Sumerian tablet (Old Babylonian, Literary)

Transliteration:


ud ul uru₄-e dumu-ni na mu-un-de₅...
a-šag₄ dib-be₂-da-zu...
eg₂ pa₅ su₇ duh-u₃-de₃ igi kar₂-kar₂...
a-šag₄ a de₂-a-zu-ne a-bi šag₄-bi nu...
ud a-ta i-im-me-ed₃-de₃...
a-šag₄ ki-duru₅-bi en-nu-uŋ₃ ak-ab ki-še-er a-ra-ab...
gud suhub giri₃ na-ra-ab...e
u₂-saga₁₁-bi u₃-bi₂-zi₂ a-šag₄ ki-ŋar u₃-bi₂-dug₄
u {urud}tun₃-sal šanabi ma-na-ta sa₂-a-ab
{ŋeš}al-šub-be₂ umbin gud ha-ra-ab-šu₂-šu₂ sa ha-ra-ab-la₂-la₂
ki ka sal-la-bi u₂-tag ha-ra-ab-tag-tag
gu₂ a-šag₄-ga ub-da limmu₂ {ŋeš}al-la ha-ra-ab-niŋin₂-niŋin₂
en-na a-šag₄-ga al-šeŋ₆-šeŋ₆-ŋa₂-dam teš₂ a-ra-ab-sig₁₀-ge₅
{ŋeš}šu-gar₆-zu sa ha-ra-ab-gi₄
{ŋeš}šudul₄-zu a₂-šita₄ ha-ra-ab-keš₂
{kuš}usan₃ gibil-zu {ŋeš}gag-ta ha-ra-ab-la₂
{kuš}usan₃ sumun-zu mud la₂-la₂-bi
dumu gašam-e-ne du₁₀ <unk> ha-ra-ab-ak-en
{urud}giŋ₄ {urud}bulug₂ {urud}dur₁₀ šum-me niŋ₂ ak {ŋeš}šu-kar₂-zu a₂-zu saŋ ha-ra-ab-us₂-en
{kuš}saŋ-keš₂ bar-ed₃-de₃ {kuš}ka-du₁₀ {kuš}usan₃...za-a he₂-en-ha-za
{gi}ba-an-du₈-zu kab₂ di mu-ra-an-ak a₂ kalag-ga-zu ha-ra-an-ak-en
a₂-aš₂ a-šag₄-zu e₂-za-a he₂-en-ŋal₂ kiŋ₂-zu niŋ₂ nam-mu-un-šub-be₂-en
gud {ŋeš}apin gud diri a-ra-ab-tuku-a
gud gud-da dur bi-ib₂-tu-lu-a
{ŋeš}apin-bi {ŋeš}apin-na a-ab-diri
...{ŋeš}apin diš-e 1(burʾu) <unk> am₃
...8(U) <unk> am₃ ŋeš du₃-da-ab
...kuš₂-u₃-da-zu-gin₇ a-ra-ab-dim₂-e
bur₃ <unk> ba 3(diš) še gur-am₃ ba-an-ŋa₂-ŋa₂
usu {ŋeš}apin diš-ta a-šag₄ {ŋeš}bar-dili-bi u₃-bi₂-ak
{ŋeš}bar-dili-bi {ŋeš}apin...u₃-bi₂-ak tug₂-gur-ra-ab

...
ud mul...
u {ŋeš}apin...
{ŋeš}al du₃...
a-šag₄ uru₄{ru}...
{ŋeš}apin-zu gu ha...
{ŋeš}ka-šu₂ {ŋeš}apin-na-zu {kuš}im...
{ŋeš}dam-zu {ŋeš}gag sal-la šub...
{ŋeš}le-um-zu a₂ he₂-bi₂-tal₂-tal₂ absin₃-zu...
diš nindan-ta-am₃ absin₃ ussu-am₃ gub-ba-ab
absin₃ dur₂-dur₂-ru-na še-bi gu₂ a-ab-gid₂
a-šag₄ uru₄{ru}da-zu-ne
lu₂ še numun ŋar-ra-zu-uš igi-zu ŋar-ni
min šu-si-ta-am₃ {d}ašnan he₂-en-šub
diš ninda-ta-am₃ še diš giŋ₄ ha-ra-an-ŋar
tukumbi še numun e₂-tur₃-ra nu-um-suhur
{ŋeš}niŋ₂-kud {ŋeš}eme {ŋeš}apin-na-zu kur₂-ra-ab
tukumbi dur a-ab-tu-lu dur tur-ra-ab
ki absin₃ si sa₂ i₃-uru₄{ru} {ab}absin₃ {ŋeš}šibir uru₄{ru}ab
ki absin₃ {ŋeš}šibir i₃-uru₄{ru} {ab}absin₃ si sa₂ uru₄{ru}ab
absin₃ si sa₂ gu₄ <unk> gu₄ <unk> nu-mu-ra-ab...
absin₃ lu-gu₂-zu si ha-ra-ab-sa₂
absin₃ ab-ki-iz-bi <unk> a absin₃ gib-ba...gana₂ kud-da...uru₄...
šeg₁₂ lag-bi ha...
ki-sahar us₂...
ki-sahar...
henbur₂...


ud henbur₂-e...
siškur₂ {d}nin-gi₄...
zu₂ bir₅{mušen}a bal...
ud še ka sal-la absin₃-na-ka a-ab...
a numun saŋ-ŋa₂-ka dug₄-ga...
ud še {gi}kid-ma₂-šu₂-a-ba a-ab-gub-ba a dug₄-ga...
{še}lillan-bi a dug₄-ga-ab
ud še lu-ha am₃-si-a a na-ab-be₂-en sa-ma-na-aš ba-e-gig
ud še <unk> ak-de₃ ba-ab-du₇-a a dug₄-ga-ab
{ŋeš}...-an <unk> diš sila₃-ta ku-dun ba-an-tuku-tuku
še gur₁₅-gur₁₅-ru-da-zu-ne še ur₅ gurum nam-ba-ak-e
ud a₂-ba-ka gur₁₅-ru-a-ab
...diš-e lu₂ še-zar keš₂-da min-am₃
u₃ lu₂ diš-e igi-ni-še₃ še-zar hu-mu-na-ab-tag-ge
eš₅-am₃ hu-mu-ra-ab-gur₁₅-gur₁₅-ru-ne
lu₂ še de₅-de₅-ga-zu še huz na-an-ak-e
še garadin-na na-ab-si-il-si-le-de₃-en
kiŋ₂ ud-da-zu ud tur-gin₇
usu di₄-di₄-la₂-zu-ne u₃ lu₂ še de₅-de₅-ga-zu-ne
šid-bi du₆-ul-la-ab zar-re-eš nud-de₃-eb
kiŋ₂-zu mi₂ zid a-ra-ab...
še sumun-e tuku-a...
gu₇-gu₇-zu-uš lu₂ še ŋeš...
še-zar-ra ne...
siškur₂...
ud še ab-ed₃...
har-ra-an...
...

zu₂ ŋeš-bad-ra₂-zu kuš la₂-la₂-bi esir₂ ha-ra-ab-sub₆-sub₆
gud dur₂-dur₂-ru-da-zu-ne lu₂ še ŋeš-bad du₈-zu usu he₂-ri-gub-bu-uš
ud še bi₂-in-su₇-a
siškur₂ še nu-nir-ra dug₄-ga-ab
ud še al-la₂-ed₃-de₃-en-na-zu
lu₂ še al-la₂-ed₃-de₃-en-na-zu
lu₂ še ki-ta al-la₂-e na-gub lu₂ ŋeštug₂ tuku gub-ba-ab
lu₂ še <unk> a eš₅-am₃ ha-ra-gub-bu-uš
še nir-ra-zu {ŋeš}ŋidru-še₃ nud-de₃-eb
siškur₂ u₄-te-en ŋi₆-ba dug₄-ga-ab
ud sa₉-a-gin₇ še bur₂-ra-ab
na de₅ {d}nin-urta engar {d}en-lil₂-la₂
{d}nin-urta en dumu {d}en-lil₂-la₂-ke₄
za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga-am₃


Translation:
The one who sows (since) ancient time was the one who instructed his son
When you pass through the field
Inspect the dikes, ditches, and/of the threshing floor(?) that are to be opened
When you irrigate the field, its water (should) not rise (too high) in its midst
When (the field) (re)emerges from the water
Watch the wet patches of the field, after it has been fenced/reached the appropriate limit
Do not let the suhub oxen trample it
After you cut down the bundles (for reinforcement) and establish the suitable area (of) the field
Ten (times) level it with a light hoe weighing two-thirds mana
The alšub implement should cover up the oxen hoof (marks), may it sweep (the field clean)
The utag tool should touch the places (of?) “narrow intake"(?) for you
The hoe should encircle the four edges of the field
Until (the field) is dried, ... should be employing (the tools) together(?) for you
The implements should be prepared (their bindings restored?) for you
The equipment of your yoke should be bound for you
May your new whip hang from a nail for you
The handle bindings of your old whip
The craftsmen should repair (! this ms.: “pray”!?) it for you
The adze, chisel/drill, dur maul(?) and šumme saw, that which does/makes(??), your implements, your strength(?), should be constant(?) for you
The leather thong, braiding lever, cover/wrapping, and whip should be at your disposal
... (should) check your basket for you, you should strengthen your arms
You should have what you require (for) the field in your house(?), do not neglect anything (pertaining) to your work
The plow ox has acquired an extra ox for you
The bond between oxen was made (sufficiently) slack
The plow was made to have an extra plow
The assignment(?) of 1 plow is 10 bur
(When) it is eight bur, (re)build the wood(en) object(?)
... will make ... for you according to what you are to toil(?)
It is ... gur of barley that will be expended (for oxen feed)(?) in the 1 bur area
After working the field (with) the bardili plow by means of the force of one seed plow
After working the field (with) the bardili plow and the tugsig plow, use the tuggur plow
After the stars of heaven are appropriate (in the proper place)
Ten (times) the plow ...
The hoe should work everything for you
When you sow the field
Your plow should be marked/aligned
Lay down a ... on the kašu of your plow (to prepare it for seeding?)
Lay down your beam (with) a thin nail
Your boards/ears should be spread out, ... your furrow
Set up eight furrows per one ninda (of width)
The barley would have lodged in ... furrows
When you sow a field
Look (carefully) towards the one planting the barley seed
At a depth of two fingers, he should drop grain
He should set one gig of barley per one ninda
If the barley seed was not “incised/scratched in the stall”
Change your wedge(?) of the plowshare
If the bindings have slackened, reduce (i.e. tighten) the bindings
Where straight furrows were sown(?), sow “shepherd's crook” furrows
Where “shepherd's crook” furrows were sown(?), sow straight furrows
The straight furrow will not(!?) be ... with ... and ... edges(?) for you
Your twisted furrows should be straightened out
... the “unobstructed"(?) furrows, ... the traversal furrows, and sow your “separated field”
Its brick(like?) clods should be collected for you
The blocking(?) deposits of the furrow should be beaten
The covering(?) deposits of(?) the furrow should be thinned out/weakened
Regarding the seedlings, it is good for you
After the seedlings have split the ground
Perform the rites of Ninkilim
Turn away the bite of the locust
When the barley exceeds the “narrow intake” of the furrow
Water it with the water of the first seed
When the barley stands in (the form of?) a reed mat, water it
Water the ripe grain
When the grain is filled with(?) offshoots, you should not water it, you would have(?) afflicted it in the manner of the samana disease
When the grain has become suitable for dehusking, water it
It(?) will acquire a profit of one sila grain for each ban
When you are to harvest the grain, do not let the grain bend itself over (overripe)
Harvest at that of its appropriate time
There is one cutter(?) and two(!?) people to bind the barley sheaves
And one who will “touch” the barley sheaves before him
(They) are three, they should harvest for you
Your grain gatherers should not break(?) the barley
They(!?) are not to split apart the barley of the stacks of sheaves
Your work of the day, when the day is young (i.e. at dawn)
The force of your “little ones” and your grain gatherers
Store/gather its number(?), lay down (the grain) in the manner of sheaves
Your work should be executed with care
After having old grain (for so long before the harvest?)
Do not have someone thresh the barley for your eating(?)
Give your barley sheaves a rest
The rites of the barley sheaf should be performed for you daily
When you bring up the barley (for transportation)
Set your paths in order
...
...
...
The leather (straps) that bind together the teeth of your threshing sledge should be coated with bitumen for you
When your oxen ..., the ones threshing the grain (by sledge) should stand for you (by their own?) strength
When he ... the barley
Perform the rites of grain that is not winnowed (impure grain)
When you are to bring up(!?) the barley
When you are to have someone who is to bring up(!?) the barley
Station an intelligent person (in the role of) standing “below” (winnowing/bringing up(!?)) the barley
Three grain movers(?) should be stationed there for you
Lay your winnowed grain down for the (measuring) stick
Perform the rites of its evening and night
When it is midday, spread out the grain
The instruction of Ninurta, the farmer of Enlil
Ninurta, lord, son of Enlil
Your praise is sweet