Translation

The Title of the Work and Its Object

1 THE BEGINNING OF THE TEACHING CONCERNING LIFE (how to live),

2 (and of) the testimonies (or, admonitions) of safe conduct,

3 (and of) the directions for behaviour set forth by the AgAotu (the high officials who had the privilege of entering the council chambers of kings and governors),

4 (and of) the commandments of the SMERU (the friends of the king, or high officers of state).

(This Teaching and the precepts contained therein will enable a man)

5 to know how to return a suitable answer to him that has spoken to him,

6 (and) to carry back a (satisfactory) report to the man who has despatched him on a mission,

7 (and) will make him to follow a straight course on the roads of life,

8 (and) will enable him to maintain his position of safety upon the earth,

9 (and) will cause his heart to descend (or, enter) its case,

10 (and) make him steer his course away from evil,

11 (and) make him to deliver himself from the mouth of the common folk

12 (and) to be applauded by the mouth of men of understanding.

Amen-em-apt and His Titles

(This Teaching was)

13 made (written) by the Director of the Crops, who was highly skilled and experienced in his profession,

14 Scribe of the grain of Upper and Lower Egypt,

15 Overseer of the barley crops, heaping up the grain to overflowing in the divine granary,

16 Officer in chief in charge of the harvests of his lord,

17 Registrary of the arable lands (and) of the coming in of the gifts (or, offerings) as ordered by the Law

18 in the Great Name of His Majesty,

19 Custodian of the funerary memorials on the boundaries of the Aakhut [the honoured dead].

20 Defender of the King in his edicts of government,

21 Performer of the office of deputy of Kam (Egypt),

22 Scribe of the various grains that formed the offerings [for GOD's sake],

23 Allotter of farms to the peasants (who wished to become tenants on the royal estates),

24 Overseer of the barley crops, Purveyor of supplies of grain,

25 Supplier of the Ahat with stores of barley,

26 GER MAA of the town of Teni and of the town of Nifu-ur,

27 Reporter of the town of Apu (Panopolis),

28 Master of the Necropolis by the town Amentt (and) of the town of Sen,

29 Master of the sanctuary of Abydos,

30 AMEN-EM-APT, THE SON OF KA-NEKHT,

31 whose word is truth, of Nifu-ur.

32 His son is the little one of his children.

34 He is the man of least account among his relatives (and acquaintances),

37 Watcher who is in his holy shrine.

43 Boy begotten by a nobleman (or, magistrate) of Ap (Panopolis),

44 Son of the sistrum-bearer and directress of the singing of [GOD's praises],

45 Powerful of word (Mistress) in the College [of the learned], Ta-Usrir.

The First Chapter

46 He speaks the FIRST CHAPTER.

47 I pray thee to lend me thine ears, hearken to the things that will be said (by me).

48 I pray thee to give thy mind (or, pay attention) to the difficult matters which will be unravelled (by me).

49 The setting of them in thy heart will be advantageous (to thee),

50 And the rejection of them will be a calamity (for thee).

51 I beseech thee to deposit them in the treasure-house of thy belly.

52 They will enable thy heart (or, mind) to right itself

53 When a gale of words is beating hard upon it,

54 They will form a guiding support in thy tongue.

55 If thou wilt live thy life day by day these things being in thy heart

56 Thou wilt find them (beneficial) in the season of adversity's trial.

57 Thou wilt find my words to be like a treasure-house of life,

58 And a source of strength and safety (as long as thou art) upon the earth.

The Second Chapter

59 SECOND CHAPTER.

I.

60 Guard thyself against plundering the poor man

61 And from treating with harshness the destitute.

Ii.

62 Make not thy hand to turn aside at the approach of an aged man,

63 Thou assuming the mouth (speech) of a great man.

Iii.

64 Not ever (never) let a man be despatched by thee on a dangerous mission

65 When thou hast any affection for him who is to carry it out.

Iv.

66 Thou shalt not inflict an injury on him that has attacked thee

67 When thou art able to return an answer to him on thine own behalf.

V.

68 The worker of iniquity--abandon him to the dyke (or, river) bank,

69 His water-flood he will bring (upon) himself.

70 The north wind hurled upon him will bring to an end in misery his hour (or, period of life),

71 He will be seized by the raging waters,

72 The Storm fiend will mount on high (and) the evil crocodiles.

Vi.

73 The fiery, hot-headed man--what is he like to thee?

74 He shrieks imprecations, his voice soars upwards into the heights of heaven,

75 The [moon] stands still in his course, and holds him to be an abomination.

Vii.

76 Work the steering oar, we must give a passage to the wicked man

77 May not we become ourselves like unto him?

78 Set him up on his feet, extend to him gladly thy hand,

79 Commit him to the hands of GOD,

80 Fill his belly with the bread-cakes of thy providing.

82 Another occasion of beneficence is in the heart of GOD,

83 Idleness of the mind is speech (in this case).

The Third Chapter

84 THIRD CHAPTER.

Viii.

85 Couple not together the chattering man with the devil Tar

86 When thou canst pierce him in speech.

87 Idle is the crooked man, bow thyself to the attacker.

89 A raging wind he rushes forth like a destroying fire among the reeds.

90 The noisy, hot-headed man in his hour (when his rage is greatest),

91 Turn thyself aside from before him, leave the matter of him

92 To GOD, Who knows how to requite him.

Ix.

93 If thou wilt pass the days of thy life (keeping) these things in thy heart,

94 Thy children, behold them!

The Fourth Chapter

95 FOURTH CHAPTER.

X.

96 Now (or, as for) the noisy, hot-headed man of the house of GOD (the temple),

97 He is like a large, leafy tree planted in the courtyard (of a temple);

98 Its (leaves) come to an end (wither), his unripe fruit drops off,

99 Brought when its end has come to the water-course

100 It is (cast) into the water, and carried away far from its place,

101 The flame of fire is its winding-sheet (or, shroud).

102 (But) the Ger Maa who sets himself by the side (of the road),

103 He is like a large leafy tree planted in shining (or, fertile) ground.

104 It blossoms, it doubles its yield of fruit in the summer.

105 It has its place before the face of its lord (or, Owner).

106 Its foliage (or, fruit) is sweet, the shadow thereof is pleasant,

107 And it is carried at its end (finally) into the groves of GOD.

The Fifth Chapter

108 FIFTH CHAPTER.

Xi.

109 Make no encroachment on the dykes of the house of GOD.

Xii.

110 Commit not an act of avariciousness so that thou mayest find (obtain) additional wealth.

Xiii.

111 Make not to turn aside from his duty a servant of GOD

112 To do what is profitable to another man.

Xiv.

113 Say not, "To-day is even as to-morrow morning (will be)."

114 The end (or, result) of this (reasoning) will be like what?

115 To-morrow has yet to come, to-day has yet to pass away.

Xv.

116 The water-flood (Inundation) is on the mouth (crest) of the surging waves.

117 The crocodiles make themselves visible (from the mud), the hippopotami appear in the light (from the water).

118 The fish leap in the waters.

119 The wolves gorge themselves, the geese keep high festival.

120 The restraining cords are cast loose.

121 Now every GER of the house of GOD

122 Shall say, "Great is the graciousness of [GOD]."

O thou who art filled with silence, thou shalt find the life,

Thy body shall be preserved in safety upon the earth.