10

 

Love

When Pharaoh loves, he creates.

When Pharaoh hates, he does not create.

                Texts of the Pyramids, 412b

 

It's thanks to the love that supports you that your work will last.

                                                                Merikare

 

Give your love to the whole world,

Since a happy personality is remembered When the years have long rolled by.

 

                                                                Merikare

 

Good Character

 

A good character is a sheltering sky for a human being.

                            Merikare

 

Honesty

 

Till your own field and you will find what you need.

A single bushel of what God has given you

is better than five thousand bushels that have been dishonestly obtained.

                                                    Amenemope

 

Do not falsify the scales,

Do not alter the weights,

Do not lessen the fractions that are used for measuring.

                                    Amenemope

 

What is the point of being expensively dressed if you behave like a fraud before God?

Crockery disguised as gold is revealed as lead in the light of day.

                                            Amenemope

 

Impartiality

 

Bias is an abomination in the sight of God.

Act towards a stranger as you would to he who is close to you.

                                                        Tomb of Rekhmire

 

Humility

 

May your heart never be vain because of what you know.

Take counsel from the ignorant as well as the wise,

Since one never reaches the limits of art,

And there has never been an artisan who has attained perfection.

                                                Ptah-Hotep

 

Do not scorn a little thing,

For fear of suffering from it.

Ankh-Sheshonk

 

A little worry can break your back,

A little good news can make your heart leap,

A little dew can make the grass live, A little bee can make honey.

Ankh-Sheshonk

 

Self-Criticism

 

Know how to be critical of yourself to avoid the criticism of others.

                                        Hor- Djedef

 

Discretion

 

Do not enter someone else's house before they permit it and welcome you in.

Do not let your eye be too curious. Know how to look silently,

And do not gossip about someone who isn't there.

It would be a serious fault if your stories were listened to

Do not enter someone else's house before they permit it and welcome you in.

                                                    Ani

 

Do not pour your heart out to people,

Do not associate with those who bare their souls.

    Amenemope

 

 

Obedience

 

Your back is not going to break just because it is bending

                            Amenemope   

 

Respect

 

Know how to inspire fear and make yourself respected.

He who is held in awe is a good judge.

But the true function of the judge is to practise justice.

If you fear him too much then there must be something wrong with you.

                                                    Tomb of Rekhmire

 

Show respect for the lives of those who are frank.

                                                                                   Merikare

 

Do not hurt those older than you,

Since they have seen the divine light before you.   

                                                                        Amenemope

 

Do not laugh at the blind,

Do not torment a dwarf,

Do not make the situation of a cripple even more painful,

Do not torment a man who is in the hands of God,

Do not get annoyed with his mistakes.

      Amenemope

 

Generosity

 

 

The riches of the generous man are greater than those of the miser.

                                                    Ankh-Sheshon'k

 

Be a father to your subordinates,

Instruct the young,

Help the unfortunate,

Provide for those in need,

Protect the orphan and the widow,

Open your ears to those who tell the truth,

Keep away from evil people.

Baken-Khonsu

 

I have built my house perfectly,

So that its doors were wide and welcoming.

To those who wanted them,

I have offered presents,

I have shown myself generous to those both near and far,

Since I wanted my name respected in the mouths of those who live on this earth.

                                                                        Stele in Cairo 20543

 

Those who like to give food to others will find a welcome at table in every house.

                                                                Ankh-Sheshonk

 

 

                  THE QUALITIES OF THE SAGE

 

Do not eat bread without giving some to those near you

who do not have anything to eat.

Since the bread is eternal while man does not last.

Ani

 

If you find a poor man crushed by a heavy debt,

break it down into three parts.

Cancel two parts but maintain the third.

You will thus be on the right path of life

                                                                Amenemope

 

 

Conviviality

 

A man loses nothing by speaking pleasantly,

His discourse gains nothing if it is disagreeable.

 Amenemope

 

Do not neglect to help those who help you.

Ankh-Sheshonk

 

Politeness

 

Do not sit down when there is a person standing

who is older than you or whose rank is higher than yours.

                                                                                                Ani

 

 Happiness and Joy

 

Happiness is to be found in observing righteousness (Maat).

                              Petosiris

 

You will know happiness if your life is lived

within the limits set by the will of God.

                                                                            Ani

 

 

Understand, Pharaoh is the master of the greatness of the heart.

                            Merikare

 

There is no evil in me.

That is why I have taken possession of heaven and earth.

Joy has been given to me.

I have known abundance.

        Texts of the Sarcophagi, Ch.468

 

I have risen up to heaven, I have realised my desire,

I have attained mastery, Joy has been given me.

                                        Texts of the Sarcophagi, Ch.468

 

How wonderful it is to see,

How happy are they who understand!

                Texts of the Pyramids, 1980a, 1943b

 

How marvelous it is when the boats descend the river and there are no thieves!

How marvelous it is when the tombs are maintained,

When the mummies are in good condition,

When the paths are safe for walking.

How wonderful when the hands of men built the Pyramids,

When reservoirs are dug,

When plantations of sycamores are planted for the Gods.

When men drink to fullness, And their hearts are content.

When all mouths express joy,

When a simple meal in the shade satisfies the needs of all.

                                    Ipu-Or

 

Every new dawn brings me more joy

from my young childhood up to the great age that I have reach

d, in theinterior of the temple of the Hidden God.

I have seen Him everywhere

where my eyes have the ability to still see His sacred face.

                                                                                            Bakhen-Khonsu

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