A violent man is a confuser of the citizens who always makes partisans of the younger generations. If now you find someone belonging to the citizenry and his deeds have passed beyond you, accuse him before the entourage and suppress him, for he is a rebel indeed; a talker is a mischief-maker. Bend the multitude and drive out the hot temper from it; will not rise in rebellion by means of the poor man when he is made to rebel.

The mind of the underlings is confused; the army put an end to it by mixing. Many are angry, for men are put in the labor establishment. Be lenient when you oppose; when you fatten (herds, the people)
are in joy. Justify yourself in the presence of God; then men will say you ( Plan). You shall contend against wrong, a good disposition is a man’s heaven, but vilification by the ill-disposed man is dangerous.

Be skillful in speech that you many be strong; it is strength of the tongue, and words are braver then all fighting; none can circumvent the clever man on the mat; a wise man is a school for the magnates and those who are aware of his knowledge do not attack him. Falsehood does not exist near him, but truth comes to him in full essence, after the manner of what the ancestors said.

Copy your forefathers, for work is carried out through knowledge; see, their words endure in writing. Open, that you may read and copy knowledge; (even) the expert will become one who is instructed. Do not be evil, for patience is good; make your lasting monument in the love of you. Multiply ( the people) whom the city has enfolded; then will +God be praised because of rewards; men will watch over your... and give thanks for your goodness, and your health will be prayed for.

Respect the great; keep your people safe; consolidate your frontier and your patrolled area, for it is good to work for the future. Show respect... life for the clear-sighted, but the trusting an will suffer pain. Let men be sent.../ through your kindly disposition. Wretched is he who bound the land to himself; a fool is he who is greedy when others possess. Life on earth passes away, it is not long; he is fortunate who has a good remembrance in it. No man goes straight forward, even though a million belong to the Lord of the Two Lands(...) Shall live forever; he who comes from the hand of Osiris shall depart, just as he who is self -indulgent shall be lost.

Make your magnates great, that they may execute your laws; one who is rich in his house will not be one-sided, for he who does not lack is an owner of property; a poor man does not speak truly, and one who says, “Would that I had,” is not straightforward; he is one-sided towards the possessor of rewards. Greats is the great one whose great ones are great; / valiant is a king who owns an entourage; and August is he who is rich in magnates. Speak truth in your house, so that the magnates who are on earth respect you, for a sovereign’s renown lies in straightforwardness; it is the front room of a house that inspires the back room with respect...


* This is only a brief part of the entire teachings. It can be read in its entirety in....

The Literature of Ancient Egypt: Edited by William Kelly Simpson with translations by R. Q Faulkner, E.F. Simpson..........