Papyrus Prisse, column 4, line 1 to column 5, line 4)

Papyrus Prisse, column 4, line 1 to column 5, line 4)

 

sbAyt nt imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp

xr Hm n nswt bity issi anx Dt r nHH

imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp Dd.f

ity nb.i

tni xpr iAw hAw

wgg iw iHw Hr mAw

sDr n.f Xdr ra nb

irty nDsw anxwy imrw

r gr n mdw n.f

ib tmw n sxA.n.f sf

qs mn n.f n Aww

bw nfr xpr m bw bin

dpt nbt Smt

irt iAw n rmT bin m xt nbt

fnd DbA n ssn.n.f

n tnw aHa Hmst

wD.t(w) n bAk im irt mdw iAw

ix Dd n.f mdw sDmyw

sxrw imyw-HAt pAw sDm.n nTrw

ix ir.t(w) n.k mitt

dr.tw Snw m rxyt

bAk n.k idbwy

The teaching of the Overseer of the City and Vizier Ptahhotep

before the power of the dual king Isesi living for ever and eternity.

The Overseer of the City and Vizier Ptahhotep declares:

O my sovereign,

Old age has struck, age has descended,

Feebleness has arrived, weakness is here again.

Sleep is upon him in discomfort all day.

Eyes are grown small, ears deaf,

Mouth silent, unable to speak,

Heart emptied, unable to recall yesterday.

Bones ache his whole length.

Goodness has turned to evil,

All taste is gone.

What old age does to people is evil in every way.

Nose is blocked, unable to breathe,

how old (it feels) standing or sitting.

Let a staff of old age be decreed to be made for this humble servant.

Let him be told the speech of those who assess,

the advice of the ancestors once heard by the gods.

Then the same may be done for you,

strife may be removed from the populace,

and the Two Shores may toil for you.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 4-6)

 

Dd.in Hm n nTr pn

sbA r.k sw r mdt Xr HAt

ix ir.f biA n msw wrw

aq sDm im.f mtrt ib nb

Dd n.f nn msy siA

 

Then the Power of this god said:

Teach him then the speech from the past

that he may provide the example for the children of the great.

May hearing enter into him, the measure of every heart.

Speak to him. For noone can be born wise.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 6-8)

 

HAt-a m Tsw n mdt nfrt

Ddt.n iry-pat HAty-a

it-nTr mry nTr

sA nswt smsw n Xt.f

imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp

m sbA xmw r rx

r tp-Hsb n mdt nfrt

m Axt n sDm.ty.fy

m wggt n nty r tht st

 

Beginning of the collection of fine words

Said by the man of the elite, foremost of arm

god’s father and beloved of the god

eldest son of the king of his body

overseer of the city, vizier Ptahhotep

in teaching the ignorant to be wise

according to the rules of fine words,

something useful to whoever heeds,

and something harmful to whoever transgresses it.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 8-10)

 

Dd.in.f xr sA.f

m aA ib.k Hr rx.k

nDnD r.k Hna xm mi rx

n in.tw Drw Hmwt

nn Hmww apr Axw.f

dgA mdt nfrt r wAD

iw gm st m-a Hmwt Hr bnwt

 

Then he addressed his son:

Do not be proud on account of your knowledge,

but discuss with the ignorant as with the wise.

The limits of art cannot be delivered;

there is no artist whose talent is fulfilled.

Fine words are more sought after than greenstone,

but can be found with the women at the grindstone.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 10-13)

 

ir gm.k DAisw m At.f

xrp ib m iqr r.k

xAm awy.k XmsA.k

m TA ib.k r.f

nn mn.n.f n.k

sand.k Dd bin

m tm xsf sw m At.f

nis.t(w).f m xm-xt pw

rmn.n dAir ib.k aHa.f

 

If you meet an opponent in his moment

A director of heart who is superior to you,

bend your arms and bow;

do not take up your heart against him,

for he will not be swayed for you.

You can belittle bad speaking

by not clashing with him in his moment;

it will mean he is called a fool,

when your self-restraint has subdued his excess.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 13-14)

 

ir gm.k DAisw m At.f

mitw.k nty m rmnwt.k

dd.k xpr iqr.k r.f m gr

iw.f Hr mdt bint

wr wfA in sDmyw

rn.k nfr m rx n srw

 

If you meet an opponent in his moment

Your equal, a man from your levels,

silence is how you establish your superiority over him,

while he is bad mouthing,

greatly to the disgust of the assessors,

and your name is the good one in the mind of the officials.

Papyrus Prisse column 6, lines 1-3)

 

ir gm.k DAisw m At.f

m Hwrw n is mitw.k

m Ad ib.k r.f xft Xss.f

imi sw r tA xsf.f n.f Ds.f

m wSd sw r isy ib.k

m ia-ib n nty xft.k

qsn pw HDDw Hwrw ib

tw r irt ntt m ib.k

Hw.k sw m xsf n srw

 

If you meet an opponent in his moment

Who is a poor man, and not your equal,

do not vent your hear on him by his wretchedness.

Put him on land for him to oppose himself.

Do not pour out your heart at the man facing you.

The demolition of a wretched heart is a difficult matter.

What you wish will be done;

beat him with the hostility of the officials.

 

Papyrus Prisse, column 4, line 1 to column 5, line 4)

 

sbAyt nt imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp

xr Hm n nswt bity issi anx Dt r nHH

imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp Dd.f

ity nb.i

tni xpr iAw hAw

wgg iw iHw Hr mAw

sDr n.f Xdr ra nb

irty nDsw anxwy imrw

r gr n mdw n.f

ib tmw n sxA.n.f sf

qs mn n.f n Aww

bw nfr xpr m bw bin

dpt nbt Smt

irt iAw n rmT bin m xt nbt

fnd DbA n ssn.n.f

n tnw aHa Hmst

wD.t(w) n bAk im irt mdw iAw

ix Dd n.f mdw sDmyw

sxrw imyw-HAt pAw sDm.n nTrw

ix ir.t(w) n.k mitt

dr.tw Snw m rxyt

bAk n.k idbwy

The teaching of the Overseer of the City and Vizier Ptahhotep

before the power of the dual king Isesi living for ever and eternity.

The Overseer of the City and Vizier Ptahhotep declares:

O my sovereign,

Old age has struck, age has descended,

Feebleness has arrived, weakness is here again.

Sleep is upon him in discomfort all day.

Eyes are grown small, ears deaf,

Mouth silent, unable to speak,

Heart emptied, unable to recall yesterday.

Bones ache his whole length.

Goodness has turned to evil,

All taste is gone.

What old age does to people is evil in every way.

Nose is blocked, unable to breathe,

how old (it feels) standing or sitting.

Let a staff of old age be decreed to be made for this humble servant.

Let him be told the speech of those who assess,

the advice of the ancestors once heard by the gods.

Then the same may be done for you,

strife may be removed from the populace,

and the Two Shores may toil for you.