(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
ETCSLtransliteration : c.6.2.5 ETCSL homepage
(This file includes all unprovenanced manuscripts that consist of proverbs; some of these manuscripts are likely to be from Nibru. The manuscripts are presented in decreasing order of size. Some of the proverbs are duplicated in numbered collections.)

Proverbs: of unknown provenance

IM 62823 = TIM 9 18 (Alster 1997 p. 298)

Segment A

1. […] X X ZI
2. […] X-am3
3. […]-am3
4. […] lu2 X [(X)]-a-kam
5. […] IG-bi […] ki
6. […] X X X […] X
(cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 2)
7. [kug tuku šag4] /an-ḫul2\ še tuku ur5 [an]-sag9
(cf. 6.1.03.23, 6.1.22: ll. 284-286, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 3)
8. [niĝ2-ur2-limmu2 tuku]-/e\ u3 nu-un-da-[ku]-/ku\
(cf. 5.6.1: l. 69)
9. [ur-saĝ dili na-nam dili]-/na?\ lu2 šar2-ra-/am3?\
10. […] UD ba-X
11. […] /EN?\ is-ḫab2-ba X [X]
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. […] X ḪA GU-bi AN […]
2. […] X a-a ba-an-ed3-de3-de3-en
(cf. 6.1.19.d5)
3. [ummušen] gu3 de2 nu-sag9
(cf. 6.1.19.d8)
4. [X (X)] an-na ku6-da engur-ra ḪAR-da mul-am3
(cf. 6.1.21.c8)
5. [ud šu2-šu2]-/ru\ X šag4 ḫul2-la e2-gal-la-kam
6. [X X] X geme2-a-kam
(cf. 6.1.21.c9)
7. [nu-mu]-/un\-na-kal geme2 X-ra-kam
(cf. 6.1.21.c10, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 1-2)
8. [gi4]-/in!\-gi4-in-ne balaĝ ba-ra-an-e3-eš
9. [ga-ša]-an-an-na e-duru2-še3 tuš-tuš
(cf. 6.1.15.c15)
10. [X] X a šu! na4 an-na-kur9!
(cf. 6.1.03.36, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 325 ll. 3-5)
11. [geme2 niĝ2 ḫi-li]-/a?-ke4\ diškur diĝir lugal LIL2!-e
12. [ukuš2-gin7 ki dug3] /ḫu\-mu-/dar?\-e-še

BM 80722 = CT 58 30 (Alster 1997 pp. 287-288)

Segment A

1. /ĝišma2\ dilmun-na tum9 nu-mir ba-an-da-su
2. ĝiš maḫ a-zu šu NE li-bi2-TAG
3. ki-nu2 dug3-ga-zu u3-sa2 nu-mu-ni-nu
4. id2 a maḫ a mi-ni-ib2-de2-a-zu
5. bar-ra!-ĝu10 nu-mu-sed5
6. uš11-ĝu10 nu-mu-ni-til
7. IM DU-da-za še nu-mu-ni-in-la2
8. izi-ĝar-zu-ta gi<šu>-bil-la2-ĝu10 šu bar zid /li\-bi2-ak
9. gan GUG-GUG du-bu-ul-la ab-naĝ-a saĝ-ki nu-ut-tu-tu-ud-du-bi
10. ḫa-la-zu gan tur šu te ba-ab-ḪI-za niĝ2-bi-a GUG-a-bi-e-še
11. [X] X X IN MU ma-an-ra
12. […] X X mu-na-gi-e-še
13. […] NE-NE X
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. […] X X lu2-dim3-ma ugu-ĝa2? di mu-un-dug4-dug4-e-še
2. ḫi-iz-ur-bar-rasar ĝeštin?-ka5-asar-ke4 u2ug u2/piriĝ?\-GI?
3. u2eme-ur-gir15-ra-ke4 u2niĝ2-u2-rum u2gu3-i3-ra-ke4
4. ur-maḫ gu3 de2-de2
5. mu li-bi2-in-tuku-e-še
6. ĝiš-šub lu2-dim3-ma dutu al-dim2-e
7. ur-saĝ-e šag4(source: ZU)-ĝar-ta i3-gam
8. ba-an-gam-ma-ta ki-sig10-ga in-na-ab?-du-/du\-ne

UM 29-16-39 (Alster 1997 p. 300)

1. X X IM A IGI DU GA
2. X X IGI A X X de5-ga-še3
3. X X X BA NE-NE X
4. X X /IM?\ MA nu-me nu-[X]
5. […] X ZA šag4 […]
6. […] X BA lul […]
7. […] ki šag4 iri /MUNUS\ [X X]
8. […]
9. [X] /BA DA\ […]
10. GI […]
11. TU […]-e-še
12. [X] ĜIR2 […]-un-du3
13. lu2? lu2 IN X
14. [X X] /lu2\ ḫe2-[X X] X
15. […] ZI2? BA ZA KA
16. […]-e-e-še
17. […] ĝe26?-e UD DU? IN
18. […] nu-NE-NE-e
19. […] X-ĝu10-e-še
20. […] X ZI2? BA E
21. X E X X X GA UN

UM 29-16-519 (Alster 1997 pp. 300-301)

Segment A

1. […] X KA-KA /ḫe2\-me-ni-tum2-ma
2. […] X EZEN /AN\ [X (X)] /UB?\-ĝu10
3. […] /UŠ?\ [X X (X)] X DI
4. ĝiš MU […] ab-ur3-[ur3]-/re?\-e-/eš\
5. niĝ2 šag4 /ḫul2\-[la X X (X)]-/ta\ gala-ke4 na-an-/ze2?-en? GU? UL\
6. šu-/na\ […] X NE MA? AN? ZU im-ma-/ab?\-ĝa2-ĝa2
(cf. 6.1.14.3, 6.1.16.c1)
7. /igi\ engar-/e\ [mu-e-ši-in]-/il2\-la
8. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ḫa-[ba-ši]-in-il2-e
(cf. 6.1.14.4, 6.1.15.b1, 6.1.16.c2)
9. igi sipad-tur-re mu-/e?\-[ši]-/in\-il2-la
10. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ḫa-[ba-ši]-in-il2-la
(cf. 6.1.14.5, 6.1.15.b2, 6.1.16.c3)
11. igi baḫar2-/e\ mu-[e]-/ši\-in-il2-la
12. den-lil2-le iri nam ku5-ra2-ni ḫa-ba-ši-in-il2-la
(cf. 6.1.15.b3)
13. [igi nu-ĝiškiri6-e mu]-/e\-ši-in-il2-la
14. den-lil2-le iri nam [ku5]-/ra2\-ni /ḫa\-ba-ši-/in\-il2-/la\
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

(cf. 6.1.14.1)
1. šu [gi4-gi4-ra šu ḫe2-en-na-gi4]
(cf. 6.1.11.56, 6.1.25.9, 6.1.26.a2)
2. e2-/gal\ [ni2-bi]-/še3 gam\-[e-dam]
(cf. YBC 7351, 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259)
3. KU nu-ĝar-/ra!\ [(X)] X DI nu-ĝar-ra dab5-be2-X
4. dumu-nitaḫ e2 /ad\-[da]-na-ka sa-ra!
5. niĝ2-gig dnin-urta-kam
(cf. 6.1.11.66, 6.1.26.a6)
6. /šu\ gi4-[gi4 niĝ2]-gig dnin-urta-kam (followed by: AŠ(erased line))
7. ḫa-la-/bi? ba?-ab?\-[X (X)] X šeš?-da? gid2-i niĝ2-[gig] [d]nin-urta-kam

IM 43438 = TIM 9 19 (Alster 1997 pp. 298-299)

Segment A

(cf. 6.1.09.a1, 6.1.10.1)
1. nir-ĝal2-e a-na-am3 bi2-in-dug4 /nu-sag9?\
(cf. 6.1.09.a3, 6.1.10.3-4, 6.2.2: MDP 27 216)
2. nir-ĝal2-e /kug\-zu-/kam?\ <ukur3> šu dib-ba! /šu? ĝar?\ ĝal2-la [arattaki]
3. dam? KU? e2? X […] X RA e2 […]
4. /dam-ĝu10 dam? MU? DA?\ X […]
5. /IG? DU8 X zag?\ […] tur?-ra BI dug3-/ga\ […]
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. nin u3-ma-ta-ŠEŠ-ŠEŠ li-bi!-/dug4\-[(X)]
2. e2 ad-ta gul-gul [(X)]
3. TUM?-bi gu5-li an?-na [(X)]
(cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 367 l. 1, 5.6.1: l. 184)
4. lu2 niĝ2-tuku lu2 niĝ2 nu-tuku gig-še3 in-[ĝar]
5. i3-ĝal2 nam-tar!-zu ad nu-ni-ĝal2
6. /niĝ2-gig\-zu ḫe2-a niĝ2-tuku ḫa-la ba-zu ḫe2-a
7. NI ur-idim-bi ur-gir15 ur X-ra
8. lu2 ur-a [X]

YBC 8713 (Alster 1997 p. 302)

(cf. 6.1.01.1, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 ll. 1-2)
1. niĝ2-gen6-na-[da]
2. a-ba mu-un-/da\-[sa2]
(cf. 6.1.01.2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 l. 3)
3. niĝ2-erim2-me /a2\-[bi (…)]
(cf. 6.1.01.83, 6.1.26.a11, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 302)
4. [ĝiš]ma2 niĝ2-gen6-[na ni2 ba-ra-dirig]
5. d[utu] /kar\ gen6-na […-kiĝ2-kiĝ2]
6. lu2 X dam-a-ni X [X (X)]
(cf. 6.1.03.42, 6.1.22: ll. 278-279, 6.2.1: Ni 9824 Seg. C ll. 1-2)
7. e2-kinkin(ḪAR)-na du8 ḫe2-ĝal2 geme2 [(X)] ḫa-ba-ra-be2-[e-še]
8. geme2 lul-la kar? ḪAR X (X) [X X]
9. ĝiš-gan-na šu-dib nu-tuku [(X)]
10. igi ba-KAL-KAL teš2-bi la2 [(X)]
11. /pa5?\ ba-X nam-gu5-li ba-X [(X)]
12. [X] X /MU\ [X] nu-X X […]

YBC 4677 (Alster 1997 pp. 301-302)

(cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.19.b1, 6.1.21.b4, 6.1.24.2)
1. šaḫ2 /niga ḫe2-šum?\-e
2. niĝ2 i3-gu7-a ga-ra-ab-gi4?
(cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.19.b2, 6.1.21.b5, 6.1.24.2)
3. šaḫ2ze2-eḫ tur-e al-gud-gu4-ud-de3
4. sag9-ga-aš ĝe26-e nu-ub-gu7
(cf. 6.1.01.16)
5. niĝ2 am3-da-tuku-tuku igi am3-da-uru3-e
(cf. 6.1.01.7)
6. niĝ2 ḫa-lam-ma diĝir-ra-kam
7. šu tu-tu nu-ub-zu
(cf. 6.1.03.25, 6.1.19.c1)
8. den-lil2-le a-na-am3 in-/ak\
9. in-/bul-bul\ urudšukur! ma-an-e3!
10. su-ĝu10 ib2-te-te
(cf. 6.1.03.24)
11. den-lil2 i3-zig3-ge-en-na-ĝu10 /tug2\niĝ2-dara2-ĝu10 du-um

MLC 618 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. den-lil2 in?-[X]
2. in?-a niĝ2-gig
3. maš2 /ba?-da-DU\
4. /MAŠ2\ [X] X X
5. /ur2?\ [(X)] X
6. MU X [(X)]
7. X X X X

UM 29-15-748 (Alster 1997 p. 299)

1. /lu2\ X [X X] /niĝ2? ma?\-an-[X]
2. X X RI KU tar-re
3. [(X)] šeš-gal-la sun5-/sun5\-[X]
4. šeš-e dam mu-un-X
5. X mu-un-ne-X a2?-a bi2-in-taka4
(cf. 6.1.14.45, 6.1.22: ll. 35-37)
6. šaḫ2-e niĝ2 mu-un-la2 [me-a dam]-ĝu10 im-me
7. /nam\-[tar] /u3\-mu-un-/na-te\

BM 57994 (Alster 1997 pp. 109, 288)

Segment A

(cf. 6.1.03.170, 6.1.25.13, 6.1.26.a10)
1. /lu2\ ĝišma2 /lu2?\ X (X) /niĝ2\ kab2?-a di-/da\
2. [gal4]-la tug2-ga šu tag-ga
3. /niĝ2\-gig dsuen-na-kam
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment B

1. nin? […]
2. X […]
3. X […]

CBS 6565 (Veldhuis 2000c fig. 2)

1. X X […]
2. a-na-gin7-/nam\ niĝ2 i3-gu7-a-ĝu10 gub-ba-e-še
3. muš-laḫ5-e muš an-da-/ĝal2\
4. zu2 mu-ra-ze2-X
5. [X] X […]

CBS 6855 (Alster 1997 p. 292)

1. ud-da-tuš A ŠEN […]
2. X […]
3. igi-a utul2-zu /KA\ […]
4. /ud\-da-tuš A X […] X […]
5. [X] X […]

Free Library of Philadelphia unnumbered (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. /di niĝ2\-gen6!-na ḫul-a
2. di niĝ2-erim2-e ki aĝ2
3. niĝ2-gig dutu-kam

MM 1134 (Molina 2000 p. 755)

1. /mušen\ […]
2. mušen A MU X /saĝ\ […]
3. mušen i3-udu mušen-bi bur […]

YBC 7301 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. gud šu-gi4 ki ni10-ni10-da kaš4 u3-bi2-in-du
2. usu niĝ2 ud-bi-da-ĝu10 ni2-me-en gur?-e-še
3. iri re-ta e-da i3-me-am3 usu-ĝu10 niĝ2-tukum-ta-e-še

YBC 7345 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(cf. 6.1.11.85)
1. kud-kud gi-gur ba-an-dab
2. inim-ma-a-ni-ra lu2? al-sag3-e
3. ZA AD? RA?-a lu2-/ulu3?\ al-NI?-DI

YBC 7351 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

(cf. UM 29-16-519 Seg. B ll. 4-5, 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.1.26.a4, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259, 5.6.1: l. 50)
1. di-kud niĝ2-gen6-na ḫul-a aš2 a2 zid-da bal-e
2. dumu-nitaḫ tur-ra e2 ad-da-na-ka ib2-ta-an-sar-re
3. niĝ2-gig dnin-urta-ke4

YBC 7352 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. lu2 inim gen6-na bal-bal
2. inim diĝir-ra-ni-ta nam-tar sag9-ga-am3
3. ud šu2-uš mu-da-ĝal2

Emory 106 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

1. lugal-ĝu10 en an-na šu du7
2. ambar a-ri-a e2 bi2-in-du3

NBC 8070 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. ur3 lugal-bi-ir nu-gub-ba
2. ĝišalal-bi a nu-um-de2-e-še

P 374 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.02.61, 6.2.1: Ni 3318 Seg. A l. 6)
1. ka5-a ĝeštug-bi al-gig
2. ĝiri3-bi al-guz-e

YBC 7320 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1. a-la-zu ni e2 du3-du3-a
2. nam-tur-ra X dam tuku

YBC 7331 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

1. inim-inim niĝ2-si-sa2 tum2-ma
2. did2-lu2-<ru>-gu2 šag4-bi u6 di-e

YBC 7344 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 251 ll. 1-2, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 252 ll. 1-2, 4.06.1: Seg. C ll. 3-4, 5.2.4: l. 9)
1. lu2-ulu3 diĝir-da nu-me-a
2. nu la-ba-gu nu la-ba-tur-ra

YBC 7347 (Alster 1997 p. 331)

(cf. 6.1.03.188)
1. lu2 igištu-ke4 izi /al-gu7\-e
2. lu2 eĝer na-/ab-be2\ me-am3 lu2 du11-/saĝ\

YBC 7348 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. amaš šeg9-bar-ĝu10 en-nam
2. ildum2 50-am3 u2-a ba-an-lu

YBC 7693 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

1. ĝiš-gu2-ka ḫa-mu-ra-an-KU TAR ḪU
2. engar gu4-ra-ke4 addir ḫa-mu-ra-an-/sag3\-ge

YBC 9908 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.25.12, 6.1.26.a3, 5.6.1: ll. 95-96)
1. niĝ2-gur11 [niĝ2]-gur11 lugal
2. an-ku4-ku4 nu-si-sa2 ab-ta-e3-a nu-silig-ge

YBC 9916 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.12.c4)
1. lu2 kuša2-ĝa2-la2-ni nu-keše2-da gu5-li-ni-da
2. šag4 bi2-in-dab5

Homsy Collection no. 21 (Waetzoldt 2001 p. 538)

1. /mu\ sa4-sa4 ur? inim dšakkan2-/ta\\

Homsy Collection no. 22 (Waetzoldt 2001 p. 539)

1. nin amar? an-na pad3-da nu-pad3-da

NBC 8072 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

(cf. 6.1.14.2)
1. dlum-ma lu2 niĝ2 sag9-ga-ra sag9-ga-aš ḫe2-na-ĝal2

P 376 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.02.d13)
1. ĝišbanšur den-lil2-la2-ka ba-ĝal2-la

TIM 10/1 2 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.03.1, 1.8.1.1: l. 28)
1. a-ba zi-bi mu-un-tuku-e-še

UIOM 1999 (Alster 1997 p. 334)

(cf. 6.1.01.66, 6.1.02.119)
1. iri ad4-lu2-u3-ka ba-za lu2-kaš4(source: DU)-e-kam

YBC 1993 (Alster 1997 p. 329)

1. na4 kalag-ga-gin7 ki-zu2-ur5?-ra nu-tuku

YBC 7282 (Alster 1997 pp. 329-330)

1. a-a ḫi?-/li\ a-a keše2 saĝ /ama\ bi2-dug4

YBC 7297 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. KU.ĜA2.NUN-/tir\-ramušen gu3 de2 ĝiššinig-am6 me-te-bi

YBC 7300 (Alster 1997 p. 330)

1. TUR.UZ.ZAmušen gu3 de2 ambar-am3 me-te-bi

YBC 8934 (Alster 1997 p. 332)

(cf. 5.6.1: l. 99)
1. ga-ra-ab-šum2-bi lu2-ra ga-ni-in-us2

YBC 8937 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

1. lugal dub-sar lugal dur maḫ id2-da gib-ba

YBC 9906 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.12.c5)
1. /lu2\ si sa2-/ra na4\kinkin(ḪAR) id2-«UD»-/da\ mu-na-«šu2»-dirig-dirig

YBC 9912 (Alster 1997 p. 333)

(cf. 6.1.03.75, 6.1.07.17)
1. ḫaš2 ba-ra-an-gid2-nam lu2 še-ĝiš-i3 /bi2\-ib2-il2-il2

Print sources

Alster 1997a, p. 287-302, 329-334: commentary, score transliteration, translation

Alster 1999a: commentary

Molina 2000a, p. 755, 760: score transliteration, translation, photograph, handcopy, commentary (MM 1134)

Veldhuis 2000c, p. 394-396: score transliteration, translation, handcopy, commentary (CBS 6565)

Waetzoldt 2001, p. 538-539: score transliteration, translation, commentary (Homsy Collection No. 21, 22)

Electronic sources

Krecher 1995: composite text, translation

Cuneiform sources

MLC 618

NBC 8070

NBC 8072

YBC 1993

YBC 4677

YBC 7282

YBC 7297

YBC 7300

YBC 7301

YBC 7320

YBC 7331

YBC 7344

YBC 7345

YBC 7347

YBC 7348

YBC 7351

YBC 7352

YBC 7693

YBC 8713

YBC 8934

YBC 8937

YBC 9906

YBC 9908

YBC 9912

YBC 9916

Emory 106

Free Library of Philadelphia, unnumbered

P 374

P 376

TIM 10/1 2

UIOM 1999

CBS 6565

BM 80722 (CT 58, 30; coll. J. Taylor)

IM 62823 = TIM 9, 18

IM 43438 = TIM 9, 19

UM 29-16-519

UM 29-16-39

UM 29-15-748

CBS 6855

MM 1134

BM 57994

Homsy Collection No. 21

Homsy Collection No. 22

Revision history

27.v.2002-06.viii.2002: JT, editor: standardisation
21.xi.2002: JAB, editor: proofreading
16.xii.2002: GC, editor: SGML tagging
20.vi.2003: JE, editor: web publication
01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion
30.iii.2005: GC/JE, senior editor/technical developer: lemmatised version published
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