I am the true farmer of humanity.

The Hoe Makes Its Challenge

Oh, hoe! Oh, hoe! Oh, hoe — carrying its pride aloft!
Whose tooth is the manu-wood,
whose bite is the tamarisk's,
two-toothed and four-toothed,
child of the poor, tearing open the heart of the earth —

the hoe challenged the plough to a quarrel,
the hoe began a contest with the plough,
the hoe raised its voice against the plough:

The Hoe Speaks

"You plough, you drag along — what you drag is none of my work.
You break the clods — your clod-breaking is none of my work.

You cannot draw up water and follow after it.
You cannot fill a carrying-yoke with earth.
You cannot spread clay, you cannot make bricks.
You cannot lay a foundation, you cannot build a house.
You cannot prop up the base of an old wall.
You cannot roof the house of a righteous man.
You cannot put the broad street in order.

You plough, you drag along — what you drag is none of my work.
You break the clods — your clod-breaking is none of my work."

The Plough Speaks

The plough raised its voice against the hoe:

"I am the plough — shaped by the great arm, bound by the great hand,
the exalted crown-piece of Father Enlil,
the true farmer of humanity.

My festival is in the month of sowing, doing work in the fields.
The king slaughters oxen for me, multiplies the sheep for me.
Beer is poured into bowls for me.
The king brings me freshly drawn water.
Drum and vessel resound for me.
The king holds my arm in his hands.
My oxen are set under the yoke.
Great lords stand at my flanks.
All the lands gaze upon me in wonder.
The people look on me with joyful eyes.

My standing furrow adorns the steppe.
At the season, the fields give their abundance to me.
The teeming cattle of Šakkan bow before me.
The grain stands tall at my side.
The shepherd's churn is sweetly set.
My sheaves lie spread across the meadow.
The sheep of Dumuzi are sweetly set.
My threshing floor spreads across the steppe.
The gleaming mountain is laden with joy.
The grain-pile and the half-pile bow their necks to Enlil.
Dark emmer wheat pours its neck before him.
I fill the granaries of humanity with grain.

The orphan, the widow, the ruined man —
receive a bundle of reeds from my hand.
They glean what I have scattered.
My straw is piled in the field.
I pull humanity along beside me.
The teeming herds of Šakkan walk at my side."

Interlude

The hoe, its worst ones digging out, its worst teeth pulling up —
the hoe bent to its work in the mud,
set its head down in the earth.
With the brick mold, through the day in the clay, the man goes unwashed.
He digs the well, the drainage channel,
digs where no one has dug before.

This is wood that fits the poor man's hand —
not fit for the hands of the noble,
placed fitly in the slave's hand and none other.

"You have thrown dark straw upon me.
You try to equal yourself to me.
But when I go out to the steppe — look at me!
O plough, digging and digging your channels —
you have flung straw in my face."

The Hoe Replies

The hoe raised its voice against the plough:

"My little plough, my growing plough, my leafy plough —
none of that is my doing.
At Enlil's place, I am your foreman.
In Enlil's house, I stand before you.

I make the embankments, I make the channels.
I fill all the meadows with water.
Into every reed thicket I pour water.
My small carrying-yoke goes beside me.
I cut the canal, I cut the irrigation channel.
I bring the water to the great rising canal.
I work beside the marsh —
I, the hoe, stand within its circuit.

The south wind and the north wind do not split me apart.
The bird-catcher gathers eggs beside me.
The fisherman catches fish in my channels.
The people receive birds from my hand.
Let my abundance spread its hand across all the lands!

When the water rushes from the meadow,
when there is work in the wet earth —
before you, plough, I raise the field.
I cover the open field with moist earth for you.
I pull at the foot of the embankment for you.
I clear the thornbushes from the field for you.
I pull out the mud-plants and iri-plants for you.
The work of the field is set as my companion.

Your ox — six. Your man — four. And you yourself make the eleventh.
Twice the work turns back from the field.
You try to equal yourself to me.

When they bring you out from my side —
your single furrow cuts so beautifully.
They drive your head into the earth.
They hang plants on you.
They cut off your wooden teeth and fit new ones.
Your wooden teeth — you cannot hold them yourself.

Your farmer calls the finished plough by name.
A second time, a carpenter is hired for you.
They take you around to the craftsman's house.
The garment-cleaner strips your outer cloth.
They pull the fine weave away from you.
Their hands tire, stripping your leather again and again.
Unlovely leather is set on your head.

Your load is small. Your road is long.
My limit is twelve months.
Your working days — four months.
Your idle days — eight months.
You are idle for twice what you work.
They build a barn for your great weight.
They drive you; they loose your hand from the strap.
They pour water on your face like a wine jug.
They strip the strap from you at the end of the field.
But me — they keep in the house, gleaming."

The Hoe Boasts of City Life

"I am the hoe — in the city I will dwell.
I am no burden to anyone.
I am the servant who follows his master.
I am the one who builds his master's house.
I am the long cattle-pen, the wide sheepfold.

I spread clay, I make bricks.
I lay foundations, I build houses.
I prop up the base of old walls.
I roof the house of the righteous man.
I, the hoe, put the broad street in order.

I surround the city and build its firm wall.
I have made the houses of the great gods shine.
Red clay, green clay, mixed clay — I have tended them all.
In the city, in the palace, I build.
The overseers and foremen sit at ease because of me.

By the fire the hoe rests, hanging at its side —
no rest can reach it.
They feed it, they water it.
They pay its ferry-toll.
The young laborer's wife and child give him their hands.
For the boatman they build a kiln and burn the bitumen,
they build the grain-barge and the small boat —
and the boatman's wife and child give him their hands.

For the king I plant the orchard.
I surround it with a mud-brick wall,
take hold of its sides, lay its clamor to rest.
The people take the hoe in hand.
They dig the well and build the parapet.
They raise the water-lifting device; they put the garden in order.
I am the one who sets water flowing in the garden.
I make the apple tree grow; it breaks into bloom —
blossoms fit for the house of the great gods.
The gardener's wife and child give him their hands.

He makes rope-bindings at the canal; he sets his path.
He builds a watchtower on the bank.
The man who has worked through the day in the field,
the young man who has worked through the night —
he brings them up to the watchtower.
That man — his city is built, his life brought home.
He fashions a water-skin and pours water.
He places his life within it."

The Final Argument

O plough, digging and digging your channels —
you have flung straw in my face.

The dry steppe, the parched earth, where there is no water —
I dig up its sweet water.
The thirsty man — his life runs to my well-mouth.
What can one man say to another man alone?
What can be added to a solitary man?

The shepherd sets his flock on the steppe, its glory.
When the sky has struck the land barren,
when the land of Sumer has drunk bitter water —
when the house is laid at the canal, hands stretched out to it,
when Enlil has drawn back his brow from the land —

when the harvest Enlil has given flows down,
when what Enlil has made great has been done,
Enlil does not put his hand to it.
He gave the hoe one single tooth for the dry steppe.

We are paired here — winter against harvest.
The hands of the House of Summer and the House of Winter
strip from each other.
The hoe carries its burden, carries the tumbleweed.
The partridge carries its burden, carries the reed-bundle.
The lone young man, the ruined man — gives his arm.
They glean what has been scattered.

In those days, let the day cry out —
let the quern lie down, let the pestle be done.
From the threshing floor the chaff is drawn.
The winnowing basket joins the contest.
What is to be done with the angry man?

O Nisaba — why has he bowed his neck to you?
Why does he claim the roasted grain?
Is it bread for his plough?

Enlil Speaks: The Judgment

Enlil raised his voice to the hoe:

"Noble hoe — do not be troubled.
Noble one — do not bow your neck.

The hoe: Nisaba is her overseer. Nisaba is her foreman.
Let the scribe lift up his work. Let him lift up his work.

Five shekels for the hoe. Ten shekels for the hoe.
Let the accounts be settled.
One third of a mina for the hoe. Half a mina for the hoe.
Let the accounts be settled.

Standing like a slave-woman at her task,
she meets her daily quota.

The hoe defeats the plough in the contest.
The hoe surpasses the plough.

Praise to Nisaba."

Colophon

Colophon: Translated from the ETCSL Old Babylonian composite transliteration (c.5.3.1), University of Oxford. The text presents a composite of manuscript witnesses; fragmentary lines (37A–37B, 61A, 98b) are noted above. Scribed by Ašnan, 2026.

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Source Text: Sumerian Composite Transliteration (ETCSL c.5.3.1)

The Debate between the Hoe and the Plough, Old Babylonian composite text.
Source: The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), University of Oxford (etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk).

e ĝišal-e ĝišal-e ĝišal-e sa la2-e
ĝišal-e ĝišasal2-e zu2 ĝišma-nu-e
ĝišal-e ĝiššinig-e zu2 ĝiš-ab-ba-ke4
ĝišal-e zu2 2-e zu2 4-e
ĝišal-e dumu ukur3-ra šag4 tug2niĝ2-dara2 kar-re
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na du14 ga-na nam-mi-ĝar
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na a-da-min3 dug4-ga
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na gu3 am3-ma-de2-e
ĝišapin i3-gid2-de3-en gid2-da-zu nam-ĝu10
i3-lagab-be2-en lagab-ba-zu nam-ĝu10
a u3-ba-ni-ib-e3 nu-mu-e-da-an-uš2-en
saĝar ĝišdusu-e nu-mu-e-da-an-si-si
im nu-barag-e-en šeg12 nu-du3-e-en
uš ki nu-ĝa2-ĝa2-an e2 nu-du3-du3-en
e2-ĝar8 sumun-na ur2-bi nu-us2-en
ur3 lu2 zid-da-ke4 e2 nu-um-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
ĝišapin sila daĝal-la si nu-um-sa2-sa2-en
ĝišapin i3-gid2-de3-en gid2-da-zu nam-ĝu10
i3-lagab-be2-en lagab-ba-zu nam-ĝu10
ĝišapin-e ĝišal-e gu3 am3-ma-de2-e
ĝe26-e ĝišapin-e a2 gal-e dim2-ma šu gal-e keše2-da
saĝ-tun3 maḫ a-a den-lil2-la2-me-en
engar zid nam-lu2-ulu3-me-en
ezen-ĝu10 itid šu-numun-a a-šag4-ga ak-da-bi
lugal-e gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar2-re
kaš bur-ra-am3 mu-e-de2
lugal-e a ur4-a mu-e-de6
kušub3 kuša2-la2-e šeg11 ši-im-ma-gi4-gi4
lugal-e a2-ĝu10 šu bi2-in-du8
gud-ĝu10 ĝiššudul-e si ba-ni-in-sa2
barag-barag gal-gal zag-ĝu10-ta im-da-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
kur-kur-re u6 dug3-ge-eš mu-e
uĝ3-e igi ḫul2-la mu-un-ši-bar-bar-re
ab-sin2 gub-ba-ĝu10 edin me-te-aš bi2-ib-ĝal2
išin-na a-šag4-ga ĝal2-la-ĝu10-uš
maš2-anše lu-a dšakkan2-na im-ši-gam-e-de3-eš
še šeĝ6-ĝa2 kiĝ2-ĝa2 gub-ba-ĝu10-uš
[fragmentary lines 37A–37B]
dugšakir3 lu2sipad-da dug3 ĝar-ra-am3
zar-maš-ĝu10 a-gar3-ra sal-la-a-bi
udu ddumu-zid-da dug3 ĝar-ra-am3
du6-ĝu10 edin-na du8-du8-a-bi
ḫur-saĝ sig7-ga ḫi-li gur3-ru-am3
guru7-du6 guru7-maš-a den-lil2-ra gu2 mu-un-na-ab-gur-re
ziz2 gig-bi gu2 mu-un-na-ra-dub-dub-be2
araḫ4 nam-lu2-ulu3-ka /še\ mi-ni-ib2-si-si-/en
nu-siki nu-mu-un-su lu2ki-gul-la
gi-gurur3-ra šu um-ma-ab-ti-eš
an pad-pax(PAD)-ra2-ĝu10 im-de5-de5-ge-ne
in-nu a-šag4-ga dub-dub-ba-ĝu10
nam-lu2-ulu3 im-da-gid2-gid2-de3-en
maš2-anše dšakkan2-na lu-a-bi a2 mu-da-an-e3
ĝišal ḫul-bi buru3-da zu2 ḫul-bi bur12-ra
ĝišal im-ma kiĝ2-ĝa2 la2-a
ĝišal a-šag4-ga saĝ-bi im ĝar-ra
ĝišal u3 ĝišu3-šub-ba im-ma ud zal-la lu2-ulu3 nu-luḫ-ḫa
pu2 ba-al sur3 ba-al lu2 en3-dur-ra ba-al
ĝiš šu ukur3-ra-ba šu nam-barag-ga-ka nu-tum2-ma
šu arad lu2-ka saĝ me-te-aš bi2-ib-ĝal2
za-e ĝa2-ra in gig mu-e-dub2
ni2-zu ĝa2-da mu-da-ab-sa2-e-/en
edin-še3 e3-ĝu10-da igi ḫu-mu-un-du8-a
[line 61A fragmentary]
ĝišapin sur3 ba-al-ba-al in-še3 mu-e-dub2
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na gu3 am3-ma-de2-e
ĝišapin tur-ra-ĝu10 nam-ĝu10 buluĝ3-ĝa2-ĝu10 nam-ĝu10 peš10-ĝal2-la-ĝu10 nam-ĝu10
ki den-lil2-la2-ka dub-saĝ-zu ĝe26-e-me-en
e2 den-lil2-la2-ka igi-še3 ma-ra-ab-gub-be2-en
eg2 i3-ak-en pa5 i3-ak-en
a-gar3-a-gar3-re a um-ma-si-si-in
ĝiš-gi-ĝiš-gi-a a u3-mu-ni-in-de2-de2
ĝišdusu tur-ĝu10 mu-da-ab-ri
id2 u3-mu-e-kud pa5 u3-mu-e-kud
id2 maḫ zig3-ga-še3 a um-ma-ni-ri
ambar-ra da um-da-ak-e
ĝe26-e ĝišal niĝin2-bi im-da-gub-be2-en
tum9u18-lu tum9mir-ra nu-mu-un-si-il-si-il-le
mušen-du3-e nunuz ib2-de5-de5-ge
lu2šu-KU6-de3 ku6 mi-ni-ib-dab5-dab5-be2
uĝ3-e ĝišḫar-mušen-na šu im-ma-an-ti
e-ne-eš2 ḫe2-ĝal2-ĝu10 kur-kur-ra šu-bi ḫe2-ni-ib-sud-sud
a-gar3-ta a um-ta-ḫaš-a-ta
ki duru5 kiĝ2-ĝa2 ba-ĝal2-la-ta
ĝišapin igi-zu-še3 a-šag4-ga ĝe26-e ma-an-ed3-de3
a-šag4 ĝal2 da13-da13 ĝe26-e ma-ra-ra-an-du8-e
a2-ur2 eg2-ga ĝe26-e ma-ra-ra-an-ze2-en
u2-kul a-šag4-ga ĝe26-e ma-ra-ra-an-ĝa2-ĝa2-e-en
ĝišmud ĝiši-ri9-na-bi a-šag4-ga ĝe26-e ma-ra-de5-de5-ge-en
a-šag4 kiĝ2 a-ak us2-sa ĝar-ra-am3
gud-zu 6-am3 lu2-zu 4-am3 u3 za-e šag4 11-kam-ma-bi-me-en
a2 sa gi4-a gana2-ta mi-ni-ib-kar-kar-re
ni2-zu ĝa2-a-da mu-da-ab-sa2-e
bar-ĝu10-ta a-šag4-ga ed2-de3-da-zu-ne
ab-sin2-zu dili-am3 igi X X-da-ab-sag9-ge
saĝ-zu kiĝ2-ĝa2 u3-mu-e-ni-ri-en
ĝiši-ri8-na ĝiškiši16 u3-mu-e-ni-la2
ĝišzu2-zu mu-e-kud ĝišzu2-zu u3-mu-e-du3
ĝišzu2-zu šu-zu-še3 nu-im-mi-la2
engar-zu ĝišapin-bi til-la mu-še3 mi-ri-ib2-sa4-sa4
2-kam-ma-še3 nagar ma-ra-ḫuĝ-e lu2 ma-ra-ab-X
e2 nam-gašam-ke4 ma-ra-ab-ni10-ni10-e
tug2-du8 bar ŠUL ma-ra-ra-an-ze2-en
niĝ2-bar-sur-ra ma-ra-ra-an-ed3-ne
/kuš\bar-ed3-da-bar-ed3-da šu-mu-ra-an-kuš2-u3-ne
kuš nu-dug3 saĝ-du-zu bi2-ib-ĝar
il2-la-zu tur-ra-am3 a-ra2-zu maḫ-am3
ud zag-ĝu10 itid 12-am3
ud gub-ba-zu itid 4-am3
ud saḫ6-zu itid 8-am3
gub-ba-zu-gin7 2-am3 ba-du-un
ĝišma2-la2-za e2 i3-du3-du3-e-en
u3-mu-e-ni-ri-en šu-zu ĝišdal-a u3-mu-e-ni-bur12
igi-zu dug ĝeštin-na-gin7 a im-ta-suḫ-en
ĝišdal-ta kur-ra um-ta-ak-en
i-bi2-ĝu10 e2-a mu-ni-in-sig7-sig7-en
ĝišninda2-zu me-am3 gurud-da-bi
lu2 gurud-da-zu gu2-guru5 ba-ab-dug4
ĝiššu-kar2 sug-zag-ge4 gu7-a
ĝe26-e ĝišal-me-en iriki-a ga-an-til3
lu2 nam-me dugud-da-me-en
arad lugal-a-ni-ir us2-sa-me-en
e2 lugal-a-ni-ir du3-du3-a-me-en
e2tur3 gid2-da-me-en amaš daĝal-la-me-en
im i3-barag-en šeg12 i3-du3-du3-en
uš ki i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-an e2 i3-du3-du3-en
e2-ĝar8 sumun-na ur2-bi i3-us2-en
ur3 lu2 zid-da-ka e2 im-ma-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
ĝišal-me-en sila daĝal-la si im-ma-sa2-sa2-e-en
iriki u3-mu-niĝin2 bad3 gen6 um-mi-du3
e2 diĝir gal-gal-e-ne-ka pa e3 u3-ba-ni-ak
im su4 im sig7 im dal-ḫa-mun-na mi2 um-ma-ni-in-dug4
iriki e2-gal-la-ka i3-du3-e-en
ugula nu-banda3-e-ne dur2 i-im-ĝa2-ĝa2-ne
im gig-bi du3-a im BU-bi dugud-da
e2 du3-du3-a-ĝa2 a2 sed4-bi-še3 ni2 ḫe2-em-ši-ib-te-en-te-en
gu2 izi-ka ĝišal um-ma-zal-la zag gu2 um-ma-ab-la2
e-ne sug4-ga-ni nu-mu-e-ši-du-un
mu-ni-ib-gu7-u3-ne mu-ni-ib-na8-na8-ne
addir-ra-ni mu-na-ab-šum2-mu-ne
ĝuruš-ra dam dumu-ni a2 mu-un-da-an-e3
ma2-laḫ5-ra gir4 mu-na-du3 esir2 mu-na-bil-bil
ĝišma2-gur8 ĝišma2-gi4-lum u3-mu-na-du3
ma2-laḫ5-ra dam dumu-ni a2 mu-un-da-an-e3
lugal-ra ĝiškiri6 mu-un-na-ab-gub-be2-en
ĝiškiri6 u3-mu-un-niĝin2 im-du3-a zag-bi u3-bi2-in-dab5 gu3 teš2-a u3-bi2-in-sig10-ge5
uĝ3-e ĝišal-e šu im-ma-an-ti-eš
pu2-ba u3-mu-ba-al mu-gu2 um-mi-du3
ĝišzi-ri2-gum u3-bi2-in-du3 mu2-sar-re si im-sa2-sa2-e-en
ĝe26-e-me-en mu2-sar-ra a bi2-ib2-sig10-sig10-ge-en
ĝišḫašḫur u3-mu-buluĝ3-ĝe26 niĝ2-sa-ḫa am3-e3
niĝ2-sa-ḫa-bi e2 diĝir gal-gal-e-ne-ka me-te-aš im-mi-ib-ĝal2
nu-ĝiškiri6-ke4 dam dumu-ni a2 mu-un-da-an-e3
id2-da ĝiš-keše2-da um-mi-ak ĝiri3 si um-mi-sa2
ki-ba an-za-gar3 gu2-ba um-mi-du3
lu2 a-šag4-ga ud ba-an-da-zal-la
ĝuruš a-šag4-ga ĝi6 ba-an-da-sa2-a
an-za-gar3-ba um-mi-ed3-de3
lu2-bi iriki du3-a-ni zi-ni ba-ši-in-tum3
kušummud u3-mu-dim2 a mu-na-de2-e
zi-ni šag4-ba mu-na-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
ĝišapin sur3 ba-al-ba-al in-še3 mu-e-dub2
edin bar-rim4 ki a nu-ĝal2-la
a dug3-ga-bi u3-mu-ba-al
lu2 enmen tuku gu2 pu2-ĝa2-še3 zi-ni ba-ši-in-tum3
i3-ne-eš2 lu2-u3-ra a-na na-an-dug4
[lu2] lu2-u3-ra dili a-na na-an-taḫ
sipad-de3 u8 sila4-a-ni edin me-te-aš bi2-ib-ĝal2
ud an-ne2 sag2 ba-ab-dug4-ga-ta
ki-en-gi a gig ba-ab-dug4-ga-ta
e2 du3 id2-da šu mu-ni-in-la2-a-ba
den-lil2-le ma-da saĝ-ki ba-da-gid2-da-a-ba
buru14 den-lil2-le mu-un-su-a-ta
maḫ den-lil2-le mu-un-ak-a-ta
den-lil2-le šu nu-me-en-dag
ĝišal zu2 dili bar-rim4-še3 ba-an-šum2
me-en-de3 en-te-en buru14-gin7 mu-e-la2
šu e2-me-eš en-te-na-ke4 mu-na-kar-kar-re-en-de3-en
ĝišal-e a2 la2-e garadinx(GAD/GAD.ĜAR/ĜAR) mu-un-la2
ĝišḫar-mušen-na a2 la2-e gi-gurur3-ra mu-un-la2
ĝuruš saĝ-dili lu2ki-gul-la a2 mu-un-da-an-e3
an pad-pax(PAD)-ra2-«ĝu10» im-de5-de5-ge-ne
ud-bi-a ud-de3 gu3 ḫe2-eb-be2
na4kinkin(ḪAR) ma-nu2 ĝišnaĝa4 ma-du7-du7
ĝiš-gan-na-ta tu10 mu-un-ak-e
gišag4-sur gima-an-sim-bi a-da-min3 mu-da-ak
lu2 sumur-ra-še3 a-na-am3 ab-ak
dezina2 gu2-zu a-na-aš mu-ni-in-šub
še šeĝ6-ĝa2 a-na-aš mu bi2-ib-su-su-un
den-lil2-le ĝišal gu3 am3-ma-de2-e
ĝišal maḫ-bi nam-ba-e-de3-sumur-re-de3-en
maḫ-bi gu2-zu nam-ba-e-de3-šub-ba
ĝišal-e dnisaba ugula-a-ni na-nam dnisaba nu-banda3-a-ni na-nam
dub-sar-e kiĝ2 šu-mu-un-il2 kiĝ2 šu-mu-un-il2
ĝišal-e 5 giĝ4 ĝišal-e 10 giĝ4 niĝ2-kas7 ḫa-ra-ab-ak
ĝišal-e 1/3 ma-na ĝišal-e 1/2 ma-na niĝ2-kas7 ḫa-ra-ab-ak
geme2-gin7 gub-ba eš2-gar3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na a-da-min3 dug4-ga
ĝišal-e ĝišapin-na dirig-ga-ba
dnisaba za3-mi2

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