||
| 89 | x ŊA₂ x-ra-am₃ | ... is ... |
| proverb 7.121, | ||
| 90 | iri{ki} en₃-du-bi maš₂-šu-gid₂-gid₂-bi | The song of the city is a mašgigi song |
| proverb 7.122, | ||
| 91 | x-si-en-de₃-en | we will ... |
| 92 | x-X-en-de₃-en | we will ... |
| 93 | x-gu₇-un-de₃-en | ... we will eat |
| 94 | x-naŋ-en-de₃-en | we shall ... |
| 95 | x E mu-e-dul | ... covered. |
| 96 | x A bi₂-dul | ... covered. |
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.