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The Path of Righteousness Living in accordance with Maat, Goddess of Justice
Righteousness (Maat) appears in the heart of the Divine Light. Temple of Ibis at Khargah Oasis
Truth is sent by God. Ani
Truth is a great gift from God. He grants it to those He wants. The power of those who try to be like Him is such that it saves the unfortunate from persecution. Amenemope
Do justice (Maat) for the master of justice (Maat) whose justness is truly just. Stories of the Oases
You enter the temple of Ptah and leave… You shall love life, You shall forget death. I have put justice (Maat) in her place, In the knowledge that this was God’s desire. Statue of Tja-ba-neb Dedenimou
Were I able to see the truth before the Master of all. Were I able to offer righteousness to the Lord of the Universe. I shall live alongside the master of my life, I shall act according to his commands. Texts of the Sarcophagi, Ch.534
Establish the place of Maat for the Pharaoh, Since righteousness is what Pharaoh loves, Say to Pharaoh that this is what the nature of Maat is, Since it is truth that the King loves. Kaemni
Pharaoh has put righteousness (Maat) in the place of wickedness. Texts of the Pyramids, 1775b
Righteousness is fitting for a Pharaoh. It is the interior of the household that makes you respect the exterior. Merikare
I have glorified the Law (Maat) which embraces the Divine Principle, I know that it exists there. Maat is also my bread, I drew her dew, With her I form a complete being. Sayings of the Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut
The light of Heaven is placed in harmony for Pharaoh. For Pharaoh it reconciles duality into harmony. For Pharaoh the darkness is placed in harmony. Universal harmony is what is brought before Pharaoh, It is what he sees and hears. Universal harmony surrounds Pharaoh, Universal harmony belongs to him. Texts of the Pyramids, 34
The balanced happiness of a country is the result of the accomplishment of justice. Stories of the Oases
The strength of a Pharaoh lies in justice. A destroyer’s monuments are themselves destroyed. The acts of a liar do not last. Kanais, Inscription of Seti I
Great is the Law (Maat), Its efficiency lasting. The Law has not been disturbed since the time of Osiris. When the end comes, The Law will remain. Ptah-Hotep
It has been so designed that Truth (Maat) comes to the sage in accordance with the words of the ancients. Merikare
A great man lives with righteousness (Maat). Evil (Isefet) is what he hates. He is counted among the venerable ones, He is the companion of right. Brooklyn Papyrus
All through your earthly life, Accomplish righteousness. Comfort those who suffer, Do not oppress the widow, Do not drive a man from the land of his father, Do not hinder the great from fulfilling their duties, Do not punish people unjustly. Merikare
All my life was spent in public service. The seal of office that I received I kept to the end of my life. It was never far from me even when I rested. When words were said against me in front of judges I was innocent and the false accusations rebounded on the heads of my accusers. Every act I did, I did effectively, because I was a virtuous servant. Meir, inscription of Pepi-Ankh
I have practiced and preached the justice of Maat, I have told the truth, I have spoken just words. I have acted with justice, To profit by the love of mankind. I have dealt justly with those who challenge it. I have saved the weak from the clutches of the strong as much as I could. I have given bread to those who were hungry, Water to those who were thirsty, Clothes to those who have none. I have allowed those without a boat To cross to the other bank. I have given an eternal dwelling place To those who have no sons to build them one. Mastaba of Sheshi at Saqqara
I have done justice for its Master, I have satisfied God with the things He loves. I have spoken and repeated words of righteousness. I have codified righteousness and delivered justice. I have given bread to the hungry, Clothes to the naked, I have respected my father, I have profited from the love of my mother and achieved self mastery. I have never slandered anyone, Because I wanted the accomplishment and the respect of Gods and men for ever. Mastaba of Idu at Saqqara
See to those things that can be justly accomplished. Do justice to every man. A judge has to have a visible face. The water and the wind bear witness to his deeds which none can be unaware of. Tomb of Rekhmir at Thebes. Lines on the installing of a Vizier
Do not automatically take the side of a well-dressed man, Do not automatically turn away from the badly dressed man. Do not accept gifts from powerful men, Do not be unjust towards the weak man to help the strong.
Amenemope All conduct should be so straight that you can measure it with a plumb-line. Ptah-Hotep
Keep closely to the Law, Never overstep it. Ptah-Hotep
Maat and Eternal Life
Be aware of eternity approaching, The vital thing is to practise justice. Stories of the Oases
He who is without righteousness will not enter the dwelling of Maat, the country of silence. Only those whose hearts are true are admitted on to the ferry, Since the ferryman will not take the unrighteous. How fortunate they are, those who pass to the other side! Hymn to Amon
Unjust acts do not come home to port. The just man will always reach port. Stories of the Oases
Glory be to you, Harmony of the Universe, sovereign of the north wind! You breathe life into the living, You constantly give a wind to those who sail in your ship… Allow me to enter the fields of Paradise, to reach the place of offerings and be nourished forever on all the sacrificial tables of the city of the pillar. How my heart moves in the realm of the underworld. May the road of Heaven be open for me. Stele at the British Museum
I was a man both correct and just, Free from disloyalty, Who kept God in his heart, Having been instructed in his power. I reached this city of Eternity After acting well on earth. I never caused affliction, No reproach was ever laid against me. My name was never said negatively In connection with any vice. I knew the joy of following righteousness, Since I knew that it was filled with light For those who do good on the earth, From birth to death. It is a solid defence for those who testify, On that day when they appear before the heavenly court, Which judges the unfortunate Strips them naked, Punishes the guilty and destroys their souls. I have led a virtuous life. Listen to me, you who walk this earth: Practise righteousness each day, It is a food that can’t be eaten enough. You will transcend your existence with happiness of heart Until that moment when your spirit passes to the beautiful West. Your soul will have the power to come and go, Like the Masters of eternity Who have vanished with their ancestors. Stele at Beki
Make beautiful your resting place in the West, Make splendid your resting place in the City of the Dead. Thanks to your correctness and just way of life It is there that your heart and soul can rest. Merikare
Righteousness is eternal. It descends into the Underworld with those who practise it. It is placed in the tomb, It is united with the earth, But its name never fades, What it has achieved is remembered. Such is the Law and the Divine command. Stories of the Oases
If you lead a righteous life, You will become young again in your time. You will shed your years like a frog its skin, You will return as you are now. The song of the harpist Nefer-Sekhou
Good and Evil
Learn to understand the words which distinguish good from evil. Amon-Nakht
Do not respond with evil to good. Do not confuse the one thing with the other. Stories of the Oases
It is to those who do evil that evil, inevitably, will be done. Urkenden VI
The heart of God is full of sadness because of the evil that He has to punish. If retribution does not come sooner it comes later. A law at the temple of Edfou
I have spent my days searching for good, I have peacefully become a respected man, I have upheld righteousness in accordance to your Majesty, Day after day. I have been a fair and just man, Free from evil, My heart has never joined with wickedness. I was a just man, Never giving in to favouritism, Someone whose bearing was measured, Whose words made good sense, A respected man who followed the paths of God, And who was free from injustice. If you do good, Good will be done unto you. It will benefit you in the long run, In accordance with what you will have achieved. Statue of Ankh-pa Khered in Cairo Museum
I have come having chased away the evil that was in my heart And controlled the disorder that was in me. I have come to bring righteousness, Which has appeared in the form of this creative power Which nourishes humanity and comes from God. Texts of the Sarcophagi, Ch.306
Even if he were an important person, a man whose nature is evil does not know how to remain upright. Ani
You cannot remove the venom from the crocodile, from the serpent and from the evil man. Ankh-Sheshonk
Even the smallest serpent is venomous. Ankh-Sheshonk
When you get to see the whole length of a crocodile, you can appreciate the fear that the sight provokes. A crocodile does not die from great distress, he dies from hunger. Ankh-Sheshonk
Injustice exists in abundance, But evil can never succeed in the long run. Ptah-Hotep
It is the duty of responsible men to fight evil and affirm goodness, As they are the workmen who bring into existence that which has to be. Stories of the Oases
Punish with principle, Teach meaningfully. The act of stopping evil leads to the lasting establishment of virtue. Ptah-Hotep
It only takes a moment to put something right, But evil lasts a long time. Stories of the Oases
Even a little evil rushes towards death, Even a little good act is not hidden from God. Ankh-Sheshonk |
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