and

'Hearken, indeed, and listen to me, and I will tell you my counsel, and it is a good counsel

exceedingly.' Then answered those two men and said to him, 'Tell us indeed, Nabusumiskun the officer,

what you think, and we will listen to you.' Then answered Nabusumiskun the officer and said to them, 'Hear me,

what you think, and we will listen to you.' Then answered Nabusumiskun the officer and said to them, 'Hear me,

indeed this Ahikar was a great man and bearer of the seal to king Esarhaddon, and by his counsel and words

indeed this Ahikar was a great man and bearer of the seal to king Esarhaddon, and by his counsel and words

indeed this Ahikar was a great man and bearer of the seal to king Esarhaddon, and by his counsel and words

Let him be killed between these two mountains instead of this Ahikar, and when it is heard, the king will send other men

until afterwards Esarhaddon the king remembers Ahikar and desires his counsel, and grieves

until afterwards Esarhaddon the king remembers Ahikar and desires his counsel, and grieves

over him, and the heart of Esarhaddon the king shall turn to me and he shall say to his officers and courtiers,

over him, and the heart of Esarhaddon the king shall turn to me and he shall say to his officers and courtiers,

over him, and the heart of Esarhaddon the king shall turn to me and he shall say to his officers and courtiers,

"I will give you riches as the number of the sand if you find Ahikar."' And this counsel

seemed good to his companions, those two men. They answered and said to Nabusumiskun, the officer,

the king is killed.' Then Nabusumiskun, that officer, took me to his house and hid me, also

he sustained me there as a man (deals) with his brother, and said to me . . . 'Bread and water

he sustained me there as a man (deals) with his brother, and said to me . . . 'Bread and water

abundant sustenance and (other) things in plenty. Then Nabusumiskun, that officer,

went to Esarhaddon the king and said to him, 'According as you commanded me, so have I done.

I went and found that Ahikar and killed him.' And when king Esarhaddon

I went and found that Ahikar and killed him.' And when king Esarhaddon

I went and found that Ahikar and killed him.' And when king Esarhaddon

heard this he asked the two men whom he had appointed with Nabusumiskun and they said, 'So it was, as

The son who is trained and taught, and on whose feet the fetter is put shall prosper.

The son who is trained and taught, and on whose feet the fetter is put shall prosper.

If I smite thee, my son, thou wilt not die, and if I leave (thee) to thine own heart thou wilt not live.

A blow for a slave, rebuke for a maid, and for all thy servants discipline. A man who

buys a licentious slave (or) a thievish maid brings anxiety into his house, and disgraces

the name of his father and his offspring with the reputation of his wantonness. The scorpion finds

bread and does not eat in order that he may live, but it is too good for him to taste.

The lion devours the hart in the secrecy of (his) den, and he . . .

and will shed his blood and eat his flesh: so is the contact of men. From fear of the lion

and will shed his blood and eat his flesh: so is the contact of men. From fear of the lion

the ass left his burden and will not carry it. He shall bear shame before his fellow and shall bear a burden which is not his,

the ass left his burden and will not carry it. He shall bear shame before his fellow and shall bear a burden which is not his,

and shall be laden with a camel's load. The ass made obeisance to the she-ass from love of her, and the birds . . .

and shall be laden with a camel's load. The ass made obeisance to the she-ass from love of her, and the birds . . .

Two things are a merit, and of three there is pleasure to Shamash: one who drinks wine and gives it (to others), one who restrains wisdom . . .

Two things are a merit, and of three there is pleasure to Shamash: one who drinks wine and gives it (to others), one who restrains wisdom . . .

and he hears a word and does not reveal (it). Behold, this is precious before Shamash. But one who drinks wine and does not give it to others

and he hears a word and does not reveal (it). Behold, this is precious before Shamash. But one who drinks wine and does not give it to others

and he hears a word and does not reveal (it). Behold, this is precious before Shamash. But one who drinks wine and does not give it to others

and his wisdom goes astray . . . who sees? . . . Thou hast placed . . . the peoples their wisdom the gods . . .

which comes into thy mind, for in every place are their eyes and their ears; but keep watch over thy mouth, let it not be thy destruction.

More than all watchfulness watch thy mouth, and over what thou hearest harden thy heart, for a word is (like) a bird, and when he has sent it forth

More than all watchfulness watch thy mouth, and over what thou hearest harden thy heart, for a word is (like) a bird, and when he has sent it forth

speech of a king, (but) it is sharper and stronger than a two-edged knife. Behold before thee something hard: in presence of a king delay not.

In presence of a king, if (a thing) is commanded thee, it is a burning fire; hasten, do it; do not put sackcloth upon thee and hide thy hands, for

I have tasted even the bitter sloe, and the taste was strong, but there is nothing which is more bitter than poverty. Soft is the tongue of a king

but it breaks the ribs of a dragon, like death which is not seen. In a multitude of children let not thy heart exult, and in the lack of them be not thou ashamed.

Glorious is a king to see, like Shamash, and precious is his sovereignty to those who walk on the earth in tranquillity.

The lion went near to greet the ass saying, 'Peace be to thee'. The ass answered and said to the lion . . .

I have lifted sand and carried salt, and there is nothing which is heavier than debt.

I have lifted sand and carried salt, and there is nothing which is heavier than debt.

I have lifted chaff and taken up crumbs, and there is nothing which is lighter than (to be) a sojourner.

I have lifted chaff and taken up crumbs, and there is nothing which is lighter than (to be) a sojourner.

gods, and if he were beloved of (the) gods they would put something good in his palate to speak.

The leopard met the goat and she was cold. The leopard answered and said to the goat, 'Come, and I will cover thee with my hide.'

The leopard met the goat and she was cold. The leopard answered and said to the goat, 'Come, and I will cover thee with my hide.'

The leopard met the goat and she was cold. The leopard answered and said to the goat, 'Come, and I will cover thee with my hide.'

The goat answered and said to the leopard, 'What hast thou to do with me, my lord? Take not my skin from me.' For he does not

I will be silent. The sheep answered and said to him, 'Take for thyself what thou wilt take from us. We are thy sheep.'

For it is not in the power of men to lift up their foot and to put them down without (the) gods.

For it is not in thy power to lift thy foot and to put it down. If there goes forth good from the mouth of men, it is well,

and if a curse shall go forth from their mouth, (the) gods will curse them. If the eyes of (the) gods are over men

a man cuts wood in the dark and does not see, like a thief who breaks into a house and escapes.

a man cuts wood in the dark and does not see, like a thief who breaks into a house and escapes.

Bend not thy bow and shoot not thy arrow at the righteous, lest God come to his help and turn it back upon thee.

Bend not thy bow and shoot not thy arrow at the righteous, lest God come to his help and turn it back upon thee.

. . . do thou, O my son, gather every harvest, and do every work, then thou shalt eat and be filled and give to thy children.

. . . do thou, O my son, gather every harvest, and do every work, then thou shalt eat and be filled and give to thy children.

. . . do thou, O my son, gather every harvest, and do every work, then thou shalt eat and be filled and give to thy children.

If thou hast bent thy bow and shot thy arrow at one who is more righteous than thou, it is a sin in the sight of God.

. . . do thou, O my son, borrow corn and wheat that thou mayest eat and be filled and give to thy children with thee.

. . . do thou, O my son, borrow corn and wheat that thou mayest eat and be filled and give to thy children with thee.

. . . do thou, O my son, borrow corn and wheat that thou mayest eat and be filled and give to thy children with thee.

A heavy loan and from a wicked man, borrow not, and if thou borrow take no rest to thy soul till

A heavy loan and from a wicked man, borrow not, and if thou borrow take no rest to thy soul till

At first the throne is set up for the liar, but at last his lies shall find (him) out, and they shall spit in his face.

Despise not that which is in thy lot, and covet not some great thing which is withheld from thee.

Increase not riches, and lead not (thy) heart astray.

He who is not proud of the name of his father and the name of his mother, let not the sun shine upon him, for he is an evil man.

From myself has my curse gone forth, and with whom shall I be justified? The son of my body has spied out my house, and what can I say to strangers?

From myself has my curse gone forth, and with whom shall I be justified? The son of my body has spied out my house, and what can I say to strangers?

There was a cruel witness against me, and who then has justified me? From my own house went forth wrath, with whom shall I strive and toil?

There was a cruel witness against me, and who then has justified me? From my own house went forth wrath, with whom shall I strive and toil?

With one that is a noble and stronger than thou, contend not, for he will take

of thy portion and will add it to his own.

Remove not wisdom from thee, and . . .

Be not over crafty, and let not thy wisdom be extinguished.

who humbles the lofty man and exalts the humble man.

My hands shall destroy, and . . .

God shall turn back the mouth of the unjust and shall tear out his tongue.

Good eyes shall not be darkened and good ears shall not be stopped, and a good mouth will love

Good eyes shall not be darkened and good ears shall not be stopped, and a good mouth will love

the truth and speak it.

A man excellent in character and whose heart is good is like a strong bow which is bent by a strong man.

. . . belly and that which is like it, who shall be judging him?

. . . men, and peoples pass over them and do not leave them, and their heart is . . .