Appendix 12: Proverbs

Marco De Pietri, Stefania Ermidoro – March 2022

Appendix 12: Proverbs

Appendix 12: Proverbs

Sources:
     Autograph: Lambert 1960 Wisdom = Lambert, Wilfred George 1960, Babylonian Wisdom Literature, Oxford: Clarendon Press, Plates.
     Akkadian text and English translation (columns 2, 4): Lambert 1960 Wisdom = Lambert, Wilfred George 1960, Babylonian Wisdom Literature, Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 213-282.
     Sumerian text/Akkadian text and English translation (columns 2-3 and 4): Gordon 1968 Proverbs = Gordon, Edmund I. 1968, Sumerian Proverbs. Glimpses of Everyday Life in Ancient Mesopotamia, New York: Greenwood Press.

NB₁: the “ / ” used in Appendix 12.1 indicates line ending; the “ // ” used in Appendix 12.3 shows that in the tablet there is a horizontal line used to divide the text in paragraphs.
NB₂: in Appendix 12.1, column 3 offers the phonemic transcription of the Sumerian text, displaying also hyperlinks to ePSD2 2.1 for some specific terms.

Appendix 12.1

Invocations
Gordon 1968 Proverbs = Gordon 1968
Text.line, pages Gordon	Sumerian text (syllabic transcription)	Sumerian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Gordon	Comment Gordon	English translation gB	Comment gB
1.83	/	/	/	/	In an insult there is his insult, in a curse there is his curse: (here) of fate its many places.	(That is: it is destiny to reap what you sow).
2.4, 180-181	a-a igi i-ni-in-bar nam-tar-mu ba-deb-ba	a.a igi inin.bar namtar.mu ba.dib.ba	I looked into the water: (it was) my Fate which was walking there!	Perhaps an allusion to divining the future by hydromancy	I looked into the water: I saw my destiny walking on it.	(Perhaps referable to a hydromantic divination act, i.e., based on water).
2.5, 181-182	u₄nam-tar-gig-ga-ka ba-tu-ud-d[è-en]	ud.namtar.gig.ga.ka ba.utud.en	I was born on an ill-fated day.	Cf. the Book of Job, ch. 3, and, perhaps, the even closer statement of Plautus, Mos. 3.1, “Natus dis inimicus [sic] omnibus”	I was born on a day (marked) by a sick fate.	/
2.11, 185-186	nam-tar ur-ra-àm zú mu-un-da-an-kur₅ / túg-mu-sír-ra-gim im-ma-tab-tab / a-ba-àm lú-mu ḫu-mu-un-da-an-zu	namtar ur.ra.me zu mu.un.da.an.kur / tug.mu.sir.ra.gim im.ma.tabba / aba.me lu.mu hu.mu.un.da.an.zu	(The demon) Fate is a dog: he has bitten (him(?)); / He (i.e., Fate) has twist ed himself up like a rag; / Who, my (good) man, can recognize him?	The relation between the first line (in which Fate – here probably Death – is said to bite his victims like a dog) and the last two lines of the proverb (which seem to say that the workings of Fate are shrouded in mystery) is somewhat obscure.	Fate is (like) a dog that bites, it is like a cloth that (one) wraps around one’s self (and suffocates one): who, my friend, can ever recognize it?	/
2.12, 186	nam-tar túg-ga-àm edin-na mu-un-na-an-suru₅	namtar tuggam eden.na mu.un.na.an.sur	Fate is a cloth which hangs over one in the steppe.	That is, perhaps, danger lurks everywhere outside the inhabited areas. For the metaphor, cf., perhaps, “the sword of Damocles,” and the English idiom “to hang like a pall overhead”; cf. also the maxim of Cicero: “Death, like the rock of Tantalus, ever hangs over our heads” [see Cicero, Fin.1.60].	Fate is a cloth hanging over someone in the steppe.	/
2.13, 187	nam-tar u₄-huš-kalam-ma-ri-a	namtar ud.huš.kalam.ma.ri.a	Fate is a furious storm blowing through the Land (Sumer).	Cf., perhaps, the English expression “an ill wind which blows no good.”	Fate is a blizzard blowing over the country (of Sumer).	/
2.14, 187	nam-tar ur-zír-ra-àm egir-ra-na mu-un-du	namtar ur.zir.ra.me egir.ra.na mu.un.du	(The demon) Fate is a vicious(?) dog (who) makes one walk behind him.	Cf. also proverb 2.11 for another comparison between the demon Namtar and a dog.	Fate is a ferocious dog that forces someone to keep after it (= far away).	/

Appendix 12.2

Invocations
Lambert 1960 Wisdom = Lambert 1960
Page and line Lambert	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Lambert	English translation gB
p. 218: 11-14	šaḫ-šá-aḫ-ḫu ina pān ru-bé-⸢e⸣ [i-da-]bu-ba zi-ra-a-te (12) i-qab-bi ni-kil-tùm-ma i-tam-ma-a a-⸢ḫi-i⸣-ta (13) ru-[b]u-ú ina taḫ-sis-ti-šu ú-sal-la ^dšamaš (14) ^dšá-maš lu-ú ti-i-di da-mi nišī^meš ba-ߴ-i qa-tuš-šú	šaḫšaḫḫu ina pān rub⸢ē⸣ [ida]buba zirāte (12) iqabbi nikiltum-ma itamma a⸢ḫī⸣ta (13) ru[b]ū ina taḫsistišu usalla Šamaš (14) Šamaš lū tīdi dami nišī bāߴi qātuššu	The maligner speaks hostile words before the ruler, (12) talking cunningly, uttering slander. (13) The ruler, thinking it over, prays to Šamaš, (14) “Samas, you know. Hold him responsible for the blood of the people.”	The slanderer spreads words of hate in front of the prince [...] (12) he says sly things, he pronounces slanders. (13) The prince reflects on it and addresses a prayer to the sun-god: (14) "O sun-god, you well know (how things are), hold him accountable for the blood of the people!"

Page and line Lambert	Sumerian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Lambert	English translation gB
p. 263: 12-15	šu.gi₄.gi₄.ra (13) šu {ḫé} ḫé-en-gi₄ (14) ^dḫum.ma (15) [l]ú.inim.gar.ša₆.ga.ra	a-na mu-ter gi-mil-l[i] (13) gi-mil-lum li-túr-š[ú] (14) ŠU-m[a] (15) šá i-gir-re-e dam-q[í]	ana muter gimill[i] (13) gimillum liturš[u] (14) Ḫumm[a] (15) ša igirrē damq[i]	May kindness be repaid to him (13) who does a kindness. (14) May Ḫumma grant favour (15) to him of whom favour is predicated.	May those who show compassion (13) receive in turn compassion. (14) May Humma pour good things (15) on the one who enjoys a good reputation.
p. 263: 4-8	[igi].baḫár.e (5) im.šèg.gá mu.un.ši.íb.íl.e (6) ^den.líl.le (7) uru nam.tar.áš.dug₄.ga.šè (8) ḫa.ba.an.ši.íb.íl.e	nap-lu-u[s pa-ḫa-ri] (5) a-na zu-un-ni × [..] (6) ^den-lil (7) a-na āli šá ši-ma-tu-šú a[r-rat] (8) lip-pa-[lis]	naplu[s paḫāri] (5) ana zunni × [..] (6) Enlil (7) ana āli ša šimātušu a[rrat] (8) lippa[lis]	The glance of the potter (5) is turned in the direction of rain. (6) May Enlil (8) glance (7) at the city whose fate is a curse.	The potter's gaze (5) is turned towards the rain. (6) May Enlil (8) look away (7) to the city whose fate is a curse.

Appendix 12.3

Invocations
Lambert 1960 Wisdom = Lambert 1960
Page and line Lambert	Sumerian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription)	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription)	English translation Lambert	English translation gB
p. 227: 31-32	giš.tukul ù.⸢bí⸣.i.e (32) dingir á.daḫ.zu ḫé-a	^gi[^škakku .....]-ma (32) il[u lu ri-ṣu-k]a	kakku .....]-ma (32) il[u lū rīṣuk]a	(31-32) [Unsheathe] your sword! (32) (Your) god is your help.	(31-32) Draw your weapon: god is your rescue.
Comment by gB: “(Help yourself, that heaven may help you)”.
pp. 227-228: 42-45	[á.d]aḫ.zu níg.tuku.nu.me.a (43) [dingir].ra.àm (44) [sig] kala.ga (45) dingir ⸢á.daḫ⸣.zu na.nam	ri-ṣu-ka ul maš-[ru-ú] (43) i-lu-um-[ma] (44) ṣe-ḫe-er r[a-bi] (45) ilum-ma r[i-ṣu-ka]	rīṣuka ul maš[rū] (43) ilum-[ma] (44) ṣeḫēr r[abī] (45) ilum-ma r[īṣuka]	(42-43) It is not wealth that is your support. (44-45) It is (your) god. Be you small or great, it is (your) god who is your support.	(42-43) Your rescue is not wealth: it is only god. Whether one is small or great, only god is your rescue.
p. 233: 1-3	[é.gal] dug₄.ga.a.n]i an.na.gin₇ nu.gam.da (2) [lugal ^dutu.gin₇] inim.a.ni zi.da (3) [dug₄.ga.a.ni nu ... ka.t]a.è.a.ni šu nu.bala.e	ēkallum qí-bi-is-sa ki-ma qí-[bi-it ^da-nim] (2) ul na-da-at šarru ki-ma ^d[šá-maš a-mat-su ki-na-at] (3) qí-bi-is-su ul iš-šá-na-an ⸢ṣi-it pi-šú⸣ [ul ut-tak-kar]	ēkallum qibīssa kīma qi[bīt Anim] (2) ul nadāt šarru kīma [Šamaš amāssu kināt] (3) qibīssu ul iššanān ⸢ṣīt pīšu⸣ [ul uttakkar]	(1-3) The command of the palace is like Anu's: it may not be set aside. Like Šamaš', the king's word is sure, his command is unequalled, and his utterance cannot be altered.	(1-3) The command of the palace is like the command of the sky-god: it is not discarded The king is like the sun-god: his word is unshakable, his command is unparalleled, what comes out of his mouth is indisputable.
Other translation: T. Jacobsen, in H. Frankfort et al., The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man, p. 203 = Before Philosophy, p. 218.
p. 233: 4-5	[é.gal an.na.gin₇ d]ug₄.ga.a.ni zi.da (5) [lugal ^dutu.gin₇ níg.si.sá ki ba.]ág níg.ne.ru ḫul ba.gig	ēkallum ki-ma ^da-nim qí-bi-is-s[a ki-na-at] (5) šarru ki-ma ^d[š]á-maš mi-šá-ra i-ra-am [rag-ga i-zi-ir]	ēkallum kīma Anim qibīss[a kināt] (5) šarru kīma [Š]amaš mīšara irām [ragga izīr]	(4-5) The command of the palace, like Anu's, is sure. Like Šamaš, the king loves righteousness and hates evil.	(4-5) The command of the palace is as unshakable as that of the sky-god. The king is like the sun-god: he loves justice and hates evil.
p. 265: 7-8 (rev.)	umuš dingir.r[a n]u.zu a.rá dingir.ra n[u].×.× (8) [n]íg.nam dingir.ra pàd.da × × ba [×]	ṭe₄-em ili ul il-lam-mad [....] (8) mim-mu ili a-na a-[.....]	ṭēm ilī ul ilammad [....] (8) mimmū ilī ana a-[.....]	(7-8) The will of a god cannot be understood, the way of a god cannot be known. Anything of a god [is difficult] to find out.	(7-8) The will of the gods is not understood, their way is not known. It is hard to find out everything about a god.
p. 282: 9-13	Sumerian unattested	[š]a qa-bu-u-ni am-me-ú (10) [m]a-a ṣilli (giš.ge₆) ili a-me-lu (11) [u] ṣilli ^lúa-me-le-e (12) [a]-me-lu: šarru: šu-ú (13) [qé]-e mu-uš-šu-li šá ili	[š]a qabūni ammu (10) [m]ā ṣilli (giš.ge₆) ili amēlu (11) [u] ṣilli amēli (12) [a]mēlu: šarru: šū (13) [q]ē muššuli ša ili	As people say: (10) “Man is the shadow of a god, (11) and a slave is the shadow of a man”; (12) but the king (13) is the mirror of a god.	As people say: (10) "Man is the shadow of a god, (11) the slave (!) is the shadow of a man, (12) but the king – (13) the king is the bronze of the god's reflection (= mirror).
Note of Lambert: “It is not clear whether the last clause is an addition of the flattering writer, for he was addressing the Assyrian king, perhaps Esarhaddon, or whether it is really part of the proverb. qê muššuli ߵreflecting copperߴ is presumably Akkadian for ߵmirrorߴ. The difficulty of the proverb lies in lú a-me-le-e [a]-me-lu, and though the rendering given makes best sense, ߵslaveߴ is amēlūtu, not amēlu”.
p. 240: 11-21	Sumerian lost	sà-ar-t[a] (12)la te-pu-u[š] (13)pu-luḫ-ta [ili] (14)la ik-kal-k[a] // (15)a-ma-ta la tu-lam-man (16) [n]i-⸢is⸣-sà-tú ana libbi-ka (17) [la ta-š]ad-da-ad // (18)[le]-mut-ta (19) [la] te-ep-pu-uš (20) [dan-n]a-ta da-ri-ta (21) [l]a ta-liq-qí	sart[ā] (12)lā tepu[š] (13)puluḫta [ili] (14)lā ikkalk[a] / (15)amātā lā tulamman (16) [n]⸢is⸣satu ana libbika (17) [lā taš]addad / (18)[le]muttā (19) [lā] tepuš (20) [dann]āta dārīta (21) [l]ā taliqqi	(11-14) Commit no crime, and fear [of (your) god] will not consume you. (15-17) Slander no one, and then grief [will not] reach your heart. (18-21) Do [no] evil, and then you will not experience lasting misfortune.	(11-14) Do not do evil things: the fear of god will not consume you. (15-17) Do not say evil things: anxiety will not crawl into your heart. (18-21) Do not do bad things: bad luck will not chase you forever.
p. 229: 24-26	ud.da á.tuku ní.te dingir.ra (25) mu.ni.in.lá (26) dingir ár.ag.en ù lugal.ra ba.an.na.ab.bé	u₄-ma né-me-el pa-la-aḫ ili (25) ta-ta-mar (26) ila ta-na-ߴ-ad ana šarri ta-kar-rab	ūma nēmel palāḫ ili (25) tatamar (26) ila tanaߴad ana šarri takarrab	(24-26) When you have seen the profit of reverencing (your) god, you will praise (your) god and salute the king.	(24-26) The day you saw the benefit of the fear of god, you will praise god, you will offer a blessing to the king.