Old Babylonian

“1 line fragmentary 1 line fragmentary A robber was coming out, a liar ....... They are thieves, these men who took the turnips. Why do you not ...... them? The thief, out of fear of facing a lion, becomes a man driven by fear of facing a lion cub. The thief extends winter to the beginning of summer. They saw a thief at noon. They ...... but it blinded them to him. Thus he carried the loot away. When a burglar makes a hole, he makes it narrow. The owner of a house should reinforce the windows against burglars. They caught a burglar breaking into a house: "Let me ......." A hired worker who was lifting a rudder upwards ...... gathering (?) wood ...... said: "What I gave you at the boat's bow -- let me now give it to you from the boat's stern. Do you know what it is?"”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.13: Proverbs: collection 13. 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.6.1.13

“(cf. 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 1) Let the favour be repaid to him who repays a favour. (cf. 6.2.5: NBC 8072) May Lumma grant prosperity to him {who speaks well of others} {(1 ms. has instead:) who has good things}. (cf. 6.1.16.c1, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 7-8) The farmer lifts his gaze to you (i.e. Enlil) : "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed." (cf. 6.1.15.b1, 6.1.16.c2, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 9-10) The herdsman lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed." (cf. 6.1.15.b2, 6.1.16.c3, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 11-12) The potter lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed."”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.14: Proverbs: collection 14. 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.6.1.14

“(= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 1) 1 line fragmentary (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 2) 1 line fragmentary (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 3A) Then, when you shout like a fool, someone should say: "Your ...... is a captured donkey!" (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 3B) It is an insult to ....... It is the dignity of the palace. (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 4) The well-wisher is the mother of the refugee. (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 5) May the people wish you well. May your god grant what you are in agreement with (?). (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 6) 2 lines unclear (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 7) 1 line unclear (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 8; cf. 6.1.19.f3) ...... food for his sustenance ...... cut ....... 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.15: Proverbs: collection 15. 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.6.1.15

“6 lines fragmentary 3 lines fragmentary 7 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 3 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.03.10) You should get rid of the shepherd, so his sheep will not come back into his charge. (cf. 6.1.03.11) The wise shepherd has become confused, and his sheep will not come back into his charge. (cf. 6.1.03.9, 6.1.23.7) A shepherd's sex appeal is his penis; a gardener's sex appeal is his hair. (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.22: ll. 26-27, 6.1.23.7) An unjust heir who does not support a wife, who does not support a child, has no cause for celebration. 2 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.03.6) "Let me go today" is what a herdsman says. Let me go tomorrow is what a shepherd boy says. ....... His property ....... Let me go!'.......”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.16: Proverbs: collection 16. 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.6.1.16

“3 lines fragmentary 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 3 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.22: ll. 203-206, 1.8.1.5: ll. 28-29, 1.8.1.5.1: ll. 12-13, 6.3.a: ll. 17-18) No one is tall enough to reach up and touch the heavens. No one is broad enough to lift his gaze over the whole earth. No one is strong enough even to stretch himself fully in his bed. But you (?), who roar like a storm -- may you establish yourself like a lion. 1 line unclear No man can bring about your demise. (cf. 6.1.09.a8, 6.1.10.9-12, 6.1.19.a1, 5.6.7: ll. 28-31) I was a youth -- now my personal god, and access to…”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.17: Proverbs: collection 17. 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.6.1.17

“1 line fragmentary ...... flourish ...... your lord ate. ...... grain all been eaten in the ...... field ....... How did you value the flourishing? The idleness of a low-life causes losses; his shying away (?) from work is perpetual. Employ a low-life -- fire him after half a day! (cf. 6.1.26.c2) He who pays with high-valued silver negotiates a favourable position. Your worthiness is the result of chance. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 281) The quick one hid, the strong one fled; the talker got into the palace. 2 lines fragmentary 1 line fragmentary Whenever there is excess, an axe remedies it! The pits on the mounds will be levelled.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.18: Proverbs: collection 18. 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.6.1.18

“(cf. 6.1.10.10-12, 6.1.17.b3: ll. 14-17, 5.6.7: ll. 29-31) My black mountain has sprouted white gypsum. My mother sent to me a man from the forest, who has given me paralysed hands. My mongoose, which used to eat strong-smelling food, can no longer stretch its neck even towards a jar of ghee. unknown no. of lines missing (cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.21.b4, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 1-2) When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered, one says: "Let me replace what I eat." (cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.21.b5, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 3-4) As the piglet snuffles around, it says: "I can no longer take pleasure in eating."”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.19: Proverbs: collection 19. 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.6.1.19

“(cf. 6.1.07.1, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. A ll. 1-2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 356 ll. 3-8) "In those places which have been destroyed, let more places be destroyed. And in those places which have not been destroyed, let a breach be made there. Let his place become like chopped-up turnips!" -- Their rituals were alienated. Where there were bonds, that place was destroyed. Their place in the universe was eradicated. -- You should not alienate their rituals! Where there are bonds, you should not destroy the place! You should not eradicate their place in the universe. You should not move the oxen from their places!”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.02: Proverbs: collection 2 + 6. 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.6.1.02