Ancient texts / Accadian Proverbs
Accadian Proverbs From a scribal reading-book
1Door and bolt are made fast.
2Oracle to oracle: to the oracle it is brought.
3The cut beam he strikes: the strong beam he shapes.
4The resting-place of the field which (is) in the house he will establish.
5Within the court of the house he feels himself small.
6A heap of witnesses as his foundation he has made strong.✦ Genesis 31:47
7Once and twice he has made gains; yet he is not content.✦ Ecclesiastes 5:10
8By himself he dug and wrought.
9For silver his resting-place he shall buy.
10On his heap of bricks a building he builds not, a beam he set not up.
11A house like his own house one man to another consigns.
12If the house he contracts for he does not complete, 10 shekels of silver he pays.
13The joists of his wall he plasters.
14In the month Marchesvan, the 30th day (let him choose) for removal.
15(Let him choose it, too,) for the burning of weeds.
16The tenant of the farm two-thirds of the produce on his own head to the master of the orchard pays out.
Editorial restorations by the translator are in [square brackets]; “…” and italic notes mark where the tablet is broken. Bracketed scene-headings are the translator's, not part of the text.