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Proverbs: collection 8 (Q000801)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Ur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Proverbs: collection 8 |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000801 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Ur |
| Coordinates | 30.9607, 46.1063 |
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 8.a1, | ||
| 1 | šah₂ e₂-a ba-al-ba-al | The pigs were scattered in the house |
| proverb 8.a2, | ||
| 2 | šah₂ lu₂-šah₂-šum-ma mi-ni-ib-šum-e | The pig screams at the man. |
| 3 | gu₃ i₃-ra-ra kaskal ninda₂-zu | When you shout, on the road of your bread |
| 4 | u₃ pa-bil-ga-zu i₃-re₇-eš-am₃ | And Pabilga’s are coming. |
| 5 | u₃ za-e al-du-un-na-ni gu₃ i₃-ra-ra-e-še | And you, when you go, roar for you |
| proverb 8.a3, | ||
| 6 | šah₂-gin₇ ŋiri₂-zu X HA X ba-ab-X | Like a pig, your city ... |
| proverb 8.a4, | ||
| 7 | šah₂-gin₇ šu ab-kar-kar-re | Like a pig it is seized by hand |
| 8 | i-gi₄-in-zu ni₂-te-a-ni lugal-a-ni-še₃-am₃-e-še | Your eye is his own, it is his king |
| proverb 8.a5, | ||
| 9 | šah₂ lu-hu-um-ma su₃-am₃ | The luḫum pig is thick |
| proverb 8.a6, | ||
| 10 | šah₂ ninda pad-ra₂ mu-un-il₂ | He raised a pig carrying bread. |
| proverb 8.a7, | ||
| 11 | x X x X x | |
| proverb 8.b1, | ||
| 1 | X gun₂-ni x X X x x | speckled ... |
| 2 | nu-ub-dirig šag₄ bi₂-zalag-e-še | She does not rejoice, she shines her face |
| proverb 8.b2, | ||
| 3 | megida₂ u₂-gu de₂-a-ta i₃-dur₂-ru-ne | They sat down with the princess after she had departed. |
| 4 | e₂-ir-da mu-un-kal-la-ge-ne | they hold him in the Eʾur. |
| proverb 8.b3, | ||
| 5 | megida₂-gin₇ hi-li nu-mu-ni-in-ak | Like a princess, she does not exercise allure. |
| 6 | ŋi₆ MAŠ-a-ka še al nu-mu-ni-in-dug₄-e-še | In the “increment of abundance"(?) he did not satisfy him |
| proverb 8.b4, | ||
| 7 | maš₂-gin₇ sun₄ la₂-a | like a kid lying down in a heap |
| proverb 8.b5, | ||
| 8 | ud₅-de₃ saŋ rig₇ maš₂ gal-la-ka | In order to feed the goats, in order to gather the large goats |
| proverb 8.b6, | ||
| 9 | ud₅-de₃ ud₅-X na-ab-be₂-a | So that the goat speaks, so that the ... goat |
| 10 | u₃ ŋe₂₆-e saŋ mu-ni-ib-ra-ra | And if he slips in through a hole, |
| proverb 8.b7, | ||
| 11 | ud₅-de₃ nu-ŋen-na e₂-ri-a an-zu | The nanny goat that does not know the cedar tree, Anzu |
| proverb 8.b8, | ||
| 12 | ud₅-de₃ ur-bar-ra-be₂-ne bi₂-in-us₂-us₂ | The dogs pushed the nanny goats away. |
| 13 | i₃-bal ŋiri₃-bi ŋiri₃ bi₂-in-ra | he carried off, and that city he conquered. |
| proverb 8.b9, | ||
| 14 | dim₃-šah₂-gin₇ bid₃-da ka-ga₁₄-na al-sag₃ | Like a pig, he is struck in his mouth |
| proverb 8.b10, | ||
| 15 | lu-lim bar dag-ga | līm-plant, dag-ga-plant |
| maš-da₃ igi nu-la₂ ur igi nu-ŋal₂-la lu₂ šu zig₃-zig₃-ga igi nu-du₈ | The kid does not see the lion, does not look at the dog, the one with raised hands is not seen | |
| proverb 8.b12, | ||
| 17 | maš-da₃-gin₇ a ud 15-kam i₃-naŋ-naŋ | Like a goat he bathes on the 15th day |
| proverb 8.b13, | ||
| 18 | az-e daŋal tag-ga-ab hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ mu-un-ŋen | “Let the wild bulls roam around, I will make it abundant in the mountains. |
| proverb 8.b14, | ||
| 19 | az-e itid 6-kam-ma ti-ba u₃-un-bal | he will bring the cattle in the sixth month. |
| 20 | an u₃-sa₂ na-an-šum₂-mu-un | An, do not give it to him! |
| 21 | ŋa₂-a-gin₇-nam he₂-ug₇-e-še | may they die like a fish. |
| proverb 8.b15, | ||
| 22 | kir₄-gin₇ en-na mi-ni-hab₂-ba nu-gu₇-e-en | As long as I live, I will not eat like a female lamb. |
| proverb 8.b16, | ||
| 23 | umbin su-a i₃-udu-še₃ ba-an-kur₉ | He brought the sheep to the sheep-pen of the thicket |
| proverb 8.b17, | ||
| 24 | su-a-gin₇ kuš du₃-u₃-bi eme-am₃ | Like a pig, its skin is like a tongue |
| proverb 8.b18, | ||
| 25 | su-a ki-in-dar-ra mi-ni-pad₃-de₃ | In order to find a place in the marshes, |
| proverb 8.b19, | ||
| 26 | ka₅-a ur₂ am-si-ka ŋiri₃-bi mu-un-gub | “Did you see the fox in the lap of Amsi? It stood in its city square. |
| 27 | ab-si ab-dirig-e-še | I have surrounded, I have made surpassing. |
| proverb 8.b20, | ||
| 28 | ka₅-a {d}en-lil₂-le si-am-e al u₃-bi₂-in-dug₄ | Enlil made the “opening of the reed-beds"(?) pleasant. |
| 29 | si-am-e ba-ni-in-la₂ im šeŋ₁₄ mu-na-an-zi-zi | He hung the horns for her, he raised the clay for her |
| 30 | habrud-da-ni nu-mu-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | He does not enter with his weapon. |
| 31 | ŋi₆ MAŠ-bi-še₃ {tum₉}mir mir | At its rising, a cloud covered the sky, |
| 32 | muru₉ im-šeŋ₃-ŋe₂₆ | a cloud covered the sky |
| 33 | ugu-ba in-til-la-ta he₂-em-ta-had₂ | After he has finished it, may he have mercy on it. |
| 34 | ŋarza₂ lugal-a-ni-ir ga-ba-ni-ib-gur-e-še | I want to return it to its owner. |
| proverb 8.b21, | ||
| 35 | ka₅-a šir am-e al-us₂-us₂ | The fox, the wild bull, cries out. |
| 36 | i-gi₄-in-zu en-na šag₄-ŋar-ra-na ug₅-ga-a | As long as he lives in his cella |
| proverb 8.b22, | ||
| 37 | ka₅-a eg₂ al-DU gu-du gam-ma-ŋu₁₀ | The gate is open, the gudu drum is played. |
| 38 | lu₂ na-me igi nu-mu-ni-in-du₈ | No one looked at me. |
| proverb 8.b23, | ||
| 39 | ka₅-a sur₁₂ al-du₈-e sur₁₂-a nu-tur-tur | (Sum) The fox is smitten, the fox does not change the šēdu-disease (Akk) It is a fox, a surdišt-demon that is not small |
| 40 | u₃ ka₅-a nu-mu-un-kuš₂-u₃ | and the canal inspector does not tire |
| proverb 8.b24, | ||
| 41 | ka₅-a gu₂ gid₂ ama-na-še₃ ŋeštug₂-ga-ni in-gub-ma | At the gate of the long neck of his mother, he set up his garment. |
| 42 | E X-ŋu₁₀ al-guz-guz-e-še | ... they are standing ready |
| proverb 8.b25, | ||
| 43 | ka₅-a maš₂-bi mu-šub | The ‘gate’ opens its net” (Šumma ālu 31 unknown) |
| 44 | maš₂-tab-ba-ni mu-ni-in-i-i | he made him his rival. |
| proverb 8.b26, | ||
| 45 | ka₅-a kun-bi dugud-dam X X ur₃ la₂-a | Its tail is heavy, its base ... |
| proverb 8.b27, | ||
| 46 | ka₅-a si-ŋar-bi ŋiš-DA-am₃ | Its gate is a ... gate. |
| proverb 8.b28, | ||
| 47 | ka₅-a ud₅-de₃-eš₂ an-na-ab-be₂ | The fox says to the goats: |
| 48 | {kuš}e-sir₂-ŋu₁₀ e₂-zu-a ga-mu-ni-ib₂-ŋar | I want to set up a sandal in your house |
| 49 | du-u₃-da ur-gir₁₅-ra-ka {ŋiš}gag-ta ga-mu-ni-ib₂-la₂ | I want to bring him down from the dog’s nest. |
| 50 | tukum-bi ur-gir₁₅-re e₂-zu-a ur₅-ra-še₃ an-til₃ | If a dog in your house is thirsty, (he will) live |
| 51 | {kuš}e-sir₂-ŋu₁₀ DU-u₃ | a leather bag made of emmer |
| 52 | ŋi₆ na-an-sa₂-e-en-e-še | should not be placed in the river |
| proverb 8.b29, | ||
| 53 | ka₅-a dur₂ {ŋiš}kiši₁₇-še₃ in-kur₉-ma | he brought into the “gate of the cowherd’s womb" and |
| 54 | ŋa₂-nu e₃-im-ta ed₂-de₃ nu-ub-zu | “If he does not know how to go out from the netherworld, |
| 55 | gu₂-e-ta a-na-gin₇-nam i₃-kur₉-re-en | Why do you turn away from the throne? |
| 56 | en-na-me-še₃-am₃ na-an-sar-sar | How long will you not write? |
| 57 | al-tuš-en-e-še | I sit down for him |
| proverb 8.b30, | ||
| 58 | ka₅-a x | gate ; |
| 59 | e-ne dirig ne-e lul ab-dirig-e-še | The one who surpasses him, the one who frightens him |
| proverb 8.b31, | ||
| 60 | ka₅-a zig₃-ga-gin₇ za-pa-aŋ₂-zu a-gar₃-re ab-gur-e-še | When you rise like a rising flood, when you turn to the meadows |
| proverb 8.b32, | ||
| 61 | ka₅-a a-na-am₃ al-ak-a | what have I done? |
| 62 | ur-gir₁₅-re a-na-am₃ mu-un-ši-ib-ak-de₃ | What did the dog do? |
| proverb 8.b33, | ||
| 63 | ka₅-a nam-lul-la ŋeštug₂-ga-ni in-gub-ma | The gate of evil has set his garment on, and |
| 64 | ba-šub-bu-de₃-en id₂-da mi-ni-ib-tum₂-en-e-še | When I stand in the river, they bring me into the river |
| proverb 8.b34, | ||
| 65 | ka₅-a {ŋiš}ilar-e mu-un-ni₁₀-ni₁₀ | The canal inspector makes the bilar canals tremble |
| 66 | kaš-de₂-a ne-en dug₃-ga a-ba-a ba-ab-šum₂-mu-e-še | Who will bring me good beer? |
| proverb 8.b35, | ||
| 67 | ka₅-a lu₂-igi-ze₂-ze₂ u₃-bi₂-in-dab₅ | He seized Lu-igize, the gatekeeper. |
| 68 | ne-eš₂ er₂ mu-e-še₈-še₈ šu ba-mu-u₈-e-še | Then she weeps, she cries. |
| proverb 8.b36, | ||
| 69 | ur₂ ka₅-a-ka uzu al-du₈-e | He cuts the meat in the open thigh. |
| 70 | ugu {d}nin-kilim-ma nu-um-me ba-ab-dug₄ | against Ninkilima he did not speak, |
| proverb 8.c1, | ||
| 1 | lu₂ še tuku-tuku X u₃ mu-un-ku-ku | (Sum) The one who has possessions ... (Akk) The man who possesses possessions and ... |
| 2 | X MU gud NE-ba-an | ... ... |
| proverb 8.c2, | ||
| 3 | dar{mušen}-re im-du₃-a gu₃ u₃-bi₂-in-de₂ | The arrow, when it was built, roared |
| 4 | he₂-uš₂{mušen} 2 šu-si nu-la₂-e x | May he not ... two fingers |
| proverb 8.c3, | ||
| 5 | bi₂-za-za{mušen}-gu₃-balaŋ-ŋa₂-kar-gir₅-za-na{mušen} | Bizazamušvengubala-kargirzanamus |
| 6 | x ad u₃-mu-ni-in-ŋar | ... he smote. |
| 7 | x X UN eme en-nu-x | ... tongue ... |
| proverb 8.c4, | ||
| 8 | x X X X X X | |
| proverb 8.d1, | ||
| 1 | x X X x | |
| 2 | x x X al-dug₄-e x | ... is pleasing ... |
| 3 | x gaz ma-an-dug₄-e-še | ... is sweet for me |
| proverb 8.d2, | ||
| 4 | uga{mušen} {dug}sahar an-da-x | The ugamuš-demon, the sahar-vessel of heaven, |
| 5 | ka₅-a en₃ i-ni-in-tar X | The fox inquired after ... |
| 6 | me-am₃ i-ib₂-su₃-e | where is he going? |
| 7 | {id₂}idigna {id₂}buranun-na-še₃ i-ni-in-su₃-e | he filled the Tigris and Euphrates with it |
| 8 | a-na-aš-am₃ en₃ mu-e-tar-tar-re | Why do you inquire? |
| proverb 8.d3, | ||
| 9 | a-zag-gun₃{mušen}-gin₇ igi-a aga X | Like an azangun bird, before ... |
| 10 | x |DU.DU| x | ...; |
| proverb 8.d4, | ||
| 11 | X mu-e-de₃-KU x x X | ... you ... |
| 12 | x-le-en-de₃-en | we will ... |
| proverb 8.d5, | ||
| 13 | x igi dar x x X | ... eye ... |
| proverb 8.e1, | ||
| 1 | {ŋiš}ŋišnimbar lugal-e x | The king, my lord |
| 2 | TAR NE-NE-me šu-gi x | ... hand |
| 3 | ŋiš-gin₇ su-zu-še₃ a-ra-x x | Like a cow ... to your body |
| proverb 8.e2, | ||
| 4 | ŋiš-e GA uš-bar-bi i-ni-in-X | He ... the breast of a pig |
| 5 | ŋe₂₆-e u₃ za-e šeš-me-en-de₃-en | “O you, we are indeed |
| 6 | a-na-aš-am₃ šag₄ ba-ni-dar-re | Why is the earth trembling? |
| 7 | DU ŋe₂₆-e a-na-a ga-ba-ak | What can I do about it? |
| 8 | na₄ dirig ŋe₂₆-e al-kal-la-ge ugu-ŋa₂ i₃-ra-ra-e-še | (Sum) The one who weighs out the mighty stone(?), he will tremble over it (Akk) It is the one who weighed out the supreme stone(?) upon it |
| proverb 8.e3, | ||
| 9 | ŋiš-e {ŋiš}uš-bar-bi he₂-eb-dar-re | May the “seizing-of-the-mouth''-demons’ (šumma ālu 31 unknown) be split apart. |
| proverb 8.e4, | ||
| 10 | {ŋiš}gu-za igi-du₈-a kan₄-na gub-gub | The throne, the gatekeeper, stands at the gate. |
| proverb 8.e5, | ||
| 11 | {ŋiš}banšur in-hul₂ id₂-da i₃ mu-sur | He rejoiced over the table, he filled the river with oil. |
| 12 | {ŋiš}banšur igi-zu-še₃ al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The table before you is set up. |
| 13 | i₃-gu₇ nu-gu₇ X X-e mu-zu-e-še | I do not eat, I know ... |
| proverb 8.e6, | ||
| 14 | {ŋiš}ig erin-na-ke₄ tug₂ ki-sikil ŋar-ra LI-ta la₂ x | The door of the cedar, the garment of the maiden ... |
| proverb 8.e7, | ||
| 15 | {ŋiš}buniŋ(SUG)-me ŋeštin si-si-še₃ ŋeštug bar-ta-am₃ | They are slacken with wine, they are covered with a cloth. |
| proverb 8.e8, | ||
| 16 | {ŋiš}ilar {lu₂}ni₂-zuh ugu udu keše₂-da am₃-šub | The nizuḫ priest stands on top of the sheep bound. |
| proverb 8.e9, | ||
| 17 | {ŋiš}ilar-e x | Ištar |
| proverb 8.e10, | ||
| 18 | {ŋiš}kun₄ im-x | he ... a reed bundle |
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.