---
type: article
status: Published
slug: "man-and-his-ba"
title: "The Dispute of a Man with His Ba"
author: "Anonymous"
tradition: "egyptian"
language: "egy"
genre: "dialogue and poem"
period: "c. 1900 BCE (12th Dynasty)"
source_url: "https://github.com/oraec/corpus_raw_data/blob/b83a0ee5fae27a40d4c0a2a9a8c9c2973d45e9cd/oraec75.json"
certainty: observed
source: "https://github.com/oraec/corpus_raw_data/blob/b83a0ee5fae27a40d4c0a2a9a8c9c2973d45e9cd/oraec75.json"
unknowns: none known
---
# The Dispute of a Man with His Ba

## Original

### The Man Answers His Ba

(1) […] 𓏏𓈖𓏥𓂋𓆓𓂧 […]
[…] tn r ḏd […]

(2) 𓂜𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂝𓀁𓈖[⯑][⯑]𓂋[⯑] […]
n nmꜥ.n [ns] =[s]⸢n⸣ [j]w r ⸮ẖꜣ[_]? […]

(3) 𓂧𓃀𓅡𓄿𓅱𓌥𓏛𓏥𓂜𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂝𓀁𓈖𓄓𓄹𓋴𓈖𓏥𓇋𓅱𓄋𓊪𓏴𓈖𓀀
dbꜣ,w n nmꜥ.n ns =sn ⸢j⸣w ⸢wp⸣i̯.n =j

(4) 𓂋𓏤𓀀𓈖𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓀀𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓆑
rʾ =j n bꜣ =j wšb =j ḏd.t.n =f

(5) 𓇋𓅱𓈖𓄿𓅨𓂋𓂋𓀀𓅓𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂜𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀
jw nꜣ wr r =j m-mjn n mdwi̯ bꜣ =j

(6) 𓎛𓈖𓂝𓀀𓇋𓅱𓎼𓂋𓏏𓅨𓂋𓂋𓂝𓃀𓂝𓀁𓇋𓅱𓏇𓇋[⯑]𓀀
ḥnꜥ =j jw gr.t wr r ꜥ⸢b⸣ꜥ jw mj wsf =j

(7) 𓇋𓅓𓂜𓈝𓅓𓂻𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓊢𓂝𓂻𓆑𓈖𓀀𓁷𓂋𓋴 […]
jmi̯ šm bꜣ =j ꜥḥꜥ =f n =j ḥr =s […]

(8) […] 𓆑𓂜𓈖[⯑]𓆑 […]
[…] =f nn ꜥ[_]⸮m? =⸮f? […]

(9) […] 𓆑𓅓𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓅓𓍲𓈖𓏌𓅱𓍢𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓎛𓍢𓂜𓈖
⸢…⸣ =f m ẖ,t =j m šnw nwḥ nn

(10) 𓆣𓂋𓅓𓂝𓆑𓂋𓅱𓇋𓂻𓆑[⯑][⯑]
ḫpr m-ꜥ =f rwj =f hrw [q]s[n,t]

(11) 𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓏥𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓁷𓏤𓏏𓉔𓏏𓂾𓂻𓀀𓂜𓄔𓅓𓈖𓀀
m =tn bꜣ =j ḥr thi̯.t =j n sḏm.n =j

(12) 𓈖𓆑𓁷𓏤𓋴𓏏𓍔𓄿𓋴𓍬𓂻𓀀𓂋𓅓𓏏𓀏𓂜𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻𓈖𓆑
n =f ḥr stꜣ{s} =j r m(w)t n jyi̯.t =⟨j⟩ n =f

(13) 𓁷𓏤𓆼𓄿𓂝𓂡[⯑]𓐍𓏏𓊮𓂋𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓏏𓊮𓀀
ḥr ḫꜣꜥ =⟨j⟩ ḥr ḫ,t r smꜣm.t =j

(14) [⯑]𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏛𓆑 […] 𓐟 […] 𓆑
⸢ptr⸣ mn,t =f […] ⸮sꜣ? […] =f

(15) 𓏏𓎡𓂻𓆑𓇋𓅓𓀀𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓈎𓋴𓌟𓈖𓏏𓅪𓏥
tk⟨n⟩ =f ⸢jm⸣ =j hrw qsn,t

(16) 𓊢𓂝𓂻𓆑𓅓𓊪𓆑𓐞𓏤𓏇𓇋𓁹𓈖𓅘𓎛𓊪𓅱𓀁𓀀
ꜥḥꜥ =f m pf gs mj jri̯ nḥp,w

(17) 𓊪𓅬𓄿𓇋𓋴𓊪𓅱𓉐𓂋𓂋𓂻𓏎𓈖𓆑𓇓𓅱𓂋𓆑𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀
pꜣ js pw prr jni̯ =f sw r =f bꜣ =j

(18) 𓅱𓐍𓆼𓄿𓅪𓂋𓊃𓂧𓎛𓀁𓄿𓉔𓅪𓁷𓏤𓋹𓈖𓐍𓇋𓉔𓅓𓂡
wḫꜣ r sdḥ ꜣh(,w) ḥr ꜥnḫ jhm

(19) 𓅱𓀀𓂋𓅓𓏏𓀏𓂜𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻𓀀𓈖𓆑𓋴𓇛𓈖𓆓𓅓𓏛
wj r m(w)t n jyi̯.t =j n =f snḏm

(20) 𓈖𓀀𓋀𓏏𓈉𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓈎𓋴𓌟𓈖𓏏𓅪𓊪𓅱𓊪𓄡𓂋𓏏𓄲𓇳
n =j jmn,t jn-jw qsn,t pw pẖr,t

(21) 𓊪𓅱𓋹𓈖𓐍𓇋𓅱𓆱𓏏𓏤𓏥𓐍𓂋𓀒𓋴𓈖𓏥𓐍𓈖𓏏𓂧𓂾𓂻𓂋𓎡
pw ꜥnḫ jw ḫt.pl ḫr =sn ḫn{t}d r =k

(22) 𓁷𓏤𓇋𓋴𓆑𓏏𓅪𓏥𓍯𓄿𓎛𓎝𓏛𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀
ḥr jsf,t wꜣḥ mꜣjr =j

(23) 𓅱𓆓𓂝⯑𓏛𓅱𓀀𓅝𓏏𓏭𓅆𓎛𓊵𓏏𓊪
wḏꜥ wj Ḏḥwtj ḥtp

(24) 𓊹𓏤𓏥𓐍𓊃𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓅆𓁷𓂋𓀀
nṯr.pl ḫsf Ḫnsw ḥr =j

(25) 𓏞𓀀𓅓𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓄔𓅓𓂋𓂝𓇳𓏤𓅆𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓀀
zẖꜣ,w m-mꜣꜥ,t sḏm Rꜥ mdw =j

(26) 𓊃𓎼𓀝𓅱𓇋𓄿𓇳𓊛𓐍𓊃𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡
sg wjꜣ-⸮Rꜥ? ḫsf

### The Ba Urges Him to Live

(27) 𓇋𓋴𓂧𓊃𓏊𓅆𓁷𓂋𓀀𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐[⯑]
Jsds ḥr =j m ꜥ,t ḏs[r.t]

(28) [⯑]𓋴𓐟𓄿𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀𓅱𓂧𓈖𓍖𓏛𓅓
[ḥr]-n,tt sꜣr =j wdn ⸮⸢m⸣? ⸮[ꜣtp,w]?

(29) 𓆑𓄿𓀋𓂝𓈖𓆑𓈖𓀀𓈖𓆓𓇛𓅓𓏛𓐍𓋴𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡
fꜣi̯.n =f n =j nḏm ḫsf

(30) 𓊹𓏤𓏥𓈙𓏏𓍔𓄿𓏛𓏥𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓈖𓀀
nṯr.pl štꜣ.pl ẖ,t =j ḏd.t.n n =j

(31) 𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓂜𓈖𓏏𓎡𓇋𓋴𓊃𓀀𓏤𓇋𓅱𓎡𓏏𓂋𓆳𓀁
bꜣ =j n ntk js z jw =k tr

(32) 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓏏𓊪𓏏𓂋𓆳𓆎𓅓𓏛𓎡𓎔𓂝𓇋𓇋𓀁𓎡𓁷𓏤𓋹𓈖𓐍
ꜥnḫ.t(j) ptr km =k mḥi̯.y =k ḥr ⸢ꜥnḫ⸣

(33) 𓏇𓇋𓎟𓀀𓊢𓂝𓉴𓏛𓏥𓀀𓆓𓂧𓀀𓂜𓈝𓅓𓂻𓀀
mj nb-ꜥḥꜥ.pl ḏd =j n šm =j

(34) 𓇋𓅱𓈖𓆑𓄿𓂋𓇾𓈇𓏤𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓅱𓁷𓏤𓏏𓆑𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂾𓂻𓏥𓂜𓈖
jw nfꜣ r tꜣ nḥm-n tw ḥr tf.yt nn

(35) 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓏏𓍢𓂝𓎡𓐍𓈖𓂋𓇋𓂉𓀁𓀀𓎟𓁷𓏤𓆓𓂧
nwi̯.t(w) =k ḫnrj nb ḥr ḏd

(36) 𓇋𓅱𓀀𓂋𓎁𓏏𓂡𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎼𓂋𓏏𓎡𓅓𓏏𓀏𓂋𓈖𓎡
jw =j r jṯi̯(.t) =k jw gr,t =k m(w)t(.tj) rn =k

(37) 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊨𓏏𓉐𓈖𓆑𓄿𓈖𓏏𓐍𓈖𓏏𓅯𓂻𓂝𓆑𓂧𓏛
ꜥnḫ s,t nfꜣ n.t ḫni̯.t ⸮ꜥfd⟨.t⟩?

(38) 𓈖𓏏𓄣𓏤 […] 𓈖𓆑𓂧𓈎𓄣𓏤𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓊪𓅱𓋀𓏏𓈉𓂙𓈖𓏏𓊛[⯑] […]
⸮n.t? jb […] ⸮n? ⸮fdq? jb dmj pw jmn,t ẖni̯,t qs[_] […]

(39) 𓁷𓏤𓇋𓂋𓄔𓅓𓈖𓀀𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀[⯑] […] [⯑]𓀀
ḥr jr sḏm n =j bꜣ =j ⸮jw[,tj]? […] ⸮n[n]? ⸮[n]? =⸮j?

(40) [⯑]𓏏𓏏𓀾𓏛𓄣𓏤𓆑𓎛𓈖𓂝𓀀𓇋𓅱𓆑
[b]tꜣ t(w)t jb =f ḥnꜥ =j jw =f

(41) 𓂋𓅓𓂝𓂋𓐬𓏛𓂋𓂝𓀀𓊪𓎛𓄖𓂻𓆑𓋀𓏏𓈉𓏇𓇋
r mꜥr rḏi̯ =j pḥ =f jmn,t mj

(42) 𓈖𓏏𓏭𓅓𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓆑𓊢𓂝𓂻𓈖𓁷𓂋𓇯𓇾𓈇𓏤𓀀𓁷𓏤
n,tj m mḥr =f ꜥḥꜥ.n ḥr(,j)-tꜣ ḥr

(43) 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓆱𓆑𓇋𓅱𓀀𓂋𓁹𓏏𓈖𓇋𓄿𓇋𓋺
qrs =f jw =j r jri̯.t njꜣj [ḥr]

(44) 𓆞𓄿𓏏𓐎𓏥𓎡𓊃𓆓𓂧𓅓𓀁𓎡𓎡𓇋𓇋𓊸𓅡𓀏
ẖꜣ,t.pl =k sḏdm =k ky bꜣ

(45) 𓅓𓇑𓇑𓈖𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀉𓇋𓅱𓀀𓂋𓁹𓏏𓈖𓇋𓄿𓇋𓋺𓇋𓐍𓏛
m nnw jw =j r jri̯.t njꜣj jḫ

(46) 𓍃𓅓𓆑𓎛𓎿𓊃𓅱𓊡𓊃𓆓𓂧𓅓𓀁𓎡𓎡𓇋𓇋𓊸𓅡𓀏
tm =f ḥs.w sḏdm =k ky bꜣ

(47) 𓈖𓏏𓏏𓍔𓄿𓅱𓊮𓋴𓅨𓂋𓇋𓀁𓀀𓈗𓁷𓏤𓃀𓅡𓄿𓃀𓅡𓄿𓏏𓈗
n,t⟨j⟩ tꜣ.w swrj =j mw ḥr bꜣbꜣ,t

(48) 𓍿𓊃𓇋𓇋𓍞𓂡𓀀[⯑] […] 𓆄𓇋𓇋𓏏𓇳
ṯsi̯.y =j šwy[,t] […] šw,t

(49) 𓊃𓆓𓅓𓀁𓎡𓎡𓇋𓇋𓊸𓅡𓀏𓈖𓏏𓏭𓎛𓈎𓂋𓅪𓇋𓂋𓉔𓇋𓅓𓂝𓎡
sḏ⟨d⟩m =k ky bꜣ n,tj ḥqr jr ⟨j⟩h{j}m =k

(50) 𓅱𓀀𓂋𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓊪𓅯𓄿𓈎𓇋𓀾𓏛𓂜𓈖
wj r m(w)t m pꜣ qj nn

(51) 𓅠𓅓𓎡𓐍𓈖𓏏𓅯𓂻𓎡𓁷𓂋𓋴𓅓𓋀𓏏𓈉[⯑]
gmi̯ =k ḫni̯.t =k ḥr =s m jmn,t wꜣ[ḥ]

(52) 𓄣𓏤𓎡𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓌢𓈖𓀀𓂋𓆣𓂋𓏏𓃛𓂝𓅱𓄯𓀀
jb =k bꜣ =j sn =((j)) r ḫpr.t jwꜥ,w =⸮j?

### The Ba Warns of the Grave

(53) 𓂧𓂋𓊪𓂞𓏏𓏭𓆑𓏭𓊢𓂝𓏏𓂻𓆑𓏭𓁷𓏤𓇉𓄿𓏏𓉐𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤
drp.tj =fj ꜥḥꜥ.t(j) =fj ḥr ḥꜣ,t hrw

(54) 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓀾𓂡𓋴𓐟𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏛𓆑𓎛𓆰𓈖𓎡𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂠𓋳𓏤
qrs sꜣi̯.y =f ḥnk,yt

(55) 𓈖𓏏𓊻𓂋𓈉𓇋𓅱𓄋𓊪𓏴𓈖𓈖𓀀𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓂋𓏤𓆑𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓆑
n.t ẖr,t-nṯr jw wpi̯.n n =⸢j⸣ bꜣ =j rʾ =⸢f⸣ wšb =f

(56) 𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓀀𓇋𓂋𓊃𓐍𓆼𓄿𓀁𓎡𓈎𓂋𓋴𓊭𓈖𓇉𓄿𓏏𓐎𓏥𓄣𓏤
ḏd.t.n =j jr sḫꜣ =k qrs nḥꜣ,t-jb

(57) 𓊪𓅱𓏎𓈖𓏏𓂋𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓁹𓊪𓅱𓅓𓋴𓇋𓆛𓈖𓂧𓅪
pw jni̯.t rm,yt pw m sjnd

(58) 𓊃𓀀𓏤𓄞𓂧𓏏𓂝𓊃𓀀𓏤𓊪𓅱𓅓𓉐𓏤𓆑𓆼𓄿𓂝𓂡𓁷𓏤
z šdi̯.t z pw m pr =f ḫꜣꜥ ḥr

(59) 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓀠𓈇𓏤𓂜𓈖𓉐𓂋𓂻𓈖𓎡𓂋𓁷𓂋𓅱𓇯𓌳𓁹𓄿𓎡
qꜣꜣ nn pri̯.n =k r-ḥr,w mꜣ =k

(60) 𓂋𓂝𓇳𓏤𓅆𓏥𓐪𓂧𓏌𓀢𓂡𓅱𓀀𓏥𓅓𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊌𓈖
Rꜥ{.pl} qd.w.pl m jnr n(,j)

(61) 𓌳𓄿𓏏𓊌𓐍𓂝𓅱𓋴𓂡𓉲𓏥𓅓𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏥𓅓
mꜣt ḫ{ꜥ}wsi̯.⸮pl? m mḥr⟨.pl⟩ nfr.w.pl m

(62) 𓂓𓄿𓏏𓀋𓏛𓏥𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓆣𓂋𓋴𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓀢𓀀𓏥𓅓
kꜣ,t nfr.t ḫpr sqd.w.pl m

(63) 𓊹𓏤𓏥𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓅱𓌂𓏥𓇋𓂋𓏭𓅱𓈙𓅱𓁸𓏇𓇋𓇑𓇑𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀉𓀀𓏥
nṯr.pl ꜥbꜣ.w.pl jr,j wš.w mj nn.w.pl

(64) 𓅓𓏏𓏥𓀏𓁷𓏤𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤𓈖𓎼𓄿𓅱𓎣𓅪𓁷𓂋𓇯𓇾𓈇𓏤𓀀
m(w)t.pl ḥr mr,yt n-gꜣ,w ḥr(,j)-tꜣ

(65) 𓎁𓏏𓂡𓈖𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓇋𓇋𓈗𓄖𓆑𓏭𓇶𓅆
jṯi̯.n nwy pḥ(,wj) =fj jꜣḫw

(66) 𓅓𓏇𓏏𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓈖𓋴𓈖𓏥𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆟𓏥
m-mj,tt-jr,j mdwi̯ n =sn rm.w.pl

(67) 𓊃𓊪𓏏𓂏𓈖𓈗𓄔𓅓𓂋𓎡𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓄤𓆑𓂋𓄔𓅓𓂋𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥
⟨n.w⟩ sp,t.du-n(.t)-mw sḏm r =k n =j m =k nfr sḏm n r(m)ṯ.pl

(68) 𓌞𓋴𓂻𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓄤𓆑𓂋𓋴𓅓𓐍𓂜𓎔𓂝𓀁𓇋𓅱𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀
šms hrw-nfr smḫ mḥ jw nḏs

(69) 𓋴𓂓𓄿𓍁𓂝𓆑𓄞𓂧𓅱𓈇𓏤𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄿𓊪𓀋𓂝𓆑𓈙𓈗𓌽𓏥𓆑
skꜣ =f šd,w =f jw =f ꜣ⟨t⟩p =f šm,w =f

(70) 𓂋𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛𓋴𓏏𓍔𓄿𓋴𓍬𓂻𓆑𓋴𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓏏𓊛
r-ẖnw dp,t stꜣ{s} =f sqd,wt

(71) 𓎛𓃀𓎱𓆑𓏏𓎡𓈖𓂻𓌳𓁹𓄿𓈖𓆑𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅱𓐍𓏏𓇰
ḥ(ꜣ)b =f tkn mꜣ.n =f pri̯.t wḫ,t

(72) 𓈖𓏏𓎔𓎛𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊡𓂋𓋴⯑𓁹𓅓𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛
n.t mḥ,yt rs m dp,t

(73) 𓂋𓂝𓇳𓅆𓁷𓏤𓅧𓈎𓂻𓉐𓂋𓂻𓎛𓈖𓂝𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑
Rꜥ ḥr ꜥq pri̯⟨.t⟩ ḥnꜥ ḥm,t =f

(74) 𓄟𓊃𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑𓄿𓈎𓅪𓁶𓏤𓈙𓏤𓈇𓍲𓈖𓆊𓅓
ms.w.pl =f ꜣq tp š šn m

(75) 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓇰𓌨𓂋𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓆊𓏥𓇥𓂋𓇋𓈖𓆑𓈞𓋴𓀔
grḥ ẖr mr,yt.pl ḏr.jn =f ḥmsi̯

(76) 𓊪𓊃𓈙𓏴𓏛𓆑𓅓𓊤𓅱𓀁𓁷𓏤𓆓𓂧𓂜𓂋𓅓𓁹𓀀
psš =f m ḫrw ḥr ḏd n rmi̯ =j

(77) 𓈖𓏏𓆑𓄿𓄟𓋴𓏏𓁒𓂜𓈖𓈖𓋴𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓋀𓏏𓈉
n tfꜣ ms,t nn n =s pri̯.t m jmn,t

(78) 𓂋𓎡𓏏𓁷𓏤𓇾𓈇𓏤𓎔𓂝𓇋𓇋𓀁𓀀𓁷𓏤𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓋴
r k,t ḥr tꜣ mḥi̯.y =j ḥr ms.w.pl =s

### My Name Stinks

(79) 𓊃𓂧𓅱𓏴𓅓𓊃𓅱𓎛𓏏𓐎𓌳𓁹𓄿𓅱𓏥𓁷𓏤𓈖𓏃𓈖𓏏𓏭𓆊𓅆
sd.w m swḥ,t mꜣ.w.pl ḥr n(,j) Ḫntj

(80) 𓂜𓋹𓈖𓐍𓏏𓋴𓈖𓏥𓇋𓅱𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀𓂧𓃀𓎛𓄑𓀁𓆑𓅓𓂝𓈙𓂋𓃭𓅱𓏏𓇳𓏥
n ꜥnḫ.t =sn jw nḏs dbḥ =f m{ꜥ}šr,wt

(81) 𓇋𓅱𓈞𓁐𓆑𓆓𓂧𓋴𓈖𓆑𓇋𓅱𓂋𓄟𓋴𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈀𓏥
jw ḥm⟨,t⟩ =f ḏd =s n =f jw r ms,yt

(82) 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓉐𓂋𓂻𓆑𓂋𓏃𓈖𓏏𓅱𓈇𓏤𓂋𓋴𓋴𓍿𓂋𓄿𓏏𓀗𓇳
jw =f pri̯ =f r-ḫnt,w r ⸮ssṯ? r ꜣ,t

(83) 𓂝𓈖𓈖𓂽𓆑𓇓𓅱𓂋𓉐𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑𓏇𓇋𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑
ꜥnn =f sw r pr =f jw =f mj ky ḥm,t =f

(84) 𓁷𓏤𓈙𓋴𓐟𓄿𓄃𓏛𓈖𓆑𓂜𓄔𓅓𓈖𓆑𓈖𓋴𓋴𓍿𓅪𓈖𓆑
ḥr šsꜣ n =f n sḏm.n =f n =s sṯ.n =f

(85) 𓅱𓈙𓅪𓄣𓏤𓈖𓄋𓊪𓅱𓅂𓀀𓏥𓇋𓅱𓄋𓊪𓏴𓈖𓀀
wš jb n wpw,tj.pl jw wpi̯.n =j

(86) 𓂋𓏤𓀀𓈖𓊸𓅡𓀏𓀀𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓀀𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡
rʾ =j n bꜣ =j wšb =j ḏd.t.n =f m =k

(87) 𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓋴𓏏𓐎𓄿𓋴𓅱𓅯𓏥
bꜥḥ rn =j m-ꜥ =k r st(j) ꜣs,w.pl

(88) 𓅓𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓏥𓈙𓈗𓇳𓊪𓏏𓇯𓏏𓍔𓄿𓏏𓊮𓅓𓂝𓎡
m hrw.pl šm,w p,t tꜣ.t(j) m =k

(89) 𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓊏𓊪𓂝𓋴𓃀𓈖𓏌𓅱𓆟
bꜥḥ rn =j m-ꜥ =k ⟨r⟩ ⟨st(j)⟩ šzp sbn,w

(90) 𓅓𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓂋𓊃𓆑𓅯𓏥𓊪𓏏𓇯𓏏𓍔𓄿𓏏𓊮
m hrw rsf p,t tꜣ.t(j)

(91) 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓋴𓏏𓐎
m =k bꜥḥ rn =j m-ꜥ =k r st(j)

(92) 𓄿𓊪𓋴𓅱𓅯𓏥𓂋𓃀𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈇𓏤𓈖𓏏𓏏𓂋𓇋𓆴𓆰𓏥
ꜣp{s}⟨d⟩w.pl r bwꜣ,t n.t trj

(93) 𓌨𓂋𓄟𓋴𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅯𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀
ẖr ms,yt m =k bꜥḥ rn =j

(94) 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓋴𓏏𓐎𓇉𓄿𓅓𓅱⯑𓂡𓂋𓆼𓄿𓊃𓅱𓏴𓈇𓏤𓏥
m-ꜥ =k r st(j) ḥꜣm,w⟨.pl⟩ r ḫꜣs.w.pl

(95) 𓏌𓏤𓅹𓈇𓏤𓏥𓇉𓄿𓅓⯑𓂡𓈖𓋴𓈖𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡
n.w zš.pl ḥꜣm.n =sn m =k

(96) 𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓋴𓏏𓐎𓅓𓋴𓎛𓅱𓆊𓏥
bꜥḥ rn =j m-ꜥ =k r st(j) msḥ.w.pl

(97) 𓂋𓈞𓋴𓏏𓀔𓌨𓂋𓐖𓈇𓏤𓏥𓌨𓂋𓌸𓂋𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓆊𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡
r ḥmsi̯.t ẖr ⸮ꜥḏ.pl? ẖr mr{r},yt.pl m =k

(98) 𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓊃𓏏𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁
bꜥḥ rn =j m-ꜥ =k r s,t-ḥm,t ḏd grg

(99) 𓂋𓋴𓈖𓅷𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂺𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁
r =s n ṯꜣy m =k bꜥḥ

(100) 𓂋𓈖𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀀𓈎𓈖𓂡𓆓𓂧𓂋𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑
rn =j m-ꜥ =k r ẖrd qni̯ ḏd r =f jw =f

(101) 𓆑𓈖𓄟𓋴𓂧𓅱𓀁𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓃀𓂝𓎛𓆜𓀁𓂋𓈖𓀀
={f} n msd.w =f m =k bꜥḥ rn =j

(102) 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓈖𓆊𓍲𓈖𓈖𓀁𓃀𓈙𓏏𓅱𓂉𓀁
m-ꜥ =k ⟨r⟩ dmj n(,j) ⸮jt⟨y⟩? šnn bšt,w

(103) 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓐟𓏤𓆑𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓏥𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪
mꜣꜣ sꜣ =f ḏd =j n m mjn sn.w.pl bjn

(104) 𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓅱𓀍𓀀𓏥𓏌𓏤𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂜𓌸𓂋𓀁𓈖𓏭𓆓𓂧𓀀
ḫnms.w.pl n.w mjn n mri̯.nj ḏd =j

### To Whom Shall I Speak Today?

(105) 𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂡𓄣𓏤𓏥𓊃𓀀𓏤𓎟𓁷𓏤𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡
n m mjn ꜥwn jb.pl z nb ḥr jṯi̯.t

(106) 𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀁𓏤𓏤𓆑𓏭 […]
ḫ,t.pl sn.nw.du =fj […] ⟨ḏd⟩ =⟨j⟩ ⟨n⟩ ⟨m⟩ ⟨mjn⟩

(107) 𓇋𓅱𓊃𓆑𓂉𓀁𓄿𓈎𓅪𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓁷𓏤𓉔𓄿𓅱𓂻𓈖𓃀𓅱𓎟𓀀𓁐𓏥
jw sf ꜣq nḫt-ḥr hꜣi̯.w n bw-nb

(108) 𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓊵𓏏𓊪𓁷𓏤𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪
ḏd =j n m mjn ḥtp ḥr bjn

(109) 𓂋𓂝𓂋𓆑𓃀𓅱𓄤𓆑𓂋𓂋𓇾𓈇𓏤𓅓𓊨𓏏𓉐𓎟𓏏𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝
rḏi̯ r =f bw-nfr r tꜣ m s,t nb.t ḏd =j n m

(110) 𓏇𓈖𓇳𓋴𓈍𓂝𓂋𓀁𓊃𓀀𓏤𓅓𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪𓋴𓋴𓃀𓏏𓄑𓀁𓆑
mjn sḫꜥr z m sp =f bjn ssbt =f

(111) 𓃀𓅱𓎟𓀀𓁐𓏥𓃛𓅱𓅪𓆑𓈋𓅱𓅪𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝
bw-nb ⟨m⟩ jw =f ḏw ḏd =j n m

(112) 𓏇𓈖𓇳𓇋𓅱𓎛𓂝𓍑𓄿𓂡𓏏𓅱𓊃𓀀𓏤𓎟𓁷𓏤𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓏤𓏤𓆑
mjn jw ḥꜥḏꜣ =tw z nb ḥr jṯi̯.t ⟨ḫ,t⟩ sn.nw.du =f(j)

(113) 𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓅓
ḏd =j n m mjn ⟨btꜣ,w⟩ m

(114) 𓅧𓈎𓂻𓄣𓏤𓀀𓌢𓈖𓀀𓁹𓂋𓎛𓈖𓂝𓆑𓆣𓂋
ꜥq-jb sn jrr ḥnꜥ =f ḫpr

(115) 𓅓𓐍𓏏𓆑𓀏𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂜𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁𓏏𓋴𓆑𓇳
m ḫft(,j) ḏd =j n m mjn n sḫꜣ =t(w) sf

(116) 𓂜𓁹𓏏𓈖𓁹𓀀𓅓𓏏𓄿𓄿𓏏𓀗𓇳𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳
n jri̯ =t(w) n jri̯ m tꜣ ꜣ,t ḏd =j n m mjn

(117) 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓏥𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪𓏎𓈖𓈖𓏏𓅱𓅓𓇥𓂋𓇥𓂋𓅱𓀢𓀀𓏥
sn.w.pl bjn jnn =tw m ḏrḏr.w.pl

(118) 𓂋𓂸𓏏𓏏𓂭𓂭𓏛𓈖𓏏𓄣𓏤𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓁷𓏤𓏥
r mt(j),t-n,t-jb ḏd =j n m mjn ḥr.pl

(119) 𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅬𓅪𓊃𓀀𓏤𓎟𓅓𓁷𓏤𓅓𓌨𓂋𓅱𓈇𓏤𓂋
ḥtm z nb m ḥr m-ẖr,w r

(120) 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓏥𓆑𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓄣𓏤𓏥𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂡
sn.w.pl =f ḏd =j n m mjn jb.pl ꜥwn

(121) 𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄣𓏤𓈖𓊃𓀀𓏤𓂋𓉔𓈖𓂢𓏏𓅱𓁷𓂋𓏤𓆑𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝
nn-wn jb n(,j) z rhn =tw ḥr =f ḏd =j n m

(122) 𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂜𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓅂𓏛𓀀𓏥𓇾𓈇𓏤𓊃𓊪𓊗𓈖
mjn nn mꜣꜥ,tj.pl tꜣ spi̯ n

(123) 𓁹𓅱𓏥𓇋𓋴𓆑𓏏𓅪𓏥𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓇋𓅱𓆄𓅱𓅪
jri̯.w.pl jsf,t ḏd =j n m mjn jw šwi̯

(124) 𓅓𓅧𓈎𓂻𓄣𓏤𓀀𓏎𓈖𓈖𓏏𓅱𓅓𓐍𓅓𓅓𓂜
m ꜥq-jb jnn =tw m ḫmm

(125) 𓂋𓋴𓂋𓐍𓏏𓀁𓈖𓆑𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓂜𓈖
r srḫ.t n =f ḏd =j n m mjn nn

(126) 𓉔𓂋𓏛𓄣𓏤𓀀𓊪𓆑𓄿𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎛𓈖𓂝𓆑𓂜𓈖𓇓𓅱
hru̯-jb pfꜣ šm ḥnꜥ =f nn sw

(127) 𓃹𓈖𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓇋𓅱𓀀𓄿𓏏𓊪𓀋𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀
wn ḏd =j n m mjn jw =j ꜣtp.kwj

(128) 𓌨𓂋𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓈖𓎼𓄿𓅱𓎣𓅪𓅧𓈎𓂻𓄣𓏤𓀀
ẖr mꜣjr n-gꜣ,w ꜥq-jb

(129) 𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏇𓈖𓇳𓈖𓆑𓅪𓎛𓀝𓅱𓂝𓇾𓈇𓏤
ḏd =j n m mjn nf ḥwi̯ tꜣ

(130) 𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄖𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳𓋴𓈖𓃀
nn-wn pḥ,wj =fj ((jw)) m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn ⟨mj⟩ snb

### Death Is Before Me Today

(131) 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓅪𓀀𓏇𓇋𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓂋𓏃𓈖𓏏𓅱𓈇𓏤𓂋𓐟𓏤𓉔𓇋𓅐𓏏𓅪
mḥr mj pri̯.t r-ḫnt,w r-sꜣ ⟨j⟩h{j}m,t

(132) 𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳𓏇𓇋𓋴𓏏𓐎𓂝𓈖𓅂𓏊𓏥
jw m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn mj st(j) ꜥntjw

(133) 𓏇𓇋𓈞𓋴𓏏𓀔𓌨𓂋𓎛𓏏𓍔𓄿𓅱𓋳𓏥
mj ḥmsi̯.t ẖr ḥtꜣ,w.pl

(134) 𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓊡𓅱𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳
hrw ṯꜣw jw m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn

(135) 𓏇𓇋𓋴𓏏𓐎𓊃𓈙𓈖𓏌𓅱𓆰𓏥𓏇𓇋𓈞𓋴𓏏𓀔𓁷𓏤𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤
mj st(j) sšn.w.pl mj ḥmsi̯.t ḥr mr,yt

(136) 𓈖𓏏𓏏𓐍𓏏𓏊𓈉𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳𓏇𓇋
n.t tḫ,t jw m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn mj

(137) 𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈐𓏇𓇋𓂻𓅱𓊃𓀀𓏤𓅓𓀎𓊛
wꜣ,t ⟨ḥwi̯.t⟩ mj jwi̯ z m mšꜥ

(138) 𓂋𓉐𓋴𓈖𓏥𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳𓏇𓇋
r pr =sn jw m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn mj

(139) 𓎡𓆑𓏏𓋳𓂝𓊪𓏏𓇯𓏇𓇋𓊃𓀀𓏤𓊃𓐍𓏏𓌦𓏛𓀀
kfi̯.t p,t mj z sḫt ={j}

(140) 𓇋𓅓𓂋𓐍𓅓𓏏𓂜𓈖𓆑𓇋𓅱𓅓𓏏𓀏𓅓𓁷𓏤𓀀𓏇𓈖𓇳
jm r ḫm.t.n =f jw m(w)t m ḥr =j mjn

(141) 𓏇𓇋𓍋𓃀𓃀𓀁𓊃𓀀𓏤𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓊃𓀀𓏤𓉐𓏤𓋴𓈖𓏥𓁹𓈖𓆑𓆳𓏏𓏤𓏥𓆈𓄿𓏏𓏥𓎁𓏏𓂡
mj ꜣbb z mꜣꜣ {{z}} pr =sn jri̯.n =f rnp,t.pl ꜥšꜣ.t ((jṯi̯))

(142) 𓅓𓈖𓇥𓂋𓏏𓂡𓃹𓈖𓈖𓄟𓊃𓀁𓈖𓏏𓏭𓇋𓅓𓅓𓊹𓋹𓈖𓐍
m nḏr,t wnn ms n,tj-jm m nṯr ꜥnḫ

(143) 𓁷𓏤𓐍𓊃𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓃛𓅱𓅪𓈖𓁹𓂋𓇓𓅱𓃹𓈖𓈖𓄟𓊃𓀁
ḥr ḫsf jw n jrr sw wnn ms

(144) 𓈖𓏏𓏭𓇋𓅓𓊢𓂝𓂻𓅓𓅱𓇋𓄿𓊛𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓂝𓏏𓋴𓏏𓊪𓏏𓍉𓏥
n,tj-jm ꜥḥꜥ m wjꜣ ḥr rḏi̯.t ḏi̯ =t(w) stp,t

(145) 𓇋𓅓𓂋𓂋𓏤𓏥𓉐𓏤𓏥𓃹𓈖𓈖𓄟𓊃𓀁𓈖𓏏𓏭𓇋𓅓𓅓𓂋𓐍𓏛𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓀀
jm r rʾ.pl-pr.pl wnn ms n,tj-jm m rḫ-ḫ,t.pl

(146) 𓂜𓐍𓋴𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓈖𓏏𓆑𓁷𓏤𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖
n ḫsf.n.t(w) =f ḥr spr n

(147) 𓂋𓂝𓇳𓅆𓐍𓏏𓆑𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓆑𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓈖𓀀
Rꜥ ḫft mdwi̯ =f ḏd.t.n n =j

(148) 𓊸𓅡𓀏𓇋𓅓𓐛𓂝𓂋𓎡𓈖𓐍𓅱𓏏𓀁𓁷𓏤𓆞𓄿𓄿𓆱𓈖𓄓𓇓𓅱𓀀
bꜣ =⟨j⟩ jmm r =k nḫ,wt ḥr ẖꜣꜣ n,j-sw

(149) 𓊪𓈖𓌢𓈖𓀀𓀀𓅱𓂧𓈖𓍖𓏛𓎡𓁷𓏤𓂝𓐍𓊮
pn sn =j wdn =k ḥr ꜥḫ

(150) 𓂧𓏇𓇋𓂚𓂡𓎡𓁷𓏤𓋹𓈖𓐍𓏇𓇋𓆓𓂧𓎡𓌸𓂋𓀁𓅱𓀀
dmj =k ḥr ꜥnḫ mj ḏd =k mri̯ wj

(151) 𓉻𓂝𓄿𓈐𓅱𓇋𓆛𓈖𓂢𓈖𓎡𓋀𓏏𓈉𓌸𓂋𓀁𓈞𓅓𓂝
ꜥꜣ wjn.n =k jmn,t mri̯ ḥm

(152) 𓊪𓎛𓄖𓂻𓎡𓋀𓏏𓈉𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓂻𓎛𓂝𓄹𓏥𓎡𓇾𓈇𓏤
pḥ =k jmn,t sꜣḥ ḥꜥ.pl =k tꜣ

(153) 𓐍𓈖𓇋𓇋𓅯𓂻𓀀𓂋𓐟𓏤𓅨𓂋𓂧𓀔𓎡
ḫni̯.y =j r-sꜣ wrd =k

(154) 𓇋𓐍𓏛𓁹𓈖𓏥𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓈖𓊃𓊪𓊗𓂻𓅱𓆑𓊪𓅱
jḫ jri̯ =n dmj n-sp jwi̯ =f pw

(155) 𓄂𓏏𓏤𓆑𓂋𓄖𓆑𓏭𓏇𓇋𓅠𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅓𓏞𓏛
ḥꜣ,t =f r pḥ(,wj) =fj mj gmi̯.yt m-zẖꜣ,w

## Translation — Mouseia

> Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Egyptian, line for line, covering all 155 lines of Papyrus Berlin P 3024; the opening of the papyrus is lost, and the small Amherst fragments that overlap it are not included, working from the Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae transcription (hieroglyphs, transliteration and lemma glosses, with the TLA editors’ German sentence renderings as a comprehension aid; ORAEC release of the TLA corpus, CC BY-SA 4.0).

### The Man Answers His Ba

(1) […] you, to say […].

(2) Their [tongues] have not been partial. It is for […]

(3) payment. Their tongues have not been partial. Then I opened my mouth

(4) to my ba and answered what it had said:

(5) “This is too much for me today! My ba will not speak with me.

(6) It goes beyond all excess; it is as though I were forsaken.

(7) Let my ba not depart; let it stand by me in this […].

(8) […] him. It will not […] his […].

(9) […] him from my body with net and cord. It will not

(10) come to pass through his hand that he departs on the day of trouble.

(11) Look, my ba wrongs me when I do not listen

(12) to it: it drags me toward death before I have come to it,

(13) and casts me into the fire to burn me.

(14) What is its manner? […] back […] his […].

(15) Let it draw near to me on the day of trouble.

(16) Let it take its stand on that side, as the one who praises will do.

(17) This is one who goes forth and draws him to himself. My ba,

(18) too foolish to soothe the pain of living, you drive

(19) me toward death before I have reached it. Make

(20) the West pleasant for me. Is that such a hardship? A cycle

(21) is life; even trees fall. Tread

(22) upon injustice while my suffering endures.

(23) May Thoth, who satisfies the gods, judge me.

(24) May Khonsu defend me,

(25) the truthful scribe. May Re hear my words,

(26) who steers the sun-bark. May Isdes defend

### The Ba Urges Him to Live

(27) me in the sacred chamber,

(28) for my distress is heavy with the [burden]

(29) he has weighed for me. How welcome if the gods ward off

(30) the secrets of my body!” What my ba said to me:

(31) “You are no man! Are you even

(32) alive? What have you gained? Care for life

(33) as a wealthy man does.” I said, “I have not gone

(34) there. That counts for nothing. Yet you are leaping away;

(35) no one will care for you. Every criminal says,

(36) ‘I will seize you.’ Then you are dead, though your name

(37) lives on. That place is a resting place, a destination

(38) for the heart […]. The West is a landing place; its hard voyage […] face.

(39) If my ba listens to me, though I am without

(40) crime, and its heart agrees with mine, then it

(41) will prosper. I will bring it to the West, like

(42) one within his pyramid, while a survivor stands beside

(43) his coffin. I will make a cooling fan [for]

(44) your corpse, so you make another ba envious,

(45) one weary with exhaustion. I will make a cooling fan

(46) so it does not grow cold; you will make another ba envious,

(47) one scorched by heat. I will drink water at the watering place,

(48) and raise dry rushes […] a shelter of shade,

(49) so you make another ba, hungry, envious. If you drive

(50) me toward death in this way, you will not

(51) find a place to rest in the West. Be considerate,

(52) my ba, my brother, until my heir comes of age,

### The Ba Warns of the Grave

(53) one who will offer and stand at the tomb on the day

(54) of burial, and prepare the bed of

(55) the necropolis.” Then my ba opened its mouth to me and answered

(56) what I had said: “When you call burial to mind, it is grief

(57) of heart. It brings tears by saddening

(58) a man; it takes a man from his house and leaves him

(59) on the hill. Never again will you rise to see

(60) Re. Those who built with blocks

(61) of granite and raised perfect pyramids with

(62) perfect workmanship—the builders became

(63) gods, yet their altars lie in ruin, like the weary dead

(64) who died upon the riverbank for want of one left behind.

(65) The flood has taken their portion, and the sunlight

(66) as well; the fish speak to them

(67) at the water's edge. Listen to me! See how good it is for people to listen.

(68) Seek a day of celebration; forget care. A humble man

(69) tills his field, loads his harvest

(70) into a boat, and hauls it along its course.

(71) His feast is near; he has seen the darkness gather

(72) with the north wind, and keeps watch in the boat.

(73) Re goes in and comes forth; meanwhile his wife

(74) and children perish on the crocodile-haunted lake

(75) at night, because of the crocodiles on the banks. At last he sits,

(76) his voice breaking as he says: ‘I did not weep

(77) for that woman. She cannot come forth from the West

(78) to another life upon the earth. I grieve for her children,

### My Name Stinks

(79) broken in the egg, who saw the face of Khenti

(80) before they had lived.’ A humble man begs for supper.

(81) His wife says to him, ‘It is for the evening meal.’

(82) He goes outside to […] for a moment.

(83) When he turns back toward his house, he is like a stranger. His wife

(84) speaks sense to him, but he does not heed her; he has […]

(85) an empty heart for messengers.” Then I opened

(86) my mouth to my ba and answered what it had said: “Look,

(87) my name stinks because of you worse than the stench of vultures

(88) in summer days when the sky is hot. Look,

(89) my name stinks because of you worse than the stench of taking in catfish

(90) on a day of fishing when the sky is hot.

(91) Look, my name stinks because of you worse than the stench

(92) of fowl by a thicket of reeds

(93) full of waterbirds. Look, my name stinks

(94) because of you worse than the stench of fishermen by the pools

(95) of the marsh after they have fished. Look,

(96) my name stinks because of you worse than the stench of crocodiles,

(97) worse than sitting below the borderlands among the crocodiles of the banks. Look,

(98) my name stinks because of you worse than a woman's when a lie is told

(99) about her to a man. Look, my name stinks

(100) because of you worse than a valiant boy's when they say of him, “He

(101) belongs to the one who hates him.” Look, my name stinks

(102) because of you worse than a ruler's town plotting rebellion

(103) when his back is turned. To whom shall I speak today? Brothers have grown hostile;

(104) friends of today do not love one another. I shall speak

### To Whom Shall I Speak Today?

(105) to whom today? Hearts are greedy; every man seizes

(106) the goods of his neighbor. […] To whom shall I speak today?

(107) Gentleness has perished; brazenness has descended upon everyone.

(108) To whom shall I speak today? People are content with evil;

(109) goodness is cast upon the ground everywhere. To whom shall I speak

(110) today? The man whose evil deed once made another rage now makes

(111) everyone laugh at his wickedness. To whom shall I speak

(112) today? People plunder; every man seizes his neighbor's goods.

(113) To whom shall I speak today? The criminal has become

(114) a trusted friend; the brother with whom one joined hands has become

(115) an enemy. To whom shall I speak today? Yesterday is not remembered;

(116) no one acts for one who acted for them in this hour. To whom shall I speak today?

(117) Brothers have grown hostile; one turns to strangers

(118) for sincerity of heart. To whom shall I speak today? Faces

(119) are blank; each man lowers his face before

(120) his brothers. To whom shall I speak today? Hearts are greedy;

(121) there is no human heart one can rely upon. To whom shall I speak

(122) today? There are no just people; the land has been left

(123) to those who do wrong. To whom shall I speak today? There is no

(124) trusted friend; one turns to a stranger

(125) to tell him one's grief. To whom shall I speak today? There is no

(126) one content; the one with whom I used to walk is no longer alive.

(127) To whom shall I speak today? I am laden

(128) with misery for lack of a trusted friend.

(129) To whom shall I speak today? Injustice strikes the land;

(130) it has no end. Death is before my eyes today, like the recovery

### Death Is Before Me Today

(131) of a sick man, like going out after suffering.

(132) Death is before my eyes today, like the scent of myrrh,

(133) like sitting beneath the sail

(134) on a windy day. Death is before my eyes today,

(135) like the scent of lotus blossoms, like sitting on the bank

(136) of Techet. Death is before my eyes today, like

(137) a well-trodden path, like a man coming home from a campaign

(138) to his house. Death is before my eyes today, like

(139) the clearing of the sky, like a man who catches

(140) something he had not known. Death is before my eyes today,

(141) like a man longing to see his home after spending many years

(142) in captivity. Yet one who is there shall be a living god,

(143) turning back wrong against the one who does it. One who is there

(144) shall stand in the sun-bark and cause choice offerings to be given

(145) from there to the temples. One who is there shall be a wise man,

(146) not prevented from making his appeal

(147) to Re when he speaks.” What my ba said to me:

(148) “Set your lament upon the wooden stake, my kinsman,

(149) my brother. Offer sacrifice upon the fire altar,

(150) and hold fast to life, as you said. Love me

(151) here, after you have rejected the West. Yet wish

(152) to reach the West, and for your body to touch the earth.

(153) I will settle down after you have grown weary.

(154) Then let us make a landing place together.” It is finished,

(155) from its beginning to its end, as found in writing.

## Translation — Mouseia

> Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same Egyptian text, line for line, covering all 155 lines of Papyrus Berlin P 3024; the opening of the papyrus is lost, and the small Amherst fragments that overlap it are not included.

### The Man Answers His Ba

(1) […] you, to say […].

(2) Their [tongues] have not been unfair. It is payment for […] […].

(3) Payment. Their tongues have not been unfair. Then I opened

(4) my mouth to my ba, answering what it had said:

(5) “This is too much for me today! My ba has not spoken

(6) with me. This is truly beyond all limits! It is like abandoning me.

(7) Let my ba not leave! Let it stand by me in this […]

(8) […] it. It will not […] its […].

(9) […] it from my body in a net and rope. It will not

(10) happen by its hand that it vanishes on the day of trouble.

(11) Look, my ba is wronging me. I have not listened

(12) to it. It is dragging me toward death before I have reached it,

(13) and throwing me onto the fire to burn me.

(14) What is its nature? […] back […] its […].

(15) Let it come near me on the day of trouble.

(16) Let it stand on that side as one who praises will do.

(17) This is one who comes out and brings him to himself. My ba,

(18) too foolish to ease sorrow over life, pushes

(19) me toward death before I have reached it. Make

(20) the west pleasant for me! Is that so hard? The cycle

(21) is life. Even trees fall. Trample

(22) wrongdoing while my suffering lasts!

(23) Let Thoth, who satisfies the gods, judge me.

(24) Let Khonsu, the truthful scribe, defend me.

(25) Let Re, who guides the sun boat, hear my words.

(26) Let Isdes defend me

### The Ba Urges Him to Live

(27) in the sacred chamber,

(28) because my suffering is heavy with […]

(29) that he has laid upon me. It would be good if the gods kept away

(30) the secrets of my body.” What my ba said to me:

(31) “You are not even a man! Are you really

(32) alive? What have you accomplished? You should care about life

(33) like someone who owns wealth.” I said, “I have not gone;

(34) that is of no importance. You are leaping away. You will not

(35) be cared for. Every prisoner says,

(36) “I will seize you.” But you are dead, while your name

(37) lives. That place is a resting place, a destination for the heart.

(38) […] The west is a landing place, a hard journey […].

(39) If my ba listens to me—and I have committed no

(40) crime—and its heart agrees with me, it will

(41) be happy. I will let it reach the west, like

(42) one who is in his pyramid, after someone still alive has stood by

(43) his coffin. I will make a fan [over]

(44) your body, so that you make another ba

(45) that is weary jealous. I will make a fan that does not

(46) get too cold, so that you make another ba

(47) that is hot jealous. I will drink water at the watering place

(48) and pile up vegetables […],

(49) so that you make another hungry ba jealous. If you push

(50) me toward death this way, you will not

(51) find a resting place in the west. Take care, my ba,

(52) my brother, until my heir has grown up,

### The Ba Warns of the Grave

(53) one who will make offerings and stand at the head on the day

(54) of burial, and prepare the bed

(55) of the burial ground.” Then my ba opened its mouth to me and answered

(56) what I had said: “When you think about burial, it is grief.

(57) It brings tears by making

(58) a person sad. It takes a person from his home and leaves him on

(59) the burial mound. You will never come out again to see

(60) Re. Those who built with blocks of

(61) granite, who built beautifully made pyramids

(62) with fine workmanship, whose builders became

(63) gods—their offering tables are empty, like those of people

(64) who died on the riverbank without anyone left alive to care for them.

(65) The flood took its share of them, and the sunlight

(66) did the same. The fish along the water's edge speak to them.

(67) Listen to me! Look, it is good for people to listen.

(68) Seek a good day! Forget worry! A poor man

(69) works his field. He loads his harvest

(70) into a boat and pulls it along its route.

(71) His time of celebration is near after he sees the dark clouds coming

(72) with the north wind. He stays alert on the boat.

(73) Re goes in and comes out again. The man's wife

(74) and children have perished in the marsh

(75) at night because of the crocodiles living on the banks. At last he sits

(76) and speaks with a broken voice: ‘I did not weep

(77) for that woman who bore children. She cannot come back from the west

(78) to another life on earth. I grieve for her children,

### My Name Stinks

(79) broken in the egg, who saw the face of Khenti

(80) before they lived.’ A poor man asks for dinner.

(81) His wife tells him, ‘It is for the evening meal.’

(82) He goes outside to […] for a moment.

(83) When he turns back toward his home, he is like a stranger. His wife

(84) tries to reason with him, but he does not listen to her. After he […],

(85) his heart is empty to messengers.” Then I opened

(86) my mouth to my ba and answered what it had said: “Look,

(87) my name stinks because of you more than the smell of vultures

(88) on summer days when the sky is hot. Look,

(89) my name stinks because of you more than the smell of receiving catfish

(90) on a fishing day when the sky is hot.

(91) Look, my name stinks because of you more than the smell

(92) of birds by a thicket of reeds

(93) full of water birds. Look, my name stinks

(94) because of you more than the smell of fishermen at the pools

(95) of the marsh after they have fished. Look,

(96) my name stinks because of you more than the smell of crocodiles

(97) sitting below the edges of the shore where crocodiles live. Look,

(98) my name stinks because of you more than a woman's when a lie has been told

(99) about her to her husband. Look, my name stinks

(100) because of you more than a brave boy's when people say of him, “He

(101) belongs to his rival.” Look, my name stinks

(102) because of you more than a ruler's town planning a revolt

(103) when his back is turned. To whom can I speak today? Brothers are hostile,

(104) and friends today do not love one another. To whom can I speak

### To Whom Shall I Speak Today?

(105) today? Hearts are greedy. Everyone grabs

(106) his neighbor's things. […] To whom can I speak today?

(107) Kindness is gone, and shamelessness has reached everyone.

(108) To whom can I speak today? People are content with evil,

(109) and good has been thrown to the ground everywhere. To whom

(110) can I speak today? Someone who once angered a man with a bad deed now makes

(111) everyone laugh at his own wickedness. To whom can I speak

(112) today? People steal. Everyone grabs his neighbor's things.

(113) To whom can I speak today? The criminal is now

(114) a trusted person, and the brother one used to work with has become

(115) an enemy. To whom can I speak today? No one remembers yesterday.

(116) No one acts for someone who acted for them in this moment. To whom can I speak today?

(117) Brothers are hostile. People turn to strangers

(118) for honesty. To whom can I speak today? Faces

(119) have no expression. Everyone looks down and away from

(120) his brothers. To whom can I speak today? Hearts are greedy.

(121) No man has a heart he can depend on. To whom can I speak

(122) today? There are no just people. The land is left to

(123) those who do wrong. To whom can I speak today? There is no

(124) trusted person. People turn to someone they do not know

(125) to complain to him. To whom can I speak today? There is no

(126) contented person. That man who used to go with him no longer

(127) exists. To whom can I speak today? I am burdened

(128) with misery because I lack someone I can trust.

(129) To whom can I speak today? The wrong that strikes the land

(130) has no end. Death is before my eyes today like the recovery

### Death Is Before Me Today

(131) of someone sick, like going outside after suffering.

(132) Death is before my eyes today like the scent of myrrh,

(133) like sitting under a sail

(134) on a windy day. Death is before my eyes today

(135) like the scent of lotus flowers, like sitting on the bank

(136) of Techet. Death is before my eyes today like

(137) a well-traveled road, like a man coming back from an expedition

(138) to his home. Death is before my eyes today like

(139) the clearing of the sky, like a man catching something

(140) he had not known about. Death is before my eyes today

(141) like a man longing to see his home after spending many years

(142) in captivity. But the one who is there will be like a living god,

(143) turning wrongdoing back on the one who does it. The one

(144) who is there will stand in the sun boat and arrange for chosen offerings

(145) from there to be given to the temples. The one who is there will be a wise man,

(146) not turned away when he asks

(147) Re for help as he speaks.” What my ba said to me:

(148) “Put your mourning on the wooden post, my relative,

(149) my brother. Make offerings on the fire altar.

(150) Hold on to life as you said you would. Love me

(151) here, once you have rejected the west. But wish also

(152) to reach the west, when your body touches the earth.

(153) I will settle there after you have grown tired.

(154) Then let us make a landing place together.” It is finished,

(155) from its beginning to its end, as it was found in writing.