Sumerian proverb of the Day and Sumerian Cuneiform - Android application

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"Sumerian Proverb of the Day"

Based on the ETCSL collection: Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Ebeling, J., Flückiger-Hawker, E., Robson, E., Taylor, J., and Zólyomi, G., The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature ( http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/ ), Oxford 1998-2006.

Direct link to ePSD: The Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary ( http://psd.museum.upenn.edu/epsd )

"Sumerian Cuneiform writing" (based on unicode "UR-III" fonts) with direct link to ePSD.

For transliteration you can use

e.g., /d/ba-u2 nin(SAL.KUG) iri-kug-ga
or   ?d?ba,u2 nin(SAL.KUG) iri,kug,ga

[ Android app © veg.csaba@gmail.com ]

Notes are welcome: veg.csaba@gmail.com

 

 

Sumerian proverbs - selected from ETCSL

 

𒃻 𒂵 𒋾 𒉡 𒂵 𒋾 𒃻 𒁀 𒌀 𒉡 𒁀 𒌀

niĝ2 ga-til3 nu ga-til3 niĝ2 ba-til nu ba-til

Something offered is not offered. Something finished is not finished.

𒃻 𒉡 𒉽 𒊏 𒀀𒀭

niĝ2 nu-kur2-ra-am3

Nothing changes.

(*etcsl*)


𒌉 𒋛 𒉡 𒁲 𒂼 𒀀 𒉌 𒈾 𒀭 𒅆𒁳 𒌅

dumu si nu-sa2 ama-a-ni na-an-u3-tud

A disorderly son -- his mother should not have given birth to him.

𒀭 𒊏 𒉌 𒈾 𒀭 𒁶 𒁶 𒂊

diĝir-ra-ni na-an-dim2-dim2-e

His god should not have created him.

(*etcsl*)


𒀭𒊩𒌆 𒄑 𒍣 𒁕 𒊏 𒂵 𒋾 𒈾 𒀭 𒈾 𒀊 𒁉 𒂗

dnin-ĝiš-zid-da-ra ga-til3 na-an-na-ab-be2-en

You should not say to Ninĝišzida(God of the Underworld): "Let me live!"

(*etcsl*)


𒃶 𒇻 𒀀 𒉆 𒁀 𒇲

he2-lu-a nam-ba-lal

Let it be plentiful, so that it is not deficient.

𒃶 𒋛 𒀀 𒈾 𒀭 𒋢 𒋢

he2-si-a na-an-su-su

Let it be excessive, so that it does not have to be supplemented.

𒃶 𒅁 𒉈 𒈾 𒀭 𒋼 𒂗 𒋼 𒂗

he2-eb(IB)-šeg6(NE) na-an-te-en-te-en

Let it be piping hot, so that it does not become cold.

(*etcsl*)


𒍝 𒂊 𒂷 𒂊 𒈬 𒉈 𒅗 𒂷 𒂊 𒍝 𒂊 𒈬 𒉈 𒅗

za-e ge26(GA2)-e mu-de3-dug4 ge26-e za-e mu-de3-dug4

You speak with me and I speak with you.

(*etcsl*)


𒄞 𒁶 𒀀 𒂵 𒄥 𒊏 𒉡 𒂊 𒍪

gud-gin7 a-ga gur-ra nu-e-zu

Like an ox, you do not know how to turn back.

(*etcsl*)


𒀬𒀬 𒊑 𒉆 𒋾 𒉌 𒅆𒁳 𒌅

siškur2-re nam-til3 i3-u3-tud

Offerings create life.

(*etcsl*)


𒀭 𒀬 𒊏 𒈨 𒋼 𒁉 𒅎

diĝir siškur-ra me-te-bi-im

Offerings are the glory of the gods.

(*etcsl*)


𒀉𒆗 𒀭 𒂷 𒉎 𒂷 𒁀 𒌀

usu(A2.KAL) diĝir-ĝa2 ni2-ĝa2 ba-til

The strength of my god completes my own.

(*etcsl*)


𒌓 𒁕 𒂵 𒁺 𒈾 𒃰 𒄰

ud-da ga-gen na-gada-kam

"I will go today" is what a herdsman says;

𒌓 𒌋𒄞 𒆷 𒂵 𒁺 𒉺𒇻 𒌉 𒊏 𒄰

ud ul-la ga-gen sipad-tur-ra-kam

"I will go tomorrow" is what a shepherd-boy says.

𒂵 𒁺 𒂵 𒁺 𒈾 𒀀𒀭 𒌓 𒈪 𒉌 𒅁 𒉌 𒉌 𒂊

ga-gen ga-gen-na-am3 ud mi-ni-ib-zal-zal-e

"I will go" is "I will go", and the time passes.

(*etcsl*)


𒌉 𒈬 𒈨 𒂗 𒀭 𒍪 𒉽 𒊏 𒀀𒀭

dumu-gu10-me-en diĝir-zu kur2-ra-am3

You are still my son, even if your god has turned against you.

(*etcsl*)


𒅔 𒈾 𒅔 𒁉 𒅎 𒀾 𒂊 𒀾 𒁉 𒅎

in-na in-bi-im 2-e 2-bi-im

It is an insult resulting from an insult. It is a curse resulting from a curse.

𒉆 𒋻 𒊏 𒆠 𒉋 𒉋 𒇲 𒁉

nam-tar-ra ki gibil-gibil-la2-bi

It is the constant renewal of destiny.

(*etcsl*)


𒀾 𒂊 𒄄 𒀀 𒀾 𒀀 𒁀 𒉌 𒅔 𒄄

2-e gi4-a 2-a ba-ni-in-gi4

A curse which is reciprocated will be retaliated against with yet another curse.

(*etcsl*)


𒉆 𒋻 𒌓 𒄭𒄊 𒌧 𒈠 𒊑 𒀀

nam-tar ud huš kalam-ma ri-a

Fate is a raging storm blowing over the Land.

(*etcsl*)


𒁾 𒊬 𒈨 𒂗 𒈬 𒉎 𒍝 𒉡 𒍪

dub-sar-me-en mu ni2-za nu-zu

You're a scribe but you don't even know how to write your own name?

(*etcsl*)


𒁾 𒊬 𒅴 𒂠 𒉡 𒈬 𒌧 𒍪 𒀀

dub-sar eme-gir15 nu-mu-un-zu-a

What kind of a scribe is a scribe

𒀀 𒈾 𒀀𒀭 𒉆 𒁾 𒊬 𒊏 𒉌

a-na-am3 nam-dub-sar-ra-ni

who does not know Sumerian?

(*etcsl*)


𒁾 𒊬 𒊑 𒈬 𒁹 𒀀𒀭 𒃶 𒂗 𒍪

dub-sar-re mu 1(DIŠ)-am3 he2-en-zu

If a scribe knows only a single line

𒋗 𒉌 𒃶 𒊷 𒊷 𒂊 𒉈 𒀀𒀭 𒁾 𒊬 𒊑

šu-ni he2-sag9-sag9 e-ne-am3 dub-sar-re

but his handwriting is good, he is indeed a scribe!

(*etcsl*)


𒊮 𒁉 𒍣 𒂵 𒉺 𒉆 𒈨

šag4-bi zig3-ga ugula nam-me

Those who get excited should not become foremen.

𒉺𒇻 𒀳 𒉆 𒈨

sipad engar nam-me

A shepherd should not become a farmer.

(*etcsl*)


𒊮 𒄑 𒀀 𒋫 𒌓𒁺 𒀀

šag4 ĝiš-a-ta e3-a

What comes out from the heart of the tree

𒊮 𒄑 𒀀 𒋫 𒍪 𒀀𒀭

šag4 ĝiš-a-ta zu-am3

is known by the heart of the tree.

(*etcsl*)


𒅔 𒅥 𒉡 𒌧 𒅥 𒆰 𒊷 𒂵 𒀀𒀭

in-gu7 nu-un-gu7 numun sag9-ga-am3

Whether he ate it or not, the seed was good.

(*etcsl*)


𒈜 𒅗 𒂵 𒀊 𒍣 𒅗 𒂵 𒀊 𒈜 𒁀 𒂊 𒋧 𒆠

lul dug4-ga-ab zid dug4-ga-ab lul ba-e-sig10-ge5

Tell a lie and then tell the truth: it will be considered a lie.

(*etcsl*)


𒆬 𒌇 𒊮 𒀭 𒄾 𒊺 𒌇 𒄯 𒀭 𒊷

kug tuku šag4 an-hul2 še tuku ur5 an-sag9

He who has silver is happy; he who has grain feels comfortable;

𒃻 𒌫 𒇹 𒌇 𒂊 𒅆𒁳 𒈬 𒌧 𒅆 𒆪 𒆪

niĝ2-ur2-limmu2 tuku-e u3 mu-un-ši-ku-ku

he who has livestock can sleep.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒈬 𒃻 𒀀𒀭 𒉽

niĝ2-ĝu10 niĝ2 am3-kur2

My things changed things.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒌓 𒌉 𒊏 𒄰

niĝ2 ud tur-ra-kam

It is a thing of short duration.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒅆𒌨 𒁶 𒈠 𒍪 𒀀 𒈾 𒀀𒀭 𒈾 𒀭 𒈾 𒀊 𒁉 𒂗

niĝ2-hul(IGI.UR) dim2-ma-zu a-na-am3 na-an-na-ab-be2-en

Whatever it is that hurts you, don't talk to anyone about it.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒀀𒀭 𒁕 𒌇 𒌇 𒅆 𒀀𒀭 𒁕 𒌶 𒂊

niĝ2 am3-da-tuku-tuku igi am3-da-uru3-e

He who possesses many things is constantly on guard.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒉌 𒅆𒊒 𒁕 𒍪 𒉡 𒌒 𒁉 𒂗

niĝ2 i3-pad3-da-zu nu-ub-be2-en

You don't speak of that which you have found.

𒃻 𒌑 𒄖 𒌤 𒀀 𒍪 𒀊 𒁉 𒂗

niĝ2 u2-gu de2-a-zu ab-be2-en

You talk only about what you have lost.

(*etcsl*)


𒊷 𒂵 𒁉 𒅆𒊒 𒁕

sag9-ga-bi pad3-da

The good thing is to find it.

𒅆𒌨 𒁉 𒌑 𒄖 𒌤 𒀀

hul-bi u2-gu de2-a

The bad thing is to have lost it.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒈤 𒅥 𒅥 𒂊 𒅆𒁳 𒉡 𒌝 𒅆 𒆪 𒆪

niĝ2 mah gu7-gu7-e u3 nu-um-ši-ku-ku

He who eats too much cannot sleep.

(*etcsl*)


𒊮 𒄀 𒊮 𒅆𒌨 𒈪𒉭 𒉡 𒌒 𒌅 𒌓

šag4-ge šag4 hul gig nu-ub-tu-ud

A heart never created hatred;

𒅗 𒄀 𒊮 𒅆𒌨 𒈪𒉭 𒌈 𒌅 𒌓

dug4-ge šag4 hul gig ib2-tu-ud

speech created hatred.

(*etcsl*)


𒈫 𒀀 𒁉 𒇽 𒁹 𒁶 𒉆

2(MIN)-a-bi lu2 1(DIŠ)-gin7-nam

The two of them are like one man.

(*etcsl*)


𒃻 𒅆 𒉡 𒂃 𒀀 𒁶 𒈬 𒌧 𒀝

niĝ2 igi nu-du8-a-gin7 mu-un-ak

He did something never seen before.

(*etcsl*)


𒁮 𒌇 𒌇 𒇽 𒍇 𒄰

dam tuku-tuku lu2-ulu3-kam

Having wives is human.

𒌉 𒌇 𒌇 𒀭 𒊏 𒄰

dumu tuku-tuku diĝir-ra-kam

Having children is from the gods.

(*etcsl*)


𒊮 𒆠 𒉘 𒃻 𒂍 𒆕 𒆕 𒅆𒁳 𒁮

šag4 ki 2 niĝ2 e2 du3-du3-u3-dam

A loving heart builds houses.

𒊮 𒅆𒌨 𒈪𒉭 𒃻 𒂍 𒄢 𒄢 𒇻 𒁮

šag4 hul gig niĝ2 e2 gul-gul-lu-dam

A hating heart destroys houses.

(*etcsl*)


𒆠 𒌨 𒈤 𒂊 𒇽 𒅔 𒅥 𒀀

ki ur-mah-e lu2 in-gu7-a

No-one walks for a second time

𒌋𒌋 𒄰 𒈠 𒂠 𒇽 𒈾 𒈨 𒉡 𒆪 𒁉

2(MAN)-kam-ma-še3 lu2 na-me nu-dib2-be2

at the place where a lion has eaten a man.

(*etcsl*)


𒂡 𒈠 𒄰 𒁮 𒈾 𒀭 𒌇 𒌇 𒌧 𒂊 𒊺

ezem-ma-kam dam na-an-tuku-tuku-un-e-še

Don't choose a wife during a festival!

(*etcsl*)


𒍪 𒀀 𒉡 𒁲 𒄑 𒇥 𒁀 𒀀𒀭

zu-a nu-di is-hab2-ba-am3

He who knows but does not speak is a fool.

(*etcsl*)


𒍚 𒉈 𒉡 𒁺 𒈾 𒂍 𒊑 𒀀 𒀭 𒍪

ud5-de3 nu-ĝen-na e2-ri-a an-zu

Although it has never been there, the goat knows the waste land.

(*etcsl*)


𒌨 𒁶 𒆠 𒈿 𒉡 𒂊 𒌇

ur-gin7 ki-nu2 nu-e-tuku

Like a dog you have nowhere to sleep.

(*etcsl*)


𒌨 𒂠 𒊑 𒄘 𒁍 𒁍 𒀊 𒍢 𒂗 𒌨 𒌉 𒆠 𒉘 𒀊 𒍢 𒂗

ur-gir15-re gu2 gid2-gid2-ab-ze2-en ur-tur ki 2-ab-ze2-en

Control the dog, but love the puppy!

(*etcsl*)


𒌨 𒊷 𒂵 𒌨 𒌉 𒂠 𒁀 𒀭 𒆭

ur sag9-ga ur-tur-še3 ba-an-kur9

A dog which is played with turns into a puppy.

(*etcsl*)


𒌨 𒆲 𒉡 𒌇 𒀀𒀭

ur kun nu-tuku-am3

He is a dog without a tail.

(*etcsl*)


𒋾 𒆷 𒈜 𒆷 𒅆𒌨 𒈾 𒀭 𒄖 𒌋𒄞 𒂊

til3-la lul-la hul na-an-gu-ul-e

As long as you live, you should not increase evil by lying;

𒃵 𒄩 𒆷 𒍪 𒈬 𒌧 𒅅

gam ha-la-zu mu-un-ĝal2

for if you do, to succumb will be your lot.

(*etcsl*)


𒉺𒇻 𒃶 𒅎 𒋫 𒀊 𒇯𒁺 𒉈 𒀀

sipad he2-em-ta-ab-ed3-de3-a

If you get rid of the shepherd,

𒇻 𒉌 𒋗 𒀀 𒇷 𒉈 𒅔 𒄄

udu-ni šu-a li-bi2-in-gi4

then his sheep will not return.

(*etcsl*)


𒀲 𒆳 𒇽 𒄷𒋛 𒀀 𒉌 𒅆𒁳 𒈬 𒉌 𒅔 𒊒

anše-kur lu2 u5-a-ni u3-mu-ni-in-šub

The horse, after throwing off his rider, said:

𒋗𒃻𒌉𒇲 𒁉 𒄘 𒌧 𒈬 𒁕 𒌷 𒂠

tukum-bi gu2-un-ĝu10 da-ri2-še3

"Were my load to be like this forever,

𒉈 𒂗 𒉆 𒀠 𒋝 𒂗 𒂊 𒊺

ne-en-nam al-sig-en-e-še

how weak I would become!"

(*etcsl*)


𒀀 𒀀 𒅆 𒄿 𒉌 𒅔 𒁇 𒉆 𒋻 𒈬 𒁀 𒁳 𒁀

a-a igi i-ni-in-bar nam-tar-ĝu10 ba-dib-ba

I looked into the water. My destiny was drifting past.

(*etcsl*)


𒌓 𒉆 𒋻 𒈪𒉭 𒂵 𒅗 𒁀 𒌅 𒌓 𒉈 𒂗

ud nam-tar gig-ga-ka ba-tu-ud-de3-en

I was born on an ill-fated day.

(*etcsl*)


𒀭𒈹 𒆤 𒊮 𒈪𒉭 𒂵 𒈬 𒉌 𒃶 𒅁 𒌤

dinana-ke4 šag4 gig-ga-ĝu10 i3 he2-eb-de2

May Inana pour oil on my heart that aches.

(*etcsl*)


𒉈 𒉡 𒌒 𒁕 𒀭 𒋼 𒀀 𒀸 𒇷 𒄄 𒅔 𒍪 𒊬 𒊏 𒀊

izi nu-ub-da-an-ten-a- li-gi4-in-zu sar-ra-ab

Before the fire has gone out, write your exercise tablet!

(*etcsl*)


𒀭 𒁀 𒄢 𒄢 𒆠 𒁀 𒉺 𒉺

an ba-gul-gul ki ba-sag3-sag3

The heavens were destroyed, the earth was shaken.

𒀭 𒁀 𒄢 𒆠 𒁀 𒉺 𒂵 𒋫

an ba-gul ki ba-sag3-ga-ta

After the heavens were destroyed and the earth was shaken,

𒇽 𒉎 𒁉 𒀀 𒁀 𒀭 𒁺

lu2 ni2-bi-a ba-an-gub

the people were still standing there on their own.

(*etcsl*)


𒍠 𒋳 𒂵 𒀭𒈹 𒄑𒌆𒉿 𒍇 𒇻 𒈠 𒊬 𒁕 𒅗 𒉌

zag tag-ga dinana ĝeštug2 u18-lu ma-mu2-da-ka-ni

For him who is rejected by Inana, his dream is to forget.

(*etcsl*)


𒌓 𒈬 𒂊 𒅆 𒉌 𒀀 𒈾 𒀀𒀭 𒋗 𒈬 𒁕 𒋾

ud mu-e-ši-zal a-na-am3 šu mu-da-ti

The time passed, and what did you gain?

(*etcsl*)


𒊮 𒈬 𒄑𒊬 𒄩 𒊏 𒋛𒀀 𒂵

šag4-ĝu10 ĝiškiri6 ha-ra-dirig-ga

The sun never leaves my heart,

𒀭𒌓 𒉡 𒌝 𒋫 𒌓𒁺

dutu nu-um-ta-e3

which surpasses a garden.

(*etcsl*)