Old Babylonian

“(obverse) ... [...] (illegible) Enlil-...-[...] (personal name) in Nippur [...] and Isin [...] the bala-service (rotational duty) performed, Ali-[...] he shall not raise a claim [...] he sw[ore] by the name of the king. [Before] Nūr-iya, the nigdaba (requisition) official, ... [...] [Before] ...-ummuhu, the merchant, son of [...] [...] ... (traces; remainder lost)”

Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · low confidence

“The wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! My king, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! Pabilsaj, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! His house, the house of Larag, is noble, his house is noble! His city, a mighty city, is abundant, and his house is noble! The warrior's house is the house of Larag; Lord Pabilsaj's city is a mighty city ....... His birthplace was the shrine Nibru ....... The place where he drank good milk was the house ....... From the place, the pure place, ....... Isin, the unique house ....... The place which the bull embraces ....... Like a scorpion rising up from among the thorns, he is a fearsome scorpion; like a wolf rising up from his lair, he is likely to growl; like a lion rising up in the pathway, he is likely to beat .......”

Source: ETCSL c.1.7.8: Pabilsang's journey to Nibru. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.1.7.8

“Enlil, the king of all the lands, entrusted Utu-hejal, the mighty man, the king of Unug, the king of the four quarters, the king whose orders cannot be countermanded, with wiping out the name of Gutium, the fanged (?) snake of the mountains, who acted with violence against the gods, who carried off the kingship of Sumer to foreign lands, who filled Sumer with wickedness, who took away spouses from the married and took away children from parents, who made wickedness and violence normal in the Land. He went to his lady, Inana, and prayed to her: "My lady, lioness in the battle, who butts the foreign lands, Enlil has entrusted me with bringing back the kingship to Sumer. May you be my help!"”

Source: ETCSL c.2.1.6: Poem of Utu-hejal. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.1.6

“Lipit-Ectar, proud king, enthroned prince, most seemly offshoot of kingship, who walks like Utu, brilliant light of the Land, lofty in nobility, riding on the great divine powers; who settles the people in the four quarters; favoured by Enlil, beloved by Ninlil, trustworthy youth with shining eyes, worthy of the throne-dais, whose seemly head is adorned with the tiara, the good headdress, who holds in his hand (1 ms. has instead: is perfect with) the sceptre over the black-headed, prince Lipit-Ectar, son of Enlil, wise shepherd, who leads the people to let them relax ...... in pleasant shade, lord, great bison, beloved by An! Your trust is put in mother Ninlil; Lipit-Ectar, you exert great power.”

Source: ETCSL c.2.5.5.2: Praise of Lipit-Eshtar (Lipit-Eshtar B). Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.5.5.2

“(cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 ll. 1-2, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 ll. 1-2) Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 l. 3, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 l. 3) If wickedness exerts itself, how will Utu succeed? You should not cut the throat of that which has already had its throat cut. You should not say to Ninjiczida: "Let me live!" Do not make me pass through the gate! (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 1) What has submitted will exhibit resistance. (cf. 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 6-7) What has been destroyed belongs to a god. No one is able to take it away. "Though I still have bread left over, I will eat your bread!" Will this endear a man to the household of his friend?”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.01: Proverbs: collection 1. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.6.1.01

“(cf. 6.1.09.a1, 6.2.5: IM43438 Seg. A l. 1) Whatever the man in authority said, it was not pleasant. (cf. 6.1.09.a2) Whatever the man in authority said, it was not right. (cf. 6.1.09.a3, 6.2.2: MDP 27 216, 6.2.5: IM 43438 Seg. A l. 2) When the authorities are wise, and the poor are loyal, it is the effect of the blessing of Aratta. (cf. 6.1.09.a4, 6.1.22: l. 190, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 80 l. 18) The mighty man is master of the earth. (cf. 6.1.09.a5) It is from a man's mouth that strength comes. (cf. 6.1.09.a6, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 462) Strength cannot keep pace with intelligence. (cf. 6.1.09.a7) The strength of my god completes my own.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.10: Proverbs: collection 10. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.6.1.10

“...... the storehouse ....... (cf. 6.1.03.55, 6.1.07.48) As long as you live you should not increase evil by lying; for if you do, to succumb will be your lot. (cf. 6.1.02.133, 6.1.22: l. 80, 6.1.26.d3) To collect firewood is a job for the strong man. The weak man sits waiting for him on dry land. (cf. 6.1.01.150) 1 line unclear Let an articulate man live in the house with you like a wicked poor man. Like my own affairs, antimony paste (?) is air: let ...... fat be eaten in the mist. (cf. 6.1.02.103) Although the lamentation priest's grain boat was sinking, he would be walking on dry land. (cf. 6.1.02.103) Enki 2 lines fragmentary”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.11: Proverbs: collection 11. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.6.1.11

“(= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 1) 4 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 2) The master ...... does not eat ...... dough ....... (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 3) The master ...... his servant ....... (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 4) The master knows. The steward does not know. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 5) May the master sleep at your side, and may the mistress slap your face. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 6) The lord of the house, your ......; ......, a restraint. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 7) The lord and lady of the house touch the figurine. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 8) The granary collects. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 9) Outgoings are a matter for both, and now I also am one of them.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.12: Proverbs: collection 12. Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.6.1.12