The Eloquent Peasant
The Peasant Sets Out
Egyptian
1.1 𓊃𓀀𓏤𓊪𓅱𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃢𓐍𓂝𓅱𓏛𓈖𓀀𓂋𓈖𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓅱𓈖[⯑]z pw wn Ḫwi.n-Jnpw rn =f sḫ,tj pw n Sḫ,t-ḥmꜣ,t
1.2 𓇋𓋴𓏏𓃹𓈖𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑𓌸𓂋𓏏𓀁𓁐𓂋𓈖𓋴𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈖𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑𓏏𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏏[⯑]𓅓𓉔𓄿𓏏𓂻jst wn ḥm,t =f ⸢M⸣r,t rn =s ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn n ḥm,t =f tn m =t w[j] m hꜣi̯.t
1.3 𓂋𓆎𓏏𓊖𓂋𓏎𓈖𓏏𓅧𓅱𓏒𓏥𓇋𓅓𓈖𓀔𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓀀𓈝𓅓𓂻𓇓𓅱𓏏𓆼𓄿𓂝𓈖𓀀𓈖𓄿𓈖𓌾𓏥r Km,t r ⸢jni̯.t⸣ ꜥq.w jm n ẖrd.w.pl =j šm swt ḫꜣi̯ n =j nꜣ n jt
1.4 𓈖𓏏𓏭𓅓𓅯𓄿𓅓𓂝𓌨𓂋𓉐𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏥𓌾𓏥𓈖𓋴𓆑𓇳𓊢𓂝𓈖𓆼𓄿𓂝𓈖𓆑𓈖𓋴𓌾𓋾𓌽𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤n,tj m pꜣ mẖr m ḏꜣ,t jt n ⸮⸢sf⸣? ꜥḥꜥ.n ḫꜣi̯.n ={f} =⟨s⟩ n ={s} =⟨f⟩ jt ⸢ḥqꜣ,t⸣ ⸮⸢6⸣?
1.5 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈖𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑𓏏𓈖𓅓𓂝𓏏 […] 𓈖𓏏𓌾𓋾𓌽𓏤𓏤𓂋𓅧𓅱𓏒𓏥𓎛𓈖𓂝[⯑]𓏏ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn n ḥm,t =f tn m =t … n =t jt ḥqꜣ,t 20 r ꜥq.w ḥnꜥ ẖrd.[w].pl =t
1.6 𓁹𓂋𓏏𓈖𓀀𓇓𓅱𓏏𓏏𓄿𓌾𓋾𓌽𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓅓𓏏𓏐𓏒𓏥𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏥𓈖𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓎟𓎡𓄿𓇋𓅓𓆑jri̯ r =t n =j swt tꜣ jt ḥqꜣ,t 6 m tʾ ḥ(n)q,t n hrw nb ⸢kꜣ⸣ [ꜥnḫ] =[j] jm =f
1.7 𓉔𓄿𓏏𓂻𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓆎𓏏𓊖𓄿𓏏𓊪𓀋𓂝𓈖𓆑[⯑]𓆑hꜣi̯.t pw jri̯.n sḫ,tj pn r Km,t ꜣtp.n =f ꜥꜣ.[pl] =f
2.1 𓅓[⯑]m j[ꜣꜣ]
2.2 𓂋𓂧𓅓𓏏𓆰𓏥rdm,t
2.3 [⯑]ḥs[mn]
2.4 [⯑]ḥmꜣ,[t]
2.5 𓆱𓏏𓏥[⯑]ḫt.pl […]tyw
2.6 [⯑]𓈖𓏏𓇾𓈇𓏤𓃒𓏥𓈉ꜥ⸢wn⸣,t.pl n.t Tꜣ-jḥ.pl
2.7 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏏𓄛𓏥𓈖𓏏𓃀𓅡𓄿𓅱𓄛𓏥ẖn,wt.pl n.t bꜣw
3.1 𓆼𓄿𓅱𓏏𓄛𓏥𓈖𓏏𓃹𓈖𓈙𓅱𓄛𓏥ḫꜣw,t.pl n.t ⸢w⸣nšw
3.2 𓈖𓆷𓄿𓅱𓆰𓏥𓆰𓏥nšꜣw
3.3 𓂝𓈖𓏌𓅱𓊌𓏥ꜥnw
3.4 𓏏𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂽𓆰𓏥tnm
3.5 𓆣𓂋𓅨𓂋𓆰𓏥ḫpr-wr
3.6 [⯑]sꜣh,wt
3.7 𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎡𓊃𓅱𓏏𓈒𓏥sꜣks,wt
4.1 𓏇𓇋𓋴𓅱𓏏𓆰𓏥mjs,wt
4.2 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏒𓊌𓏥sn,t
4.3 [⯑]ꜥb[ꜣ]
4.4 𓇋𓃀𓃙𓐟𓆰𓏥jbsꜣ
4.5 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓃀𓇋𓆰𓏥jnbj
4.6 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓅱𓅬𓏥mn,w
4.7 𓈖𓂝𓂋𓅱𓅬𓏥nꜥr,w
5.1 𓅱𓎼𓋴𓅬𓏥wgs
5.2 𓅱𓃀𓈖𓆰𓏥wbn
5.3 𓏏𓃀𓋴𓅱𓆰𓏥tbs,w
5.4 𓎼𓈖𓎼𓈖𓏏𓈒𓏥gngn,t
5.5 𓍲𓈖𓏭𓁸𓏥𓇾𓈇𓏤𓆰𓏥šnj-tꜣ
5.6 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓋴𓏏𓈒𓏥jns,t
6.1 𓎔𓏛𓅓𓏎𓏌𓏥𓎟𓄤𓆑𓂋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓈇𓎛𓌳𓄿𓏏𓍖𓈒𓏥𓊖mḥ m jn,w nb nfr n Sḫ,t-ḥmꜣ,t
6.2 𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖[⯑]𓊪𓈖𓅓𓏃𓈖𓏏𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊛šmi̯.t pw jri̯.n sḫ,tj pn m-ḫnt.yt
6.3 𓂋𓇓𓏏𓈖𓀔𓈖𓈖𓊖𓄭𓂋𓂻𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏤𓈇𓈖𓉐𓏤𓆑𓆑𓇋𓀻𓊖r Nn-nswt spr pw jri̯.n =f r w n Pr-Ffj
6.4 𓂋[⯑]𓅓𓂧𓈖𓇋𓏏𓍸𓊖𓅠𓅓𓈖𓆑𓊃𓀀𓏤r mḥ,t[j] Mdnj,t gmi̯.n =f z
6.5 𓊢𓂝𓂻𓁷𓏤𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓂋𓈖𓆑𓅭𓀀𓊃𓀀𓏤𓊪𓅱ꜥḥꜥ ḥr mr,yt Nm,tj-nḫt rn =f zꜣ z pw
6.6 𓇋𓋴𓂋𓇋𓇋𓆭𓆱𓀀𓂋𓈖𓆑𓆓𓏏𓇾𓀀𓁐𓏥𓊪𓅱𓈖𓏏𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗Jsr,y rn =f ḏ,t pw n.t (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
6.7 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓀁𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓇋𓀀𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓆑𓉻𓂸𓃩𓏥𓈖[⯑]𓊪𓈖𓉻𓂝𓄿𓃀𓇋𓇋𓅱𓇭𓏛𓏥𓄣𓏤𓆑Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt pn mꜣꜣ =f ꜥꜣ.pl n [sḫ,tj] pn ꜥꜣb.yw ⟨ḥr⟩ jb =f
7.2 𓇉𓄿𓀁𓈖𓀀𓊏𓊪𓅆𓎟𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓀀𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏊𓏥𓈖ḥꜣ n =j šzp nb ꜥwꜣi̯ =j ḥn,w.pl n
7.3 𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓇋𓅓𓆑𓇋𓋴𓏏𓂋𓆑𓉐𓏤𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓁷𓏤𓄥𓄿𓏛𓇾𓈇𓏤sḫ,tj pn jm =f jst r =f pr Nm,tj-nḫt pn ḥr zmꜣ-tꜣ
7.4 𓈖𓂋𓏤𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈐𓎛𓆰𓈖𓋴𓅪𓊪𓅱𓂜𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓏛𓇋𓋴𓊪𓅱n rʾ-wꜣ,t ḥns pw n wsḫ js pw
7.5 𓈎𓈖𓈖𓂝𓆑𓂋𓋴𓐍𓅱𓎺𓏛𓈖𓂧𓄿𓇋𓅱𓋳𓇋𓅱𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈐𓆑𓌡𓂝𓏏𓏤qnn =f r sḫ,w n dꜣjw jw wꜣ,t =f wꜥ.t
7.6 𓌨𓂋𓈗𓎡𓏏𓌨𓂋𓌾𓏥𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈖𓌞𓅱𓀀𓆑𓇋𓊄𓂻ẖr mw k.t ẖr jt ḏd.jn Nm.tj-nḫt pn n šms,w =f jz
7.7 𓏎𓈖𓈖𓀀𓇋𓆑𓂧𓊌𓋳𓅓𓉐𓏤𓀀𓏎𓈖𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅱𓆑𓈖𓆑𓁷𓏤𓂝𓏤jni̯ n =j jfd m pr =j jni̯.jn.tw =f n =f ḥr-ꜥ
8.1 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓊃𓈙𓂝𓈖𓆑𓇓𓅱𓁷𓏤𓄥𓄿𓏛𓇾𓈇𓏤𓈖𓂋𓏤𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈐ꜥḥꜥ.n sš.n =f sw ḥr zmꜣ-tꜣ n rʾ-wꜣ,t
8.2 𓐍𓈖𓈖𓅯𓂻𓋴𓂧𓃀𓋳𓆑𓁷𓏤𓈗[⯑]𓆑ḫnn sdb =f ḥr mw npnp,[t] =f
8.3 𓁷𓏤𓌾𓏥ḥr jt
English
1.1 There was a man whose name was Khunanup, a peasant of the Field of Salt.
1.2 There was also his wife, whose name was Meret. Then this peasant said to this his wife: "See, I am on my way down
1.3 to Egypt, to bring back food from there for my children. Go now, and measure out for me this barley
1.4 that lies in the granary as the remainder of yesterday's barley." So she measured out for him the barley: six heqat of it.
1.5 Then this peasant said to this his wife: "See, [there is (?)] for you barley, twenty heqat of it,
1.6 for food, along with your children. But you, make for me this six heqat of barley into bread and beer for every day; then I shall live on it."
1.7 So this peasant went down to Egypt, having loaded his donkeys
2.1 with [jjaa] plants (a crop plant, a vine?),
2.2 rdmt sedge (Cyperus esculentus),
2.3 natron,
2.4 salt,
2.5 timber of […],
2.6 eyent poles from the Farafra Oasis,
2.7 skins of panthers,
3.1 pelts of the wolf-jackal,
3.2 neshaw water plants (?),
3.3 pebbles (?),
3.4 tenem plants,
3.5 kheper-wer (a healing plant?),
3.6 sahut (a resin?),
3.7 sakesut mineral,
4.1 mesut plants,
4.2 senet mineral,
4.3 eba stone,
4.4 ibesa oil plants,
4.5 inebi plants,
4.6 doves,
4.7 nereu birds,
5.1 wegs birds,
5.2 weben plants,
5.3 tebes thorn plants,
5.4 gengent plants (bean-like?),
5.5 sheni-ta plants,
5.6 inset plants (anise?),
6.1 laden with every good product of the Field of Salt.
6.2 So this peasant journeyed southward
6.3 to Herakleopolis, and reached the district of Per-Fefi,
6.4 north of Medenit. There he found a man
6.5 standing on the dyke: Nemtynakht was his name, son of a man
6.6 named Isry, a serf of the High Steward
6.7 Rensi son of Meru. Then this Nemtynakht, seeing the donkeys of this peasant and finding them to his liking, said:
7.2 "Oh, if only I had some effective image by which I might steal this peasant's goods!"
7.3 Now one must know that the house of this Nemtynakht lay over the landing place of the neighborhood.
7.4 It was a narrow spot; it was not a wide one.
7.5 Its width was only that of a linen garment; one of its sides lay
7.6 under water, the other under barley. Then this Nemtynakht said to his follower: "Go!
7.7 Bring me a square of linen from my house." And it was brought to him at once.
8.1 Then he spread it out over the landing place of the neighborhood,
8.2 and its fringed border hung down over the water, its smooth hem
8.3 over the barley.
The Robbery
Egyptian
1 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓁷𓏤𓈐𓏏𓏤𓈖𓏏[⯑]𓎟𓏏𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓁹jwi̯.jn [sḫ,tj] [pn] ḥr wꜣ,t n.t r(m)ṯ.pl nb.t ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt pn jri̯ [hrw] [sḫ,tj]
2 𓂜𓐍𓈖𓂧𓂾𓂻𓎡𓁷𓏤𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓋳𓏥𓀀𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖[⯑]n ḫnd =k ḥr ḥbs.w.pl =j ḏd.jn sḫ,tj
3 𓊪𓈖𓁹𓇋𓇋𓀀𓎛𓎿𓊃𓏏𓀁𓎡𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓌙𓅯𓈐𓏥𓀀pn jri̯.y =j ḥsi̯.t =k nfr mtn =j
4 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖𓆑𓂋𓁷𓂋𓅱𓇯𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖pri̯.t pw jri̯.n =f r-ḥr.w ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt pn
5 [⯑][⯑]𓈖𓎡𓇗𓌾𓏥𓀀𓂋𓈐𓏏𓏤𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋⸢j⸣[n] ⸢j⸣[w] ⸢n⸣ =k šmꜥ =j r wꜣ,t ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn nfr
6 [⯑]𓀀𓇋𓐍𓅐𓏏𓈇𓏤𓈎𓄿𓏏𓀠𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓌙𓅯𓈐𓏥[m]tn =j jḫm,t qꜣi̯.t(j) mtn
7 𓌨𓂋𓇗𓌾𓏥𓎛𓆰𓈖𓎨𓎡𓂋𓆑𓍯𓄿𓏏𓈐𓏏𓈖𓏥ẖr šmꜥ ḥn =k r =f wꜣ,t{t} =n
8 𓅓𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓋳𓏥𓎡𓇋𓈖𓂜𓈖𓂋𓆑𓂝𓎡𓋴𓍯𓄿𓏴𓈐𓈖𓏥m ḥbs.w.pl =k jn nn r =f ḏi̯ =k swꜣ =((n))
9 𓁷𓏤𓈐𓏏𓏤𓊢𓂝𓈖𓎔𓏛𓈖𓌡𓂝𓏤𓅓𓈖𓄿𓈖𓉻𓂸𓃘ḥr wꜣ,t ꜥḥꜥ.n mḥ.n wꜥ m nꜣ n ꜥꜣ
10 𓂋𓏤𓆑𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓏏𓆰𓈖𓏏𓇗𓌾𓏥𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖rʾ =f m bꜣ,t n.t šmꜥ ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt pn
11 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓂋𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝𓉻𓂸𓃘𓎡𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓁷𓏤m =k wj r nḥm ꜥꜣ =k sḫ,tj ḥr
12 𓏶𓀁𓆑𓇗𓌾𓏥𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓇓𓅱𓂋𓉔𓃀𓏏𓍁𓂻𓁷𓏤𓈎𓈖𓏴𓆑wn(m) =f šmꜥ =j m =k sw r hbi̯.t ḥr qn =f
13 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓌙𓅯𓈐𓏥𓀀𓌡𓂝𓏏𓏤ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn nfr mtn =j wꜥ.t
14 𓌉𓆓𓏏𓏴𓎆𓏎𓈖𓈖𓀀𓉻𓂸𓃘𓀀𓁷𓏤𓈙𓈖𓂝𓎩𓏛𓎆𓎁𓏏𓂝𓎡𓇓𓅱ḥḏi̯.t 10 jni̯.n =j ꜥꜣ =j ḥr šnꜥ 10 jti̯ =k sw
15 𓁷𓏤𓎔𓎛𓅱𓏛𓈖𓂋𓏤𓆑𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓏏𓆰𓈖𓏏𓇗𓌾𓏥𓇋𓅱𓀀𓎼𓂋𓏏ḥr mḥ.w n rʾ =f m bꜣ,t n.t šmꜥ jw =j gr.t
16 𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎡𓅱𓀀𓎟𓈖𓐖𓏏𓊖𓏏𓈖𓈖𓄓𓋴𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇rḫ.kwj nb n ⸮ḏꜣt,t? tn n,(j)-s(j) (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ
17 𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓈖𓏏𓆑𓎼𓂋𓏏𓍙𓆑𓂡𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓀀𓎟𓅓𓇾𓈇𓏤𓊪𓈖𓂋𓇥𓂋𓆑Rnsj ntf gr.t ḫsf ꜥwꜣ nb m tꜣ pn r-ḏr =f
18 𓇋𓈖𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓏏𓅱𓀀𓂋𓆑𓅓𓐖𓏏𓊖𓆑𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀jn ꜥwꜣi̯.tw =j r =f m ⸮ḏꜣt,t? =f ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt
19 𓊪𓈖𓇋𓈖𓅯𓄿𓊪𓅱𓐍𓈖𓅯𓀁𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓆓𓂧𓅱𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥pn jn pꜣ pw ḫn n md,t ḏd.w r(m)ṯ.pl
20 𓂧𓅓𓌪𓀁𓏏𓅱𓂋𓈖𓈖𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓀀𓁷𓏤𓎟𓀀𓆑𓏌𓎡𓀀dm.tw rn n ḥwr,w ḥr nb =f jnk
21 𓊪𓅱𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓈖𓎡𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓀀𓊪𓅱𓋴𓆼𓄿𓇋𓇋𓀁𓎡pw mdwi̯ n =k (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr pw sḫꜣ.y =k
22 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓅷𓄿𓂝𓈖𓆑𓈖𓆑𓇋𓄿𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓆰𓈖𓏏𓇋𓋴𓂋𓆭𓆱𓇅𓆓ꜥḥꜥ.n ṯꜣi̯.n =f n =f jꜣꜣ,yt n.t jsr wꜣḏ
23 𓂋𓆑𓊢𓂝𓈖𓉻𓂝𓄿𓂝𓆑𓂝𓏏𓄹𓆑𓎟𓇋𓅓𓋴𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝𓉻𓂸𓃘𓏥𓆑r =f ꜥḥꜥ.n ꜥꜣ⟨g.n⟩ =f ꜥ,t =f nb jm =s nḥm ꜥꜣ((.pl)) =f
24 𓊃𓅧𓈎𓂻𓂋𓐖𓏏𓊖𓆑𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓁷𓏤sꜥq r ⸮ḏꜣt,t? =f wn.jn sḫ,tj pn ḥr
25 𓂋𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓁹𓉻𓂝𓄿𓅱𓏛𓅨𓂋𓏏𓀗𓈖𓍋𓅓𓂋𓅪𓈖𓁹𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂋𓆑rmi̯.yt ꜥꜣw wrt n mr n jri̯.yt r =f
26 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓅓𓈎𓄿𓀠𓊤𓅱𓀁𓎡𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀ḏd.jn Nm,tj-nḫt pn m qꜣi̯ ḫrw =k sḫ,tj
27 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓂋𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓈖𓎟𓋴𓎼𓂋𓀁𓅆𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖m =k tw r dmj n nb-sgr ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn
28 𓎛𓀝𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓎡𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏛𓏥𓀀𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂋𓆑ḥ(w)i̯ =k wj ꜥwꜣi̯ =k ḥn,w.pl =j nḥm =k r =f
29 𓈖𓐍𓅱𓏏𓀁𓅓𓂋𓏤𓀀𓎟𓋴𓎼𓂋𓀁𓅆𓂝𓎡𓂋𓎡𓈖𓀀nḫ,wt m rʾ =j nb-sgr ḏi̯ =k r =k n =j
30 𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓀀𓇋𓐍𓏛𓍃𓅓𓀀𓊃𓃀𓎛𓄑𓀁𓈖𓂋𓅐𓂡𓎡ḫ,t =j jḫ tm =j sbḥ ⟨n⟩ nr,(w) =k
31 𓁹𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓊢𓂝𓅱𓇳𓂋𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓎆𓁷𓏤𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖jri̯.jn sḫ,tj pn ꜥḥꜥ,w r hrw 10 ḥr spr n
English
1 Now this peasant came along the road that all people use. Then this Nemtynakht said: "Be so good, peasant —
2 surely you have not stepped on my clothes?" Then this peasant said:
3 "This I will do as you approve, for good is my way."
4 So he turned up and off the road. Then this Nemtynakht said:
5 "Is my barley to serve you as a road?" Then this peasant said: "Good
6 is my way; but the bank has grown high, and the road
7 lies under barley, and you bar our way
8 with your clothes. Will you not let us pass along the road?"
9 And as he was on the road, one of these donkeys filled its mouth with a tuft of the barley.
10 Its mouth was full of a tuft of barley. Then this Nemtynakht said:
11 "Look, I will take your donkey, peasant, because
12 it has eaten my barley. See, you: it shall be made to thresh for its misdeed."
13 Then this peasant said: "Good is my way. One tuft that destroys ten!
14 For ten sheniw I bought my donkey. Will you take it
15 for one mouthful of a tuft of barley? But I know
16 the lord of this estate; it belongs to the High Steward
17 Rensi son of Meru, and he is the one who punishes every robber in this whole land.
18 Am I to be robbed in his estate?" Then this Nemtynakht said:
19 "Is this the saying that people use:
20 'A poor man's name is spoken because of his lord'? I
21 am the one who speaks to you; and the High Steward is the one you invoke."
22 Then he took himself a shoot of green tamarisk
23 and fell on him with it, beating every limb of his body; his donkeys were taken
24 and driven off into his estate. Then this peasant wept
25 loud and long, for the pain that had been done him.
26 Then this Nemtynakht said: "Quiet your voice, peasant!
27 See, you are at the landing place of the Lord of Silence." Then this peasant said:
28 "You beat me so as to steal my goods; and now you would take
29 the lament from my mouth? O Lord of Silence, may you give me back
30 my goods, and then I shall not need to cry out at your terror!"
31 So this peasant spent ten days petitioning this Nemtynakht, and he paid him no heed.
The Complaint
Egyptian
32 𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂜𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀𓆑𓂋𓋴𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓊪𓅱Nm,tj-nḫt pn n rḏi̯.n =f mꜣꜥ =f r =s šmi̯.t pw
33 𓁹𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓇓𓏏𓈖𓀔𓈖𓈖𓊖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗jri̯.n sḫ,tj pn r Nn-nswt r spr n (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
34 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓅠𓅓𓈖𓆑𓇓𓅱𓁷𓏤𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓉐Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj gmi̯.n =f sw ḥr pri̯.t m sbꜣ
35 𓈖𓉐𓆑𓂋𓉔𓄿𓏏𓂻𓂋𓈎𓄿𓈎𓄿𓅱𓊛𓆑𓈖𓂝𓂋𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓉐n pr =f r hꜣi̯.t r qꜣqꜣ,w≡f-n-ꜥrr,yt
36 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓇉𓄿𓀁𓂋𓂝𓏏𓋴𓍑𓄿𓏛𓀀ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn ḥꜣ rḏi̯.t(w) swḏꜣ =j
37 𓄣𓏤𓎡𓁷𓏤𓅯𓄿𓐍𓈖𓅯𓀁𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓊃𓊪𓊗𓊪𓅱jb =k ḥr pꜣ ḫn n md,t sp pw
38 𓂋𓂝𓏏𓂻𓅱𓏏𓈖𓀀𓌞𓅱𓂻𓀀𓎡𓈖𓐍𓂋𓏏𓏛𓄣𓏤𓎡𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓀀rḏi̯.t(w) jwi̯.t n =j šms,w =k n ḫr,t-jb =k hꜣb =j
39 𓈖𓎡𓇓𓅱𓁷𓂋𓋴𓂋𓂝𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀n =k sw ḥr =s rḏi̯.jn (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj
40 𓈝𓅓𓂻𓌞𓅱𓂻𓆑𓈖𓐍𓂋𓏏𓏛𓄣𓏤𓆑𓁶𓏤𓇋𓅓𓆑𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻šmi̯ šms,w =f n ḫr,t-jb =f tp-jm =f hꜣb
41 𓇓𓅱𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓁷𓏤𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓏏𓈖𓏇𓇋𓈎𓇋𓀾𓏛𓋴sw sḫ,tj pn ḥr md,t tn mj-qj =s
42 𓎟𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓁷𓏤𓋴𓂋𓐍𓏏𓀁nb wn.jn (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj ḥr srḫ.t
43 𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈖𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀔𓀀𓏥𓈖𓏏𓏭𓂋𓐛𓏤𓆑𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓋴𓈖𓏥Nm,tj-nḫt pn n sr.w.pl n,tj r-gs =f ḏd.jn =sn
44 𓈖𓆑𓊃𓅓𓃹𓈖𓀁𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓆑𓊪𓅱𓂻𓅱𓈖𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓂋𓐛𓏤𓆑n =f smwn sḫ,tj =f pw jwi̯ n ky r-gs =f
45 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓁹𓂋𓏏𓋴𓈖𓏥𓊪𓅱𓂋𓇏𓏏𓅂𓀀𓏥𓋴𓈖𓏥𓂻𓅱𓅱𓀀𓏥𓈖m =k jrr.t =sn pw r sḫ,tj.pl =sn jwi̯.w n
46 𓎡𓏏𓐍𓏏𓏛𓀀𓏥𓂋𓐛𓏤𓋴𓈖𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡𓁹𓂋𓏏𓋴𓈖𓏥𓊪𓅱𓊃𓊪𓊗𓊪𓅱𓈖kt-ḫ,t r-gs =sn m =k jrr.t =sn pw sp pw n
47 𓍙𓆑𓂡𓏏𓅱𓈖𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓁷𓏤𓈖𓉔𓅪𓈒𓏥𓈖𓎛𓋴𓏠𓈖𓍖𓈒𓏥ḫsf =tw n Nm,tj-nḫt pn ḥr nh n ḥsmn
48 𓎛𓈖𓂝𓈖𓉔𓅪𓈒𓏥𓈖𓎛𓌳𓄿𓏏𓍖𓈒𓏥𓎗𓅱𓏛𓏏𓅱𓈖𓆑𓂧𓃀𓅡𓄿𓌥𓏛ḥnꜥ nh n ḥmꜣ,t wḏ =tw n =f dbꜣ
49 𓋴𓏏𓂧𓃀𓅡𓄿𓌥𓏛𓆑𓋴𓏏𓎼𓂋𓀁𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖st dbꜣ =f st gr pw jri̯.n
50 𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓂜𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓆑(j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj n wšb =f
51 𓈖𓇑𓇑𓈖𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀔𓀀𓏥𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓆑𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖n nn n sr.w.pl ⟨n⟩ wšb =f n sḫ,tj pn
English
32 This Nemtynakht did not satisfy him over it. So this peasant set out
33 for Herakleopolis, to petition the High Steward
34 Rensi son of Meru, and found him coming out of a door
35 of his house, to go down to his service barge.
36 Then this peasant said: "Oh, may it be permitted me to acquaint you,
37 to your heart's content, with this complaint of a matter. It is this: let
38 your follower, the confidant of your heart, be brought to me, and I will send him
39 back to you over it. Then the High Steward Rensi son of Meru
40 sent his follower, his trusted man, in to him; him
41 this peasant sent back, over this matter in its entirety, every part.
42 Then the High Steward Rensi son of Meru laid a charge
43 against this Nemtynakht before the officials who were at his side. Then they said:
44 "No doubt it is his own peasant, who has gone to another beside them.
45 See, this is what they do with their peasants who go
46 to others beside them. See, this is what they do. Is this a case
47 for punishing this Nemtynakht for a bit of natron
48 and a bit of salt? Let him simply be ordered to make it good."
49 so that he will make it good." Now silence was what was made
50 the High Steward Rensi son of Meru: he did not answer
51 these officials, and he did not answer this peasant.
The First Petition
Egyptian
52 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ
53 𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓎟𓀀𓀀𓅨𓂋𓀀𓈖𓅨𓂋𓅱𓀀𓏥Rnsj ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j wr n wr.w.pl
54 𓋴𓌫𓅓𓅱𓂻𓈖𓂜𓏏𓏏𓅪𓇋𓂋𓉔𓄿𓂻𓎡𓂋𓈙𓈇𓈖sšm,w n jw,tt ⟨n,tt⟩ jr hꜣi̯ =k r š n
55 𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓋴𓐪𓂧𓈒𓊛𓎡𓇋𓅓𓆑𓅓𓌳𓐙𓂝𓅱𓆀𓊡mꜣꜥ,t sqd =k jm =f m mꜣꜥ,w
56 𓂜𓈖𓎡𓆑𓋳𓈖𓂧𓃀𓇋𓇋𓏏𓋳𓎛𓏏𓍔𓄿⯑𓎡𓂜𓈖𓇋𓉔𓅓nn kfi̯ ndb,yt ḥtꜣ =k nn jhm
57 𓂧𓊪𓅱𓏏𓊛𓎡𓂜𓈖𓂻𓅱𓏏𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓅓𓆱𓏏𓏤𓎡𓂜𓈖dp,wt =k nn jwi̯.t jy,t m ḫt =k nn
58 𓏴𓌪𓂝𓋴𓎼𓂋𓍅𓆱𓏥𓎡𓂜𓈖𓌂𓅓𓂻𓎡𓇉𓄿𓂝𓂝𓂻𓎡𓁷𓏤𓇾𓈇𓏤zwꜣ sgrg.pl =k nn sḫm =k ḥꜣꜥꜥ =k ḥr tꜣ
59 𓂜𓈖𓎁𓏏𓂡𓏏𓅱𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓏏𓈗𓂜𓈖𓂧𓊪𓄓𓀁𓎡𓈋𓅱𓏏𓅪𓏥nn jti̯ tw nw,(y)t nn dp =k ḏw,t
60 𓈖𓏏𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈘𓂜𓈖𓌳𓁹𓄿𓎡𓁷𓏤𓅾𓀁𓂻𓅱𓈖𓎡n.t jtr,w nn mꜣ =k ḥr snḏ jwi̯ n =k
61 𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆟𓏥𓍲𓈖𓂝𓇋𓇋𓅱𓂻𓏥𓄖𓂻𓎡𓅓𓄿𓊪𓅭rm.w.pl šnꜥ.yw pḥ =k m ꜣp⟨d⟩
62 𓆓𓂧𓄿𓐎𓁷𓏤𓈖𓏏𓏏𓈖𓏏𓎡𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀𓈖𓌰𓈖𓅓𓎛𓀔𓅪𓀀ḏdꜣ ḥr-n,tt ntk jt n nmḥ
63 𓉔𓇋𓂺𓀀𓈖𓆼𓄿𓂋𓏏𓅪𓁐𓌢𓈖𓀀𓈖𓐣𓏏𓏛𓁐𓍲𓈖𓂧𓇋𓇋𓏏𓋳hj n ḫꜣr,t sn n wḏꜥ,t šnd,yt
64 𓈖𓏏𓂜𓏏𓅱𓅪𓅓𓏏𓁐𓆑𓇋𓐛𓅓𓂝𓁹𓇋𓇋𓀀𓂋𓈖𓎡𓅓n.t jw,tw mw,t =f jmi̯ jri̯.y =j rn =k m
65 𓇾𓈇𓏤𓊪𓈖𓂋𓉔𓊪𓏛𓎟𓄤𓆑𓂋𓋴𓌫𓅓𓅱𓂻𓀀𓆄𓅱𓅪tꜣ pn r hp nb nfr sšm,w šwi̯
66 𓅓𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓄣𓏤𓅨𓂋𓀀𓆄𓅱𓅪𓅓𓈖𓆓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪m ꜥwn-jb wr šwi̯ m nḏ,yt
67 𓋴𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅯𓅪𓎼𓂋𓍅𓏛𓋴𓆣𓂋𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓇍𓇋𓂻𓁷𓏤sḥtm grg sḫpr mꜣꜥ,t jyi̯ ḥr
68 𓊤𓅱𓀁𓂝𓂝𓂋𓏤𓀀𓆓𓂧𓀀𓄔𓅓𓎡𓁹𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓎛𓎿𓊃𓇋𓇋𓀁𓀀ḫrw ḏḏ-rʾ ḏd =((j)) sḏm =k jri̯ mꜣꜥ,t ḥsi̯.y
69 𓎛𓎿𓊃𓊃𓀁𓎛𓎿𓊃𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀁𓀀𓏥𓂧𓂋𓂡𓋴𓐟𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓏥ḥss ḥsi̯.yw.pl dr sꜣjr =(j)
70 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓀋𓂝𓎡𓅱𓇋𓊪𓏛m =k wj ꜣṯp.kw(j) jp
71 𓅱𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓅓𓈖𓉔𓅱𓅪𓇋𓋴𓏏𓂋𓆑wj m =k wj m nh,w jst r =f
72 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓏏𓈖𓅓𓂋𓎡𓇳𓍛𓏤𓈖𓇓𓏏𓆤𓏏ḏd.n sḫ,tj pn md,t tn m rk ḥm n nswt-bj,tj
73 𓇳𓎟𓂓𓏤𓏥𓌳𓐙𓊤𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗Nb-kꜣ.pl-Rꜥ mꜣꜥ-ḫrw šmi̯.t pw jri̯.n (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
74 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓁶𓏤𓅓𓍛𓏤𓆑𓆓𓂧𓆑𓎟𓅆𓀀𓇋𓅱Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj tp-m ḥm =f ḏd =f nb =j jw
75 𓅠𓅓𓈖𓀀𓌡𓂝𓏤𓅓𓇑𓇑𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓄤𓆑𓂋𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓈖𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀𓏛gmi̯.n =j wꜥ m nn n sḫ,tj nfr mdw n-wn-mꜣꜥ
76 𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡ꜥwꜣi̯ ḥn,w.pl =f m =k
77 𓇓𓅱𓂻𓅱𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓀀𓁷𓂋𓋴sw jwi̯ r spr n =j ḥr =s
78 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓍛𓏤𓆑𓅓𓌸𓂋𓂋𓀁𓎡𓌳𓁹𓄿𓀀𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏛𓎡𓅱𓀀𓋴𓅱𓂧𓂻𓆑𓎡𓇓𓅱ḏd.jn ḥm =f m mrr =k mꜣ =j snb.kwj swd⟨f⟩ ={f}k sw
79 𓉻𓂝𓄿𓈐𓂜𓈖𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓂋𓆓𓂧𓏏𓆑𓎟𓏏𓇋𓈖𓌸𓂋𓅱𓏏𓀁𓃹𓈖𓆑ꜥꜣ nn wšb r ḏd.t =f nb.t jn-mr,wt wn =f
80 𓁷𓏤𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓀁𓇋𓐍𓏛𓏎𓈖𓏏𓈖𓈖𓏥𓅓𓏞𓏛𓄔𓅓𓈖𓏥𓋴𓏏ḥr ḏd gr jḫ jni̯t.(tw) n =n m-zẖꜣ,w sḏm =n st
81 𓁹𓇓𓅱𓏏𓋹𓈖𓐍𓈞𓏏𓁐𓆑𓎛𓈖𓂝𓄡𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁑𓏥𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂻𓅱𓌡𓂝𓅓𓈖𓄿jri̯ swt ꜥnḫ ḥm,t =f ḥnꜥ ẖrd.w.pl =f m =k jwi̯ wꜥ m nꜣ
82 𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓂋𓆄𓅱𓏏𓅪𓏥𓉐𓏤𓆑𓂋𓇾𓈇𓏤𓁹𓎼𓂋𓏏𓀁𓋹𓈖𓐍𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖n sḫ,tj r šw,t pr =f r tꜣ jri̯ gr.t ꜥnḫ sḫ,tj pn
83 𓅓𓎛𓂝𓄹𓏥𓆑𓃹𓈖𓈖𓎡𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓂝𓏏𓅱𓈖𓆑𓅧𓅱𓏒𓏥𓂜𓈖𓂋𓂝𓏏𓂋𓐍𓏛𓆑m-ḥꜥ.pl =f wnn =k ḥr rḏi̯.t ḏi̯.tw n =f ꜥq,w nn rḏi̯.t rḫ =f
84 𓈖𓏏𓏏𓈖𓏏𓎡𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑𓋴𓏏𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅱𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓈖𓆑𓏏𓏐𓏒𓏥𓎆𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓂧𓊃𓏌𓏤𓏤n,tt ntk rḏi̯ n =f st wn.jn =tw ḥr rḏi̯.t n =f tʾ 10 ḥ(n)q,t ds 2
85 𓂋𓂝𓎟𓇳𓂝𓂝𓋴𓏏𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓂝𓂝𓆑𓋴𓏏𓈖𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓀗𓆑𓈖𓏏𓆑rꜥ-nb ḏḏ st (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj ḏḏ =f st n ḫnms =f ntf
86 𓂝𓂝𓈖𓆑𓋴𓏏𓊢𓂝𓈖𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓈖𓋾𓉗𓊖𓀀𓈖ḏḏ n =f st ꜥḥꜥ.n hꜣb.n (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj n ḥqꜣ-ḥw,t n
87 𓇏𓏏𓈇𓎛𓌳𓄿𓏏𓍖𓈒𓏥𓈉𓁷𓏤𓁹𓏏𓅧𓅱𓏒𓏥𓈖𓈞𓏏𓁐𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓅓𓇠𓇠𓇠𓋾𓌾𓏤𓏤𓏤𓂋𓂝𓎟𓇳Sḫ,t-ḥmꜣ,t ḥr jri̯.t ꜥq,w n ḥm,t sḫ,tj pn m jt ḥqꜣ,t 3 rꜥ-nb
English
52 Then this peasant came to petition the High Steward Rensi son of Meru, saying:
53 "Rensi," thus he spoke: "High Steward, my lord, greatest of the great,
54 leader of what is not and of what is! When you go down to the sea of
55 truth, may you sail upon it with a fair wind;
56 no gust tearing away your sail, no slow drifting;
57 no ill befalling the mast of your ship, no
58 splitting of your yards; you will not wreck, running onto the land;
59 no wave carrying you off; you will not taste the evil
60 of the river; you will not look upon the face of terror; there will come to you
61 shy fish, and you will take your fill of fowl,
62 for you are the father of the orphan,
63 the husband of the widow, the brother of the cast-off woman, the apron of the motherless.
64 Let me make your name good in this land,
65 in it, according to every good rule: a leader free of
66 greed, a great one free of meanness,
67 a destroyer of falsehood, a bringer of truth to birth. Come at
68 the voice of the pleader. I speak that you may hear: do what is right, O praised one,
69 whom the praised ones praise; drive out my misery!
70 See, I am burdened; weigh me!
71 See, I am in distress."
72 This peasant spoke this speech in the time of the majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt
73 Nebkaure, the justified. Then the High Steward
74 Rensi son of Meru went in to his majesty and said: "My lord:
75 I have found one of these peasants, a man truly excellent in speech;
76 his goods have been robbed. See:
77 he has come to petition me about it."
78 Then his majesty said: "If you wish to see me in good health, then hold him here;
79 answer him not one word of anything he says, so that he may speak on.
80 While he speaks, be silent; and may it then be brought to us in writing, that we may hear it.
81 See to it that his wife and his children have a living; for behold, one of these peasants
82 comes because his house is empty to the ground. See to the living of this peasant himself:
83 you are to have food given him, without letting him know that you are the one who gives it.
84 For your part, though it was you who gave it him, there was given him ten loaves of bread and two jugs of beer
85 each day. Whatever the High Steward Rensi son of Meru gave, he gave to his friend, and it was the friend
86 who gave it to him. Then the High Steward Rensi son of Meru sent to the estate steward of
87 the Field of Salt, to make food for the wife of this peasant, three heqat of barley every day.
The Second Petition
Egyptian
88 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓊃𓊪𓊗𓏤𓏤𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓀀𓎟𓀀𓅨𓂋𓀀𓈖𓅨𓂋𓅱𓀀𓏥jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f sp 2.⟨nw⟩ ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =(j) wr n wr.w.pl
89 𓐍𓅱𓂧𓐗𓏛𓈖𓐍𓅱𓂧𓅱𓏛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓃹𓈖𓅨𓂋𓀀𓈖𓅨𓂋𓀀𓏥𓆑𓐍𓅱𓂧𓐗𓏛𓀀𓈖ḫwd n ḫwd.w n,tj wn wr n wr.pl =f ḫwd n
90 𓐍𓅱𓂧𓅱𓐗𓏛𓀀𓏥𓆑𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓈖𓊪𓏏𓇯ḫwd.w.pl =f ḥmw n p,t
91 𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓆱𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤𓆼𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂭𓂭𓍢𓀋𓂡𓅱𓂧𓈖𓏌𓅱𓍖𓏛𓏥𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓅓𓋴𓃀𓈖𓂻sꜣw n tꜣ ḫꜣy fꜣi̯ wdn,w ḥmw m sbn
92 𓋴𓐟𓄿𓅱𓆱𓅓𓎼𓋴𓐟𓄿𓊊𓆼𓄿𓇋𓇋𓍢𓅓𓁹𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓂧𓅱𓂻𓏥𓎟𓀀𓅨𓂋sꜣw m gsꜣ ḫꜣy m jri̯ nwd,w nb wr
93 𓁷𓏤𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡𓅓𓂜𓏏𓏏𓅪𓎟𓀀𓋴𓁷𓏤𓎛𓂝𓍑𓄿𓂡𓁷𓏤𓌡𓅱𓂝𓌨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓎡𓅓𓉐𓏤𓎡ḥr jti̯.t m jw,t.t nb =s ḥr ḥꜥḏꜣ ḥr wꜥ ẖr,t =k m pr =k
94 𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓉔𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏊𓏤𓎛𓈖𓂝𓏏𓏐𓏒𓏥𓏤𓏤𓏤𓊪𓏏𓂋𓆴𓊪𓈖𓈎𓏏𓂡𓎡𓅓𓋴𓋴𓐟𓄿𓏏𓀁𓏏𓍯𓄿𓅱𓀢𓀀𓏥𓎡ḥ(n)q,t hnw 1 ḥnꜥ tʾ 3 p(w)-tr pnq.t =k m ssꜣi̯.t twꜣ.w.pl =k
95 𓇋𓈖𓅓𓏏𓀐𓅓𓏏𓀐𓎛𓈖𓂝𓌨𓂋𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓎡𓂋𓊃𓀀𓏤𓈖𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳𓂜𓃛𓅱𓅪jn m(w)t m(w)t ḥnꜥ ẖr.pl =f jn jw =k r z n nḥḥ n jw
96 𓇋𓋴𓊪𓅱𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱𓎼𓋴𓐟𓄿𓅱𓊊𓏏𓐍𓏊𓈖𓈖𓌰𓅓𓅪𓂸𓏏𓂭𓂭𓏛js pw jws,w gsꜣ.w tḫ nnm mt(j)
97 𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀𓏛𓆣𓂋𓅓𓏏𓈖𓃀𓄡𓃟𓅓𓂝𓎡𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓏏𓅱𓐍𓂻𓋴𓌨𓂋𓎡𓈖𓈙𓏏𓂻𓅓mꜣꜥ ḫpr m tnbẖ m =k mꜣꜥ,t twḫ =s ẖr =k nš.t(j) m
98 𓊨𓏏𓉐𓋴𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀔𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓁹𓏏𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓁶𓏤𓎛𓋴𓃀𓐎𓏛𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁷𓏤𓐞𓏤s,t =s sr.w.pl ḥr jri̯.t jy,t tp-ḥsb n md,t ḥr rḏi̯.t ḥr gs
99 𓄔𓅓𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓐍𓈖𓊪𓂝𓎁𓏏𓂝𓆑𓂿𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓅱𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓅓𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓋴𓁷𓏤sḏm,y.w.pl ḥr ḫnp jti̯ =f sjꜣt,j pw n md,t m ꜥqꜣ =s ḥr
100 𓁹𓏏𓂋𓆑𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓂧𓅱𓂻𓇋𓅓𓋴𓂋𓂝𓊡𓅱𓁷𓏤𓎼𓄿𓏏𓎣𓅪𓁷𓏤𓇾𓈇𓏤𓋴𓂋𓆑𓅱𓂉𓀁jri̯.t r =f nwd,w jm =s rḏi̯ ṯꜣw ḥr gꜣu̯.t ḥr tꜣ srf.w
101 𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓈖𓈙𓊪𓂉𓀁𓏏𓅱𓊪𓊃𓈙𓅱𓏴𓏛𓅓𓂝𓃹𓅱𓂡𓂧𓂋𓂡𓋴𓐟𓄿𓇋𓂋𓂋𓌗𓅪ḥr rḏi̯.t nšp =tw psš.w m ꜥwn.w dr sꜣjr{r}
102 𓅓𓎗𓅱𓏛𓁹𓏏𓆑𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓅓𓅱𓆓𓈖𓏌𓅱𓈗𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓃛𓅱𓅪𓁷𓏤m wḏ jri̯.t =f dmj m wḏn,w =f ḫsf jw ḥr
103 𓁹𓏏𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓇋𓈖𓉻𓂝𓄿𓏏𓏛𓊪𓅱𓈖𓎡jri̯.t jy,t ḏd.jn (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj jn ꜥꜣ,t pw n =k
104 𓇋𓅓𓇋𓇋𓁷𓏤𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂋𓎁𓏏𓂡𓏏𓅱𓌞𓅱𓂻𓀀𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓆼𓄿𓅱𓌽𓂝𓀀𓈖jm.y ḥr jb =k r jti̯ tw šms,w =(j) ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn ḫꜣ,w n
105 𓊢𓂝𓇤𓏛𓏥𓁷𓏤𓂿𓈖𓆑𓎔𓏛𓈖𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓁷𓏤𓉔𓈎𓋴𓅪𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓋴𓌫𓅓𓂻𓀀𓂋ꜥḥꜥ ḥr sjꜣṯ n =f mḥ n ky ḥr hqs hꜣw =f sšmi̯ r
106 𓉔𓊪𓅱𓏛𓏥𓁷𓏤𓎗𓅱𓏛𓂝𓍯𓄿𓏏𓂝𓈖𓅓𓂝𓇋𓂋𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓆑𓃀𓅱𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓂧𓂋𓂝hp.w.pl ḥr wḏ ꜥwꜣi̯.t nm jr =f ḫsf =f bw-ḥwr,w dr
107 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓅪𓏥𓁷𓏤𓁹𓏏𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓂧𓅱𓂻𓏥𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓁷𓏤𓆼𓄿𓃀𓃀𓌳𓌳nw ḥr jri̯.t nwd.w ꜥqꜣ ky ḥr ḫꜣbb
108 𓅱𓆑𓄿𓅬𓀁𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓁹𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓇋𓏏𓂋𓆴𓅠𓅓𓎡𓂋𓎡𓈖𓎡𓎛𓂝𓅪𓍙𓆑𓂡𓄫𓅱wfꜣ ky jri̯ jy,t j⟨n⟩ tr gmi̯ =k r =k n =k ḥ⟨w⟩ꜥ ḫsf ꜣw
109 𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓂻𓅱𓃀𓇋𓈞𓄑𓀁𓂋𓊨𓏏𓉐𓆑𓈖𓏏𓋴𓆑𓇳𓏤𓎗𓅱𓏛𓂋𓆑𓊪𓅱𓁹𓈖𓁹𓂋jy,t jwi̯ bj(ꜣ) r s,t =f n.t sf wḏ r =f pw jri̯ n jrr
110 𓂋𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁹𓆑𓇼𓄿𓀢𓊹𓈖𓆑𓊪𓅱𓁷𓏤𓁹𓂋𓏏𓆑𓈖𓇋𓏏𓂢𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓊪𓅱𓁶𓏤𓂝𓏤r rḏi̯.t jri̯ =f dwꜣ nṯr n =f pw ḥr jrr.t =f nj.t ḫ,t pw tp-ꜥ
111 𓋴𓄝𓏏𓂡𓎗𓅱𓏛𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓊪𓅱𓈖𓎟𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏏𓎨𓏛𓀀𓇉𓄿𓀁𓄿𓄿𓏏𓇳𓀗𓋴𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅬𓅪𓋴sti̯.⟨t⟩ wḏ ḫ,t pw n nb-ḥn,t ḥꜣ ꜣ ꜣ,t sḥtm =s
112 𓊪𓈖𓂝𓊛𓅓𓂋𓅱𓇋𓇭𓎡𓂝𓈖𓂧𓅪𓅓𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅬𓏥𓎡𓐍𓃀𓅡𓄿𓌼𓂝pnꜥ m rwj =k ꜥnd m ꜣpd.w.pl =k ḫbꜣ
113 𓅓𓈎𓃀𓎛𓅱𓏁𓈗𓅬𓏥𓎡𓉐𓂋𓂻𓌳𓁹𓄿𓅱𓀀𓈙𓊪𓅱𓁹𓏏𓄔𓅓𓅱𓀀𓊃𓐍𓅱𓄔m qbḥ,w =k pri̯ mꜣ.w šp.w{t} sḏm.w sḫ.w
114 𓋴𓌫𓅓𓅱𓂻𓀀𓆣𓂋𓅓𓋴𓏏𓈖𓌰𓅓𓅱𓂻𓀀sšm.w ḫpr m stnm.w
115 𓂝𓈖𓃀𓂋𓅱𓎅𓏤𓇋𓈖𓏏𓂋𓆴𓊃𓈖𓃀𓂝𓈖𓎡𓁹𓂋𓎡𓂋𓎡𓇋𓂋𓆑𓂋𓅓𓂝ꜥnbr,w jn tr snb.n =k jrr =k r =k jr =f r-m
116 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓂝𓂝𓏤𓎡𓉐𓂋𓂻m =k tw nḫt.(tj) wsr.t(j) ꜥ =k pri̯
117 𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓊃𓆑𓂉𓀁𓋴𓍯𓄿𓏴𓈐𓁷𓏤𓎡𓈖𓐍𓀁𓅱𓏭jb =k ꜥwn sf swꜣ ḥr =k nḫ.wj
118 𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀𓋴𓎝𓎡𓇋𓇋𓅪𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏛𓎡𓈖mꜣjr ski̯.y =k twt =k n
119 𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏭𓂻𓀀𓈖𓏃𓈖𓏏𓆊𓅆𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏴𓏏𓈐[⯑]wpw,tj n Ḫnt,(j) m =k tw swꜣ.t(j) ḥr
120 𓎟𓏏𓇋𓂧𓅱𓇯𓆗𓂜𓈖𓈖𓎡𓂜𓈖𓈖𓋴𓂜𓈖𓋴𓂜𓈖𓂋𓎡Nb,t-jdw nn n =k nn n =s nn ⟨r⟩ =s nn r =k
121 𓂜𓁹𓂋𓎡𓋴𓏏𓂜𓁹𓂋𓋴𓏏𓊃𓆑𓂉𓀁𓎟𓏏𓏐𓏒𓏥𓀀𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓈖n jr{r} =k st n jr{r} =s ⟨s⟩t sf nb tʾ nḫt n
122 𓐍𓈖𓂋𓍕𓀁𓀀𓏏𓏏𓀾𓏛𓅷𓄿𓅱𓏏𓂡𓏥𓈖𓂜𓏏𓅱𓅪𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆑ḫnr t(w)t ṯꜣw.t n jw,tw ḫ,t =f
123 𓐍𓈖𓊪𓂡𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓇋𓈖𓐍𓈖𓍕𓀁𓊃𓊪𓊗𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪𓂜𓏏𓏭𓆄𓅱𓇋𓅱𓅪ḫnp ḫ,t jn ḫnj sp bjn ⟨n⟩ jw,tj šw.jw
124 𓂜𓈖𓂋𓆑𓍿𓋴𓍞𓏛𓏏𓅱𓇋𓅓𓆑𓎛𓎛𓂻𓈖𓆑𓊪𓅱𓇋𓅱𓎡𓇓𓅱𓏏𓋴𓐟𓄿𓏏𓀁nn r =f ṯs =tw jm =f ḥḥ n =f pw jw =k swt sꜣi̯.t(j)
125 𓅓𓏏𓏐𓏒𓎡𓏏𓐍𓏏𓏊𓅓𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎡𓐍𓅱𓂧𓏏𓐗𓏛𓍱𓋳𓏛𓏥m tʾ =k tḫi̯.t(j) m ḥ(n)q,t =k jw =k ḫwd.t(j) [m] ⸮sšr.pl?
126 𓎟𓏥𓇋𓅱𓁷𓏤𓈖𓈞𓅓𓇋𓇋𓊦𓀀𓂋𓄂𓏏𓏤𓋴𓃀𓈖𓆟𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛𓂋nb.pl jw ḥr n ḥmy r-ḥꜣ,t sbn dp,t r
127 𓌸𓂋𓂋𓀁𓋴𓇋𓅱𓇓𓏏𓈖𓅆𓅓𓏃𓈖𓏏𓂉𓉐𓇋𓅱𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓂝𓎡mrr =s jw nswt m ḫnt(j) jw ḥmw [m] ꜥ =k
128 𓂋𓂝𓏏𓅱𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓅓𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓎡𓄫𓅱𓄭𓂋𓅱𓀁𓀀𓅱𓂧𓈖𓍖𓈒𓏥rḏi̯.tw jy,t m-hꜣ,w =k ꜣw spr,w wdn
129 𓆑𓂧𓈎𓏴𓇋𓍱𓋴𓏏𓀁𓊪𓅱𓈖𓏏𓏭𓇋𓅓𓎡𓄿𓀁𓏏𓅱𓁹𓇋𓃀𓃙𓅱𓉐𓏤𓏥fdq jšs.t pw ((n,tj)) ((jm)) kꜣ =tw jri̯ jb,w
130 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏛𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓏏𓈇𓏤𓎡𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓎡𓍲𓈖𓏌𓅱𓆊snb mr,yt =k m =k dmj =k šn.w
131 𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓈖𓄓𓄹𓎡𓏶𓅓𓂜𓎡𓏏𓈖𓌰𓅓𓅱𓂻𓏏𓍔𓄿𓅓𓅱𓆙ꜥqꜣ ns =k jmi̯ =k tnm.w tꜣm,w
132 𓊪𓅱𓈖𓊃𓀀𓏤𓂝𓏏𓄹𓇋𓅓𓆑𓅓𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓀸𓂡𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀙𓀀𓏥pw n z ꜥ,t jm =f m ḏd grg sꜣw sr.w.pl
133 𓏠𓈖𓆓𓇛𓅓𓎅𓏤𓊪𓅱𓎙𓆓𓇋𓇋𓅱𓂡𓄔𓅓𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏥𓄦𓋴𓅓𓆰𓏤𓏥𓋴𓈖𓏥mnḏm pw ꜥḏ.yw sḏm,y.w.pl sm =sn
134 𓊪𓅱𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓃹𓈖𓆑𓇋𓇩𓋴𓅱𓆰𓁷𓏤𓄣𓏤𓋴𓈖𓏥𓂋𓐍𓏛𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥pw ḏd grg wn =f js.w ḥr jb =sn rḫ-ḫ,t
135 𓈖𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎟𓏏𓇋𓈖𓐍𓅓𓂜𓎡𓅓𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓀀n r(m)ṯ.pl nb.t jn ḫm =k m hꜣw =j
136 𓂧𓂋𓂡𓋴𓐟𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓂡𓈖𓈗𓅪𓎟𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓌨𓂋dr sꜣjr-n-mw nb m =k wj ẖr
137 𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌙𓅬𓈐𓏥𓃛𓅱𓏴𓏠𓈖𓇋𓊧𓊛𓎔𓎛𓈗𓎟mtnw jw mnj mḥ nb
138 𓄞𓂧𓂝𓃀𓎼𓄿𓅱𓈗𓀀𓄡𓂧𓂋𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓅓𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥šd bgꜣ,w ẖdr =k wj m hꜣw
English
88 Then this peasant came to petition him a second time, saying: "High Steward, my lord, greatest of the great,
89 richest of the rich, in whom his great ones have a greater
90 and his rich ones a richer: rudder of the sky,
91 prop of the earth, measuring cord that bears the weight! Rudder, do not stray!
92 Prop, do not lean! Cord, do not swing! A great lord
93 is one who takes from him who has no lord, robbing face to face; your keep is in your house:
94 one hin of beer and three loaves. What more do you spend to fill your clients?
95 A mortal dies together with his household; are you then to be a man of eternity? Is it not an evil:
96 the scale that tilts, the plummet that strays — the true
97 turned to confusion? See, what is right flees from under you, being thrust from
98 her place. The officials do what is evil; the standard of speech leans to one side.
99 The hearers plunder: its taking — he is the mutilator of speech in its rightness, who
100 brings wavering into it. The giver of breath deals out distress on earth; he who breathes easy
101 makes others gasp. Who should portion out is a plunderer; who should drive out misery
102 is one who ordains it done. The landing place is his flood; who should ward off evil
103 commits it. Then the High Steward Rensi son of Meru said: "Is this great thing of yours,
104 sitting on your heart, more than that my follower seize you?" Then this peasant said: "The measurer of the heap
105 cheats for himself as he measures; who fills for another damages all around him; who would lead by
106 the laws commands robbery — who then shall withstand him? Who should drive out the wretched man's evil
107 is one who makes it. One is exact in crookedness, the other keen on deceit.
108 One nods assent to the other's evil. Do you find yourself in this? Punishment is short; wrong is long.
109 Evil returns to the place it held yesterday; this is the command: act for the man who acts,
110 that he may act again; it is to thank the god for what he does; it is to fend off a matter before
111 it is shot; it is to entrust a matter to the lord of the task. Oh, would that an instant might destroy it:
112 a collapse in your net, scarcity among your birds, loss
113 among your waterfowl — the seeing man turned blind,
114 the hearing man turned deaf, the leader one who has lost the way.
115 O keeper of the basket, have you then fallen over? Why do you act against yourself?
116 See, you are strong, you are mighty; your arm is quick,
117 your heart is greedy, and kindness has passed you by. Wretched
118 is the wretch you destroy; you are like
119 the messenger of Khenti. See, you have outdone
120 the Lady of Pestilence: what is not for you is not for her; what is not against her is not against you.
121 You did it not, and she did it not. A lord of bread should be gentle, though power belongs
122 to the criminal. Fitting is theft for the man who owns nothing,
123 goods carried off by a criminal. But the deed of one who is not destitute — is he not to be condemned?
124 No one condemns him for it, for it means each seeking his own. You, though, are sated
125 with your bread, drunk deep with your beer; and you are rich
126 in everything. The helmsman's face is set forward, while the boat slides
127 wherever it pleases. The king is in his hall, and the rudder is in your hand, and
128 evil is done beside you. Long is the pleader's plea, and the weight
129 is torn away. 'What manner of man is this?', men will say. Be a refuge,
130 and let your bank stand sound; see, your landing place is crocodile-haunted.
131 Make your tongue straight, that you do not go astray; the mildew
132 of a man is the limb that is in him. Speak no falsehood; be on your guard with the officials.
133 The winnowing basket is what sifts the hearers; lying is their green crop,
134 it is speaking falsehood when it lies light on their hearts. O wisest of all people: is it from my case
135 alone that you know nothing?
136 O banisher of every trouble of the waters, see, I have a road
137 that is cut off. O bringer-to-land of every drowning man, save
138 the shipwrecked man; take me up out of my straits."
The Third Petition
Egyptian
139 𓇋𓂋𓇥𓂋𓎡𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆓𓂧𓆑jr.⟨j⟩ ḏr,(w) =k jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f 3.nw sp ḏd =f
140 𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓀀𓎟𓀀𓈖𓏏𓎡𓂋𓂝𓇳𓏤𓅆𓎟𓊪𓏏𓇯𓎛𓈖𓂝𓍲𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏏𓀙𓀀𓏥𓎡(j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =(j) ntk Rꜥ nb p,t ḥnꜥ šnw,t =k
141 𓇋𓅱𓌨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓃀𓅱𓎟𓀀𓁐𓏥𓇋𓅓𓎡𓏇𓇋jw ẖr,t bw-nb jm =k mj
142 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓇋𓇋𓈗𓈖𓏏𓎡𓎛𓂝𓊪𓈗𓅆𓋴𓇅𓆓𓏛𓆷𓈇𓏤𓏥𓎼𓂋𓍅𓏛nw,y ntk Ḥꜥp(j) swꜣḏ šꜣ.pl grg
143 𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓈀𓈇𓏤𓏤𓏥𓐍𓃀𓅡𓄿𓏏𓌼𓂝𓏥𓍙𓆑𓂡𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂡jꜣ,wt.pl ḫbꜣ.t ḫsf ꜥwꜣi̯
144 𓈖𓆓𓐩𓏌𓀁𓁷𓏤𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀𓅓𓆣𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆓𓈖𓏌𓅱𓈗nḏ ḥr mꜣjr m ḫpr m wḏn,w
145 𓂋𓋴𓄭𓂋𓅱𓀁𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓀸𓂡𓏏𓎡𓈖𓂻𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳r spr.w sꜣw tkn nḥḥ
146 𓌸𓂋𓀁𓎝𓎛𓏛𓏇𓇋𓆓𓂧𓊡𓅱𓊪𓅱𓈖𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓁹𓏏𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛mri̯ wꜣḥ mj ḏd ṯꜣw pw n fnd jri̯.t mꜣꜥ,t
147 𓁹𓐍𓋴𓆑𓏏𓍙𓆑𓂋𓍙𓆑𓅱𓂡𓈖𓆑𓂜𓈖𓋴𓈖𓏒𓏛𓏏𓅱𓂋𓁶𓏤𓐎𓏛𓎡jri̯ ḫsf,t r ḫsf.w n =f nn sn =tw r tp-ḥsb =k
148 𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱𓈖𓈖𓌰𓅓𓅪𓆑𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱jn jw jws,w nnm =f jn jw
149 𓅓𓂝𓆼𓄿𓏏𓍸𓆱𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁷𓏤𓐞𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓂋𓆑𓅝𓏏𓏭𓅆mḫꜣ,t ḥr rḏi̯.t ḥr gs jn jw r =f Ḏḥwtj
150 𓊃𓆑𓈖𓂉𓀁𓆑𓇋𓐍𓁹𓎡𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓂋𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏤𓏤𓏌𓈖sfn =f jḫ jri̯ =k jy,t ⸢rḏi̯⸣ =k tw ⟨m⟩ 2.nw n
151 𓏤𓏤𓏤𓊪𓈖𓇋𓂋𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂉𓀁𓏤𓏤𓏤𓐍𓂋𓎡𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂉𓀁𓎡𓅓3 pn jr sfn 3 ḫr =k sfn =k m
152 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓅓𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅪𓅓𓂋𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅓𓊨𓏏𓉐𓎡𓏏wšb nfr,t m bjn,t m rḏi̯ k.t m s,t k.t
153 𓂋𓂧𓅱𓇝𓏛𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓂋𓋴𓈖𓌰𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓆰𓏤𓏥𓂋𓂧𓏇𓇋rd.w md,t r snm,yt r dmj
154 𓈖𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂉𓀁𓅓𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓋴𓈖𓏏𓆑𓈗𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂻n ḫnm m wšb =s ntf jy,t
155 𓂋𓂋𓂝𓏏𓂋𓂧𓇝𓏛𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓋳𓏤𓏥𓋴𓊪𓅱𓊗𓏤𓏤𓏤r rḏi̯.t rd ḥbs,w sp.w 3
156 𓊪𓅱𓂋𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁹𓆑𓁹𓂋𓎡𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓂋𓈖𓂧𓃀𓇋𓇋𓏏𓋳pw r rḏi̯.t jri̯ =f jri̯ r =k ḥmw r ndb,yt
157 𓄞𓂧𓂝𓅱𓆓𓈖𓏌𓅱𓈗𓂋𓁹𓏏[⯑]𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓀸𓂡šdi̯ wḏn,w r jri̯.t mꜣꜥ,[t] sꜣw
158 𓇉𓄿𓊛𓎡𓂋𓎡𓁷𓏤𓄤𓆑𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓍢𓏤[⯑]𓈖𓏏𓇾𓈇𓏤ḥꜣ =k r =k ḥr nfry,t ꜥqꜣ,yt n.t tꜣ
159 𓁹𓏏𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓅱𓏛𓅓𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓇋𓅱𓎡𓅨𓂋𓏏𓅓𓇋𓇩𓊃𓆰jri̯.t mꜣꜥ,t{w} m ḏd grg jw =k wr.t(j) m js
160 𓇋𓅱𓎡𓂧𓈖𓋴𓏏𓍖𓏛𓅓𓆓𓂧𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓈖𓏏𓎡𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱jw =k dns.t(j) m ḏd grg ntk jws,w
161 𓅓𓏏𓈖𓃀𓄡𓅱𓃟𓈖𓏏𓎡𓁶𓏤𓐎𓏛𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓁶𓏤𓌡𓂝𓏤m tnbẖ.w ntk tp-ḥsb m =k tw m tp wꜥ
162 𓎛𓈖𓂝𓃛𓅱𓋴𓅱𓆱𓇋𓂋𓎼𓄿𓋴𓐟𓊊𓆑𓐍𓂋𓎡ḥnꜥ jws,w jr gꜣsꜣ =f ḫr =k
163 𓎼𓅱𓋴𓐟𓄿𓊊𓎡𓅓𓋴𓃀𓈖𓂻𓁹𓂋𓎡𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓄞𓂧𓂡gwsꜣ =k m sbn jri̯ r =k ḥmw šdi̯
164 𓁷𓏤𓄤𓆑𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓍢𓏤𓅓𓎁𓏏𓂡𓁹𓂋𓎡𓂋𓎁𓏏𓅱𓂡𓀀ḥr nfry,t m jti̯ jri̯ r =k r jt,w
165 𓂜𓅨𓂋𓇋𓋴𓊪𓅱𓅨𓂋𓇋𓅓𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓄣𓏤𓏏𓐍𓍠𓊪𓅱n wr js pw wr jm ꜥwn jb tḫ pw
166 𓈖𓄓𓋴𓄹𓎡𓂧𓃀𓈖𓄲𓊌𓊪𓅱𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂋𓏠𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏛𓆑𓊪𓅱𓋴𓊪𓏏𓂎𓎡𓏭ns =k dbn pw jb =k rmn.w =f pw sp,t =kj
167 𓇋𓂋𓎛𓃀𓋳𓎡𓁷𓏤𓎡𓂋𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓏤𓂡𓁷𓏤jr ḥb⟨s⟩ =k ḥr =k r nḫt ḥr
168 𓈖𓅓𓂝𓇋𓂋𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓆑𓃀𓅱𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓n-m jr =f ḫsf =f bw-ḥwr,w m =k tw m
169 𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓀀𓈖𓅺𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓄣𓏤𓁷𓏤𓌉𓆓𓏏𓏴ḥwr,w n rḫt,j ꜥwn jb ḥr ḥḏi̯.t
170 𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓀙𓃀𓍔𓏏𓈖𓂡𓅓𓂝𓎛𓆰𓈖𓎡𓀀𓆑𓈖𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢𓀀𓆑ḫnms btꜣ{n} mḥnk =f n twꜣ =f
171 𓌢𓈖𓀀𓆑𓊪𓅱𓇍𓇋𓇋𓂻𓏎𓈖𓈖𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱sn =f pw jyi̯.y jni̯ n =f m =k tw ⟨m⟩
172 𓅓𓂝𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓊛𓀀𓍑𓄿𓏴𓊛𓎟𓉔𓅓𓏏𓏛𓀀𓂝𓈎𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂭𓂭𓏛mẖn,tj ḏꜣi̯ nb hm,t ꜥqꜣ.y
173 𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓆑𓆑𓂧𓈎𓅱𓏴𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓁷𓂋𓇯𓍲𓈖𓂝𓅱𓍁𓉐ꜥqꜣ =f fdq.w m =k tw m ḥr,(j)-šnꜥ,w
174 𓂜𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑𓋴𓍯𓄿𓏴𓈐𓆄𓅱𓅪𓀀𓁷𓏤𓂝𓏤𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱n rḏi̯.n =f swꜣ šw ḥr-ꜥ m =k tw ⟨m⟩
175 𓍿𓈖𓁷𓂋𓏊𓅬𓈖𓂋𓐍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅚𓀀𓁐𓏥𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅓𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓏥𓏌𓏤ṯnḥr n rḫ,yt ꜥnḫ m ḥwr,w.pl n.w
176 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅬𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏊𓅱𓀀𓂋𓈙𓂉𓀁𓆑𓊪𓅱𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪𓂝ꜣpd.w.pl m =k tw ⟨m⟩ wdp,w ršu̯ =f pw rḫs
177 𓂜𓈖𓇋𓄿𓏏𓅂𓂿𓇋𓂋𓏭𓂋𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓀸𓅱𓀀𓂜𓈋𓅱𓅪𓋴𓇋𓋴nn jꜣtjw jr,j r =f m =k tw m mnj,w n ḏwi̯ =s js
178 𓂋𓀀𓂜𓇋𓊪𓏛𓈖𓎡𓇋𓐍𓏛𓁹𓎡𓈖𓉔𓅱𓅪𓅓𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆊r =j n jp.n =k jḫ jri̯ =k nh,w m msḥ
179 𓋴𓎡𓈖𓆊𓇋𓃀𓃙𓅱𓉐𓏥𓏏𓈙𓂾𓂻𓂋𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤𓂋𓇥𓂋𓆑skn jb,w tši̯ r dmj n tꜣ r-ḏr =f
180 𓄔𓅓𓅱𓂜𓄿𓄔𓅓𓈖𓎡𓍃𓅓𓎡𓏏𓂋𓆴𓄔𓅓𓁷𓏤𓅓𓂝𓇋𓅱𓏇𓈖𓇳sḏm.w n ꜣ sḏm.n =k tm =k tr sḏm ḥr-m jw mjn
181 𓄿𓍙𓆑𓂡𓈖𓀀𓄿𓂧𓅱𓆊𓇋𓅱𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆊𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂻𓆑𓊪𓏏𓂋𓆴𓂋𓆑ꜣ ḫsf.n =j ꜣd,w jw msḥ ḫti̯ =f ptr r =f
182 𓆎𓅓𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭𓈖𓎡𓅠𓅓𓏏𓅱𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀢𓏛𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓂋𓂝𓏏𓐟𓏤km jr,j n =k gmi̯.tw jmn,w mꜣꜥ,t rḏi̯.t(w) sꜣ
183 𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓂋𓇾𓈇𓏤𓅓𓎼𓂋𓍅𓏛𓇼𓄿𓇳𓂜𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻𓆑𓂜grg r tꜣ m grg dwꜣ n jyi̯.t =f n
184 𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓏏𓅱𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓇋𓅓𓆑𓇋𓋴𓏏𓂋𓆑𓆓𓂧𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁rḫ.n.tw jy,t jm =f jst r =f ḏd.n sḫ,tj pn md,t
185 𓏏𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓂋𓊪𓎼𓄿𓂘𓈖𓂝𓂋𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓉐tn ⟨n⟩ (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w sꜣ Rnsj r pgꜣ n ꜥrr,yt
186 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑𓊢𓂝𓂻𓏶𓎃𓀀𓏤𓏤𓂋𓆑𓌨𓂋𓋴𓏇𓇋𓅱𓄛𓏤𓏥𓊢𓂝𓈖[⯑]𓋴𓈖𓏥ꜥḥꜥ.n rḏi̯.n =f ꜥḥꜥ jm,(j)-sꜣ 2 r =f ẖr smj.w.pl ꜥḥꜥ.n ꜥꜣg.⟨n⟩ =sn
187 𓂝𓏏𓄹𓆑𓎟𓏏𓇋𓅓𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓅭𓀀𓌸𓂋𓅱𓀀ꜥ,t =f nb.t jm ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn sꜣ Mr,w
188 𓏏𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂻𓐍𓂋𓆑𓁷𓏤𓆑𓈙𓊪𓁹𓂋𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓏏𓆑𓊃𓐍𓄔𓂋𓄔𓅓𓏏𓆑tnm.ḫr =f ḥr =f šp r mꜣꜣ.t =f sḫ r sḏm.t =f
189 𓏏𓉔𓂾𓂻𓄣𓏤𓁷𓏤𓋴𓆼𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓀁𓈖𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓊖𓏏𓏤thi̯ jb ḥr sḫꜣ.y.t n =f m =k tw m nʾ,t
190 𓂜𓈖𓋾𓉗𓏏𓊖𓀀𓋴𓏇𓇋𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓁐𓏥𓂜𓈖𓅨𓂋𓀀𓋴𓏇𓇋𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛nn ḥqꜣ-ḥw,t =s mj ẖ,t nn wr =s mj dp,t
191 𓂜𓈖𓋴𓐍𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏛𓀀𓇋𓅓𓋴𓄥𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂜𓈖𓋴𓌫𓅓𓅱𓂻𓀀𓋴nn sḫry jm ⟨mj⟩ smꜣy,t nn sšm,w =s
192 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓍢𓏏𓂝𓇋𓅷𓄿𓂡𓀀𓋾𓉗𓏏𓊖𓀀𓊏𓊪𓅱𓂝m =k tw m šnt jṯꜣ ḥqꜣ-ḥw,t šsp.w
193 𓅓𓂋𓅱𓈇𓏤𓀀𓍙𓆑𓂡𓎛𓂝𓍑𓄿𓂡𓆣𓂋𓅓𓏶𓅓𓄂𓏏𓏤𓈖𓁹𓂋𓀀(j)m,(j)-rʾ-w ḫsf ḥꜥḏꜣ ḫpr m jm,(j)-ḥꜣ,t n jrr
English
139 Then this peasant came to petition him a third time, saying:
140 "High Steward, my lord, you are Ra, lord of the sky, with your court about you;
141 the need of every man is in you, like
142 the flood. You are Hapy, who greens the wet fields, who founds anew
143 the ruined mounds. Punish the robber, shield
144 the wretched: do not become a flood
145 against the pleader. Guard yourself: eternity is drawing near.
146 Strive to endure, as the saying goes: doing what is right is the breath of the nose.
147 Punish him who must be punished, and none shall come up to your standard.
148 Does the hand-scale tilt? Does
149 the standing scale lean aside? Is Thoth
150 ever mild? Only then might you do wrong; you would make yourself the comrade
151 of those three. If the three are mild, be mild in turn; do not
152 repay good with evil; do not set one thing in the place of another!
153 For speech grows faster than the snemet vine, touching the hearer with her answer
154 once wrong has been watered,
155 and making the covering grow — three times over it does this!
156 So he does; steer you your rudder by the gust!
157 Take hold of the flood, to do what is right! And beware,
158 lest you ground on the rudder line. The balance of the land is
159 doing what is right. Speak no falsehood: you are great — do not be light.
160 You are weighty — speak no falsehood: you are the scale.
161 Do not waver: you are the standard. See, you are of one nature with the scale,
162 and with the balance: if it tilts, you tilt with it.
163 Tilting, do not drift; hold your rudder, grip
164 the rudder line. Do not steal: act against the thief!
165 No great man is he, that great one of greedy heart. The plummet
166 is your tongue; the weight is your heart; your two lips are its arms.
167 If you veil your face from the strong of face, who then
168 shall ward off wrong? See, you are
169 a washerman's wretch, greedy of heart, set upon destroying
170 friendship, forsaking his loyal man for his client.
171 His brother is whoever comes bringing to him. See, you are
172 a ferryman who ferries only the man with the fare; an honest man
173 whose honesty is cut to shreds. See, you are the keeper of the storehouse
174 who does not let the destitute slip by at once. See, you are
175 a hawk over the common folk, living off the weakest of the birds.
176 See, you are an overseer of fowl whose joy is in the carving,
177 with no mangling of his own. See, you are a herdsman: is it not ill done?
178 As for me, you have not weighed me. May loss come upon you from the ravenous crocodile,
179 the refuge standing far from the landing place of the whole land.
180 O hearer — and you do not hear! Why is it that you do not hear? Have I
181 today warded off the furious one? And the crocodile, does it fall back? What good is he?
182 Your gain in it: when hidden truth is found, falsehood will be thrown on its back.
183 Falsehood to the ground! Plan nothing for the morning before it comes:
184 no one knows the evil that is in it. This peasant spoke this speech
185 to the High Steward Rensi son of Meru at the entrance of the gatehouse.
186 Then he had two guardsmen stand over him with whips, and they beat
187 every limb of him with them. Then this peasant said: "Son of Meru,
188 he strays on and on: his face is blind to what he sees, deaf to what he hears,
189 his heart gone astray from what is recalled to it. See, you are a town
190 without its steward, a company without its elder, a ship
191 without its captain, a troop without its leader.
192 See, you are a watchman who steals, a steward who takes,
193 a district officer set to ward off plunder who has become the model of the wrongdoer."
The Fourth Petition
Egyptian
194 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓅠𓅓𓈖𓇓𓅱𓁷𓏤jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f 4.nw sp gmi̯.n =⟨f⟩ sw ḥr
195 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓉐𓈖𓊹𓉗𓏏𓉐𓈖𓏏𓁷𓂋𓇯𓈙𓈇𓆑𓅆pri̯.t m sbꜣ n ḥw,t-nṯr n.t Ḥr,(j)-š≡f
196 𓆓𓂧𓆑𓎛𓎿𓊃𓅱𓀁𓎛𓎿𓊃𓀁𓏏𓅱𓁷𓂋𓇯𓈙𓈇𓆑𓅆𓇍𓇋𓂻𓈖𓎡ḏd =f ḥs,w ḥsi̯ tw Ḥr,(j)-š≡f jyi̯.n =k
197 𓅓𓉐𓆑𓌉𓆓𓏴𓃀𓅱𓄤𓆑𓂋𓂜𓈖𓂝𓃀𓏏𓄏𓏛𓆑𓊪𓏏𓐍𓂻𓐟𓏤𓈖m pr =f ḥḏi̯ bw-nfr nn ꜥb.t =f ptḫ sꜣ n
198 𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓏥𓂋𓇾𓈇𓏤𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓏏𓄿𓅓𓂝𓄚𓈖𓏏𓊛𓋴grg r tꜣ jn jw tꜣ mẖn,t ={s} ⟨sꜥq.t(j)⟩
199 𓍑𓄿𓏴𓊛𓏏𓅱𓇋𓂋𓆑𓅓𓂝𓊃𓆣𓂋𓊃𓊪𓊗𓅓𓄟𓊃𓂧𓂧𓀁[⯑]ḏꜣi̯ =tw jr =f ⟨m⟩-m sḫpr sp m ⸢msdd⸣ [ḏ]ꜣi̯.t
200 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈘𓅓𓐟𓏤𓏏𓃀𓅱𓏏𓏭𓋸𓋸𓍑𓄿𓏏𓏴𓊛𓄤𓆑𓂋𓂜𓈖jtr,w m-sꜣ tbw,tj ḏꜣi̯.t nfr nn
201 𓈖𓅓𓈖𓏏𓂋𓆴𓋴𓇥𓂋𓁀𓂋𓊏𓊪𓇳𓏤𓌉𓆓𓏴𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓅓n-m tr sḏr r sšp ḥḏi̯ šmi̯.t m
202 𓎼𓂋𓎛⯑𓊄𓃀𓏭𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓊢𓂝𓂻𓊃𓀀𓏤𓂋grḥ sbi̯.j m hrw rḏi̯.t ꜥḥꜥ s r
203 𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓄤𓆑𓂋𓈖𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓅓𓂝𓎡𓂜𓈖𓆎𓅓𓏛𓈖𓆓𓂧sp =f nfr n-wn-mꜣꜥ,{t} m =k nn km n ḏd
204 𓈖𓎡𓋴𓏏𓋴𓆑𓂉𓀁𓋴𓍯𓄿𓏴𓈐𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓈖𓐍𓀁𓅱𓏭𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀n =k st sf swꜣ ḥr =k nḫ.wj mꜣjr
205 𓋴𓎝𓎡𓇋𓇋𓅪𓎡𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓎔𓎛𓅱𓊛𓆟𓀀ski̯.y =k m =k tw m mḥ,w
206 𓇋𓂝𓈗𓄣𓏤𓆑𓅱𓂧𓂧𓏴𓂋𓁹𓏏𓌸𓂋𓏏𓀁𓆑𓆼𓄿𓂝𓂡𓂧𓃀𓅱𓃯𓏥jꜥi̯ jb =f wdd r jri̯.t mri̯.t =f ḫꜣꜥ db.w.pl
207 𓋴𓄝𓏏𓂝𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓅱𓃓𓏥𓄖𓂻𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆟𓏥𓊃𓐍𓏏𓌦𓂝sti̯ smꜣm.w.pl pḥ rm.w.pl sḫt
208 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅬𓏥𓂜𓈖𓆼𓄿𓐍𓂻𓂋𓏤𓀀𓆄𓅱𓅪𓅓𓅱𓂝𓂋𓅱𓂾𓀁ꜣpd.w.pl nn ḫꜣḫ-rʾ šwi̯ m wꜥr,w
209 𓂜𓈖𓇋𓇩𓊃𓆰𓄣𓏤𓀀𓂧𓈖𓋴𓍖𓏛𓊃𓐍𓂋𓏛𓄡𓏏𓏤𓍯𓄿𓎛𓎝𓏛nn js-jb dns sḫr ẖ,t wꜣḥ
210 𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎡𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓂧𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓂝𓍉𓏏𓏛𓎡𓂋jb =k rḫ =k mꜣꜥ,t dꜣjr stp.t =k r
211 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓃀𓋴𓋴𓆟𓂻𓎼𓂋𓅱𓀁𓀀𓂜𓈖𓊃𓄡𓅓𓅱𓂻𓀀nfr bss gr.w nn sẖm,w
212 𓅓𓂝𓆓𓂧𓐥𓂝𓃀𓅱𓇋𓈎𓂋𓏛𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓐍𓆼𓄿𓐍𓂻𓄣𓏤𓀀mḏd bw-jqr nn-wn ḫꜣḫ-jb
213 𓏎𓈖𓏏𓅱𓂝𓊃𓅠𓅓𓎛𓁹𓁹𓁹𓋴𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓏏𓅱𓄣𓏤𓅓𓎡𓄿𓉔𓋴𓅱𓀁jni̯.tw ꜥ sgmḥ jr,t.du swḏꜣ.tw jb m kꜣhs.w
214 𓐍𓏏𓆑𓄊𓋴𓂋𓂝𓎡𓍃𓅓𓄭𓂋𓂻𓃀𓅱𓈋𓅱𓅪𓂋𓎡ḫft wsr =k tm spr bw-ḏw r =k
215 𓊃𓍯𓄿𓏴𓈐𓁷𓏤𓊃𓊪𓊗𓇋𓅱𓆑𓂋𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏤𓏤𓇋𓈖𓏶𓀁𓀀𓂧𓊪𓄓𓀁swꜣ ḥr sp jw =f r sn.w jn wnm dp
216 𓇋𓅱𓅱𓄞𓂧𓅱𓀁𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓆑𓇋𓈖𓊃𓇥𓂋𓂋𓅱𓁀𓀀𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿jw wšd.w wšb =f jn sḏr,w mꜣꜣ
217 𓂋𓋴𓅱𓏏𓌘𓁹𓇋𓂋𓅱𓆓𓂝𓐣𓏛𓂋𓅱𓏏𓇯𓅓rs,wt jr wḏꜥ rw,t m
218 𓍙𓆑𓅱𓂡𓈖𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑𓅓𓏶𓅓𓄂𓏏𓏤𓈖𓁹𓂋𓀀𓅱𓆼𓄿𓅪𓀀ḫsf.w n =f jw =f m jm,(j)-ḥꜣ,t n jrr wḫꜣ
219 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓊪𓎛𓏏𓄖𓂻𓐍𓅓𓂜𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱m =k tw pḥ.t(j) ḫm-ḫ,t m =k tw
220 𓅱𓄞𓂧𓀀𓏏𓊪𓈖𓈎𓂝𓀀𓈗𓇋𓇋𓈗𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅧𓈎𓏏𓂻wšd.t(j) pnq mw,y m =k tw ꜥq.t(j)
221 𓈞𓅓𓇋𓇋𓊦𓀀𓅓𓋴𓃀𓈖𓆟𓂻𓂧𓊪𓅱𓏏𓊛𓎡𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅱𓀀ḥmy m sbn dp,wt =k sꜥnḫ,w
222 𓅓𓂋𓂝𓅓𓏏𓀏𓏏𓅱𓋴𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅱𓅯𓅪𓀀𓅓𓂋𓂝m-rḏi̯ m(w)t =tw sḥtm,w m-rḏi̯
223 𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅯𓅪𓏏𓅱𓆄𓅱𓇋𓇋𓏏𓇳𓏤𓅓𓁹𓅓𓆄𓅱𓇳𓃀𓇋𓃙𓅱𓉐𓏥ḥtm =tw šw,yt m jri̯ m šw {b}jb,w
224 𓅓𓂋𓂝𓎁𓏏𓂝𓆊𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓄿𓅓𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓎡m-rḏi̯ jti̯ msḥ 4.nw sp ꜣ m spr n =k
English
194 Then this peasant came to petition him a fourth time, and found him
195 coming out of the gate of the temple of Harsaphes.
196 He said: "Favored one, may Harsaphes favor you, from whose house you have come;
197 for out of it good is destroyed, its league is no more, and the casting down of falsehood's back
198 to the ground. Is this ferry hauled up on shore?
199 How then is one to cross, when crossing has been made a thing of hatred?
200 Is it fine to wade the river on one's sandals? No!
201 Who then sleeps on until the light? Destroyed is the walking of the night,
202 the going by day, and the letting of a man stand up for
203 his own truly good cause. See, there is no end to telling you:
204 kindness has passed you by; wretched is the wretch
205 whom you destroy. See, you are a fowler:
206 his heart set to do what he desires, harpooning the hippopotamuses,
207 shooting the wild cattle, taking the fish, snaring the birds.
208 There is no quick-tongued man who is free of haste.
209 There is no rash heart weighty in its plans. Be attentive, and you will know
210 truth: master your own chosen way, so that
211 it goes well with the quiet man who rises; none who storms ahead succeeds.
212 Excellence strikes its mark: there is no hasty heart in it.
213 The arm is brought: open your eyes, that hearts be gladdened with knowledge! Do not be harsh
214 in your strength, lest evil come home to you.
215 Let one case go by, and it becomes two. It is the eater who tastes,
216 the one addressed who answers, the sleeper who sees
217 dreams. But the judge, who should be punished, is the model of
218 the wrongdoer. O fool, see, you are caught!
219 See, you are brought to bay. O ignorant one, see,
220 you are questioned. O drawer of water, see, you have gone under!
221 Helmsman, let not your boat drift! O sustainer, let no man die;
222 O destroyer, let no man be destroyed.
223 O shade, do not blaze like the sun; O refuge, let not the crocodile seize —
224 this is the fourth time I have come petitioning you.
The Fifth Petition
Egyptian
225 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓅨𓂋𓈙𓇳𓀀𓂋𓆑𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋jn r =f wrš =j r =f jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r
226 𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓎟𓀀𓀀𓇋𓅱spr n =f 5.nw sp ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j jw
227 𓐍𓂝𓅱𓂧𓅱𓂝𓀀[⯑] […] [⯑]ḫwd,w ḥr […] [__]y,w
228 𓁷𓏤𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓌪𓂝𓇍𓇋𓇋𓂻𓆟𓋴𓄝𓂝𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆟𓏥𓀀ḥr smꜣm jy sti̯-rm.w.pl
229 𓁷𓏤𓆼𓄿𓐍𓂝𓂝𓅱𓃀𓃀𓅱𓆟𓏥𓍑𓄿𓃀𓎛𓅱𓂝𓀀ḥr ḫꜣ{ḫ}ꜥ wbb.w.pl ḏꜣbḥ,w
230 𓂋𓅯𓄿𓈎𓂋𓅱𓆟𓏥𓇋𓅱𓊠𓂝𓆟𓏥𓀀𓐍𓃀𓅡𓌼𓂝𓆑𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈘r pꜣqr.w.pl jw wḥꜥ ḫbꜣ =f jtr,w
231 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭𓅓𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓀀m =k tw m mn,t jr,j m ꜥwn ḥwr,w
232 𓁷𓏤𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆑𓆑𓈖𓅪𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓎡𓇓𓅱𓊡𓅱𓊪𓅱𓈖ḥr ḫ,t =f fn rḫ.n =k sw ṯꜣw pw n
233 𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆑𓂧𓃀𓃀𓂝𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓆑𓊪𓅱𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝mꜣjr ḫ,t =f dbb fnd =f pw nḥm
234 𓋴𓏏𓂋𓂝𓈖𓏏𓅱𓎡𓂋𓄔𓅓𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓂋𓅱𓆓𓂝𓐣𓏛𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓏤𓏤st rḏi̯.n.tw =k r sḏm md,t r wḏꜥ sn.wj
235 𓂋𓍙𓆑𓂡𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂝𓁹𓂋𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀋𓂝𓊪𓅱𓈖𓇋𓅷𓄿𓂡𓀀r ḫsf ꜥwꜣi̯ jr{r} =f m =k ⸮fꜣi̯? pw n jṯꜣ
236 𓁹𓂋𓇋𓇋𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎔𓏛𓏏𓅱𓄣𓏤𓇋𓅓𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎡jr{r}.y =k jw mḥ.tw jb jm =k jw =k
237 𓆣𓂋𓏏𓅓𓏏𓉔𓅱𓂾𓂻𓀀𓂋𓂝𓈖𓏏𓎡𓂋𓂧𓈖𓇋𓏏𓍸𓈇𓏤ḫpr.t(j) m th,w rḏi̯.n.t(w) =k r dnj,t
238 𓈖𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓀸𓂡𓎔𓎛𓈗𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏏𓅱n mꜣjr sꜣw mḥi̯ =f m =k tw
English
225 Am I to spend the whole day over him?" Then this peasant came to
226 petition him a fifth time, saying: "High Steward, my lord: the hand-net fisher
227 takes the […] fish; the […] fisher
228 kills the jay-fish; the fish-spearer
229 harpoons the weben-fish; the draw-net fisher
230 is after the paqer-fish. The wehe-fisher hacks the river apart.
231 See, you are of their sort: do not rob the wretched man
232 of his goods, for he is weak — you know him; his property is the breath
233 of the wretched man; to steal it is to stop up his nose: it is to take
234 his life. You were appointed to hear a matter, to judge between the two parties,
235 to ward off robbery as it is done. See, what is done by you is the propping up of the thief.
236 As for what you do: hearts are filled with you — and you have
237 become a criminal. You were appointed to the dyke
238 for the wretched man, that he not drown. Guard lest he drown! See, you are
The Sixth Petition
Egyptian
239 𓅓𓈙𓈇𓆑𓋴𓏏𓄝𓄿𓅱𓍬𓂻𓀀𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀m š =f stꜣ,w jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj
240 𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓎟𓀀𓀀pn r spr n =f 6.nw sp ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j
241 𓎟𓋴𓇋𓊃𓅪𓆑𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓋴𓆣𓂋𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓋴𓆣𓂋nb sjs =f grg sḫpr mꜣꜥ,t sḫpr
242 𓃀𓅱𓎟𓄤𓆑𓂋𓋴𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅬𓅪𓃀𓅱𓏇𓇋𓂻𓅱𓋴𓐟𓄿𓅱𓀁bw-nb-nfr sḥtm bw ⟨⸮ḏw?⟩ mj jwi̯ sꜣw
243 𓇥𓂋𓂡𓆑𓎛𓈎𓂋𓅪𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓋳𓏥𓇥𓂋𓂡𓆑𓇉𓄿𓅱𓏏𓋳ḏr =f ḥqr ḥbs,w ḏr =f ḥꜣ,wt
244 𓏇𓇋𓊵𓏏𓊪𓊪𓏏𓇯𓂋𓐟𓏤𓆓𓂧𓂝𓊡mj ḥtp p,t r-sꜣ ḏ{d}ꜥ
245 𓈎𓄿𓀠𓊃𓈙𓅓𓅓𓊮𓋴𓎛𓎿𓋴𓅱𓊡𓀀𓏥𓎟qꜣi̯ sšmm =s ḥs,w.pl nb
246 𓏇𓇋𓐍𓏏𓊮𓊪𓊃𓆑𓏏𓊮𓇅𓆓𓅱𓏏𓏛𓏥𓏇𓇋mj ḫ,t psf.t wꜣḏ,wt mj
247 𓈗𓂝𓐍𓅓𓈗𓇋𓃀𓃙𓏏𓀁𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓅓mw ꜥḫm jb,t mꜣꜣ m
248 𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓊪𓊃𓈙𓅱𓏴𓏛𓏥𓀀𓅓𓂝𓃹𓈖𓏌𓅱𓂡ḥr =k psš,w m ꜥwn,w
249 𓊃𓉔𓂋𓂋𓏛𓀀𓅓𓁹𓄿𓉔𓅱𓅪𓀀𓋴𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏛shrr m jri̯ ꜣh,w stwt
250 𓅓𓁹𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅪𓏥𓇋𓅱𓋴𓇋𓄿𓏏𓂿m jri̯ mn,t jw sjꜣt
251 𓊃𓈙𓂋𓂋𓅪𓆑𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓎔𓏛𓄤𓆑𓂋𓂜𓉔𓈎𓋴𓅪sšrr =f mꜣꜥ,t mḥ nfr n hqs
252 𓂜𓅱𓃀𓈖𓇳𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏎𓈖𓎡𓇋𓅓𓐛𓂝𓈖𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓎡n wbn mꜣꜥ,t jr jni̯ =k jmi̯ n sn,w =k
253 𓅱𓎼𓇋𓇋𓏏𓄑𓀁𓆄𓅱𓏏𓅪𓅓𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛wg,yt šwi̯.t(j) m ꜥqꜣ
254 𓇋𓅱𓄿𓉔𓅱𓅪𓀀𓋴𓌫𓅓𓂻𓆑𓂋𓃛𓅱𓂧𓏏𓂻jw ꜣh,w sšm =f r jwd,t
255 𓇋𓅱𓏎𓈖𓈖𓆑𓂋𓅱𓅱𓏏𓂻𓏥jw ⟨srḫ,y⟩ jni̯{.n} =f rww,t
256 𓂜𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓏏𓅱𓃹𓈖𓈖𓏏𓅓𓄣𓏤n rḫ.n.tw wnn.t m jb
257 𓅓𓅱𓋴𓆑𓅯𓂻𓁹𓂋𓎡𓂋𓋴𓏇𓇋𓏏𓀁𓆑𓂧𓈎𓏴𓎡𓈖𓅓𓂝𓋭𓊃𓍢𓂝𓆑m wsf jri̯ r =k r smj,t fdq =k n-m ṯs =f
258 𓂚𓂡𓈗𓆱𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏇𓇋𓆱𓃹𓈖𓉿𓂝𓊃𓊪𓐍𓈖𓈗𓇋𓇋𓈗𓆣𓂋ꜥḥꜣ-mw m ꜥ =k mj ḫt wn sp-n-mw,y ḫpr
259 𓇋𓂋𓅧𓈎𓂻𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛𓇋𓅱𓄞𓂧𓏏𓂝𓋴𓄿𓈎𓅪𓀋𓊪𓅱𓏛𓏥𓋴𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤jr ꜥq dp,t jw šd.t(w) =s ꜣq ꜣṯp,w =s n tꜣ
260 𓁷𓏤𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤𓏥𓎟𓏏𓇋𓅱𓎡𓋴𓃀𓇼𓏏𓂡𓇋𓅱𓎡𓍍𓅱𓏏𓏛𓇋𓅱𓎡ḥr mr,yt nb.t jw =k sbꜣ.t(j) jw =k ḥmw.t(j) jw =k
261 𓏏𓏏𓀾𓏛𓂜𓇋𓋴𓈖𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓇋𓅱𓎡𓁹𓂋𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏏𓅱𓀾𓏛𓏥𓃀𓅱𓎟𓀀𓁐𓏥t(w)t.(tj) n-js n ꜥwn jw =k jr{r} =k twt,w bw-nb
262 𓇋𓅱𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓎡𓅓𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓂧𓅱𓂻𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓂿𓏏𓏭𓀀jw hꜣw =k m nwd,w ꜥqꜣ sjꜣt,j
263 𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤𓂋𓇥𓆑𓂓𓏤𓈖𓇋𓇋𓇭𓀀𓈖𓃀𓅱𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓅪𓁷𓏤n tꜣ r-ḏr =f kꜣn,y n bw-ḥwr,w ḥr
264 𓈖𓏏𓆑𓈗𓂡𓎛𓋴𓊪𓈇𓏤𓆑𓅓𓃛𓅱𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓂋𓋴𓆣𓂋[⯑]𓆑ntf ḥsp =f m jw,yt r sḫpr [ḥ]sp =f
265 𓅓𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓂋𓈖𓏏𓆑𓈗𓀁𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓈖𓆓𓏏𓊖m grg r ntf jy,t n ḏ,t
English
239 as his lake, dragging men away. Then this peasant came
240 to petition him a sixth time, saying: "High Steward, my lord:
241 a lord who lessens falsehood: one who brings what is right to birth, who brings about
242 every good thing, who destroys evil — as when fullness comes
243 and ends hunger, as clothing ends nakedness;
244 as the sky settles after a storm,
245 warming every one who shivers,
246 as fire cooks the raw, as
247 water quenches thirst. Look now with your own face:
248 your face: the divider turned plunderer; the satisfier
249 turned maker of grief; the leveler turned maker of suffering.
250 To cheat is to shrink
251 truth itself. Fill it full and fair, neither lessened
252 nor overrunning; and what you win, give your comrade his share.
253 What has been swallowed down is empty of honesty.
254 The man in grief leads on to separation,
255 and the slanderer brings about the parting.
256 No one can know what is in the heart.
257 Do not be slack: act on the charge; if you cut apart, who shall bind again?
258 The punt pole is in your hand like a prop, when a burst of water has come to pass.
259 If a boat sinks, it is salvaged, but its cargo perishes, scattered over every shore.
260 On every bank you are schooled, you are skilled, you are
261 perfect — not for plundering. Yet you make yourself the equal of every man;
262 your circle is in disarray, and the honest man is the great cheat
263 of the whole land: the gardener of evil, busy
264 watering his plot with evil to make his plot
265 grow in falsehood, watering the harm of the mortuary estate."
The Seventh Petition
Egyptian
266 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆓𓂧𓆑jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f 7.nw sp ḏd =f
267 𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓎟𓀀𓀀𓈖𓏏𓎡𓈞𓅓𓅱𓊦𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤𓂋𓇥𓆑𓋴𓐪𓂧𓂧𓈒𓊛(j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j ntk ḥmw n tꜣ r-ḏr =f sqdd
268 𓇾𓈇𓏤𓐍𓏏𓆑𓎗𓅱𓏛𓎡𓈖𓏏𓎡𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓈖𓅝𓅆tꜣ ḫft wḏ =k ntk sn.nw n Ḏḥwtj
269 𓐣𓏛𓂜𓈖𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁷𓏤𓐞𓏤𓎟𓀀𓎛𓎝𓏛𓎡𓈖𓇋𓋴𓀁𓏏𓅱𓊃𓀀𓏤wḏꜥ nn rḏi̯.t ḥr gs nb wꜣḥ =k njs.tw s
270 𓂋𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓈖𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀𓅓𓍲𓈖𓏏𓍢𓂡𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂜𓈖𓎡𓋴𓏏r sp =f n wn-mꜣꜥ m šnt jb =k nn ⟨n⟩ =k st
271 𓆣𓂋𓄫𓅱𓁷𓏤𓀀𓅓𓎛𓅱𓂝𓅪𓄣𓏤𓀀𓅓𓍯𓄿𓀁𓂜𓈖𓏏𓏏𓂜𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻ḫpr ꜣw-ḥr m ḥwꜥ-jb m wꜣ n n,tt n jyi̯.t
272 𓅓𓎛𓂝𓅱𓀢𓂜𓈖𓏏𓏏𓂜𓆣𓂋𓏏𓇋𓅱𓅱𓐍𓂧𓐗𓏛𓋴𓄫𓅱𓆑𓅓𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓀙m ḥꜥ.w n n,tt n ḫpr.t jw wḫd sꜣw =f m ḫnms
273 𓋴𓎛𓍃𓅓𓅬𓅪𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆣𓂋𓂜𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓏏𓅱𓃹𓈖𓈖𓏏𓅓𓄣𓏤sḥtm =⟨f⟩ sp ḫpr n rḫ.n.tw wnn.t m jb
274 𓐍𓃀𓅡𓄿𓌸𓂝𓉔𓊪𓏛𓌉𓆓𓏴𓁶𓏤𓐎𓏛𓂜𓈖𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓀀ḫbꜣ hp ḥḏi̯ tp-ḥsb nn mꜣjr
275 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓎛𓂝𓍑𓄿𓅱𓂡𓆑𓂜𓅱𓄞𓂧𓀁𓇓𓅱𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓇋𓅱𓎼𓂋𓏏ꜥnḫ ḥꜥḏꜣ.w =f n wšd sw mꜣꜥ,t jw gr.t
276 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓎔𓏏𓏛𓄣𓏤𓀀𓀋𓂡𓉐𓂋𓂻𓇋𓋴𓅓𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓈖𓂝𓏤𓇋𓂋𓏭ẖ,t =j mḥ.t(j) jb =j ꜣṯp pri̯ js m ẖ,t =j n ꜥ jr,j
277 𓈖𓎼𓏏𓏴𓂡𓊪𓅱𓅓[⯑]𓈗𓋴𓄿𓋴𓅱𓍬𓂻𓃹𓈖𓉿𓂝ng.t pw m dn[j],t mw =s ꜣs.w wn
278 𓂋𓏤𓀀𓂋𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓊢𓂝𓂻𓄿𓂚𓂡𓈖𓀀𓌸𓂋𓇋𓆱𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈎𓈗𓂝𓈖𓀀rʾ =j r md(w)i̯.t ꜥḥꜥ ⸢ꜣ⸣ ꜥḥꜣ.n =j mrj =j pnq.n =j
279 𓈗𓇋𓇋𓈗𓀀𓊃𓈖𓆑𓊡𓂡𓈖𓀀𓈖𓏏𓏏𓅓𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀𓇋𓂝𓈗𓈖𓀀𓆷𓄿𓅓𓅱𓋳𓏤𓏥𓀀mw,y =j snf.n =j n,tt m ẖ,t =j jꜥi̯.n =j šꜣm,w =j
280 𓐍𓈖𓅯𓀁𓀀𓆣𓂋𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓅪𓏥𓀀𓇥𓂋𓂡𓐍𓏏𓆑𓁷𓏤𓎡𓊪𓏏𓂋𓆴ḫn =j ḫpr mꜣjr =j ḏr ḫft-ḥr =k ptr
281 𓍑𓄿𓂋𓅱𓎣𓀁𓎡𓇋𓅱𓋴𓅱𓆑𓅬𓂻𓎡𓂋𓏏𓉔𓏏𓂾𓂻𓎡𓇋𓅱𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓄣𓏤𓎡ḏꜣr,w =k jw ⟨w⟩s{w}f =k r thi̯.t =k jw ꜥwn-jb =k
282 𓂋𓊃𓅱𓆼𓄿𓅪𓎡𓇋𓅱𓊃𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂉𓀁𓎡𓂋𓋴𓆣𓂋𓐍𓂋𓃭𓅱𓇋𓇋𓅱𓂡𓀀𓏥𓎡r swḫꜣ =k jw snm =k r sḫpr ḫrw,y.w.pl =k
283 𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓎡𓇓𓅱𓏏𓂋𓅠𓅓𓏏𓎡𓇋𓇋𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓏇𓏏𓅱𓏛𓀀jn jw =k swt r gmi̯.t ky sḫ,tj mj,tw =j
284 𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓅱𓋴𓆑𓅱𓅬𓂻𓀀𓄭𓂋𓇋𓇋𓀁𓀀𓂋𓊢𓂝𓂻𓂋𓂋𓏤𓈖𓉐𓏤𓆑jn jw wsf,w spr,y r ꜥḥꜥ r rʾ n pr =f
285 𓂜𓈖𓎼𓂋𓀁𓂋𓂝𓈖𓎡𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓆑𓂜𓈖𓋴𓇥𓂋𓁀𓂋𓂝𓈖𓎡𓂋𓋴𓌘𓁹𓆑nn gr rḏi̯.n =k mdwi̯ =f nn sḏr rḏi̯.n =k rs =f
286 𓂜𓈖𓐍𓃀𓅡𓄿𓌸𓅪𓁷𓏤𓏥𓊃𓋴𓊪𓂧𓇮𓏛𓌒𓈖𓎡𓂜𓈖𓍃𓅓𓀁𓂋𓏤nn ḫbꜣ ḥr.pl sspd.n =k nn tm rʾ
287 𓃹𓈖𓉿𓂝𓈖𓎡𓂜𓈖𓐍𓅓𓂜𓂋𓂧𓈖𓎡𓂋𓐍𓏛𓆑𓂜𓈖𓅱𓆼𓄿𓅪𓋴𓃀𓇼𓂡𓈖𓎡wn.n =k nn ḫm rḏi̯.n =k rḫ =f nn wḫꜣ sbꜣ.n =k
288 𓄡𓊃𓂋𓅱𓎝𓂡𓀀𓏥𓈋𓅱𓏏𓅪𓏥𓊪𓅱𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀔𓀀𓏥𓎟𓅱𓏥𓃀𓅱𓄤𓆑𓂋𓊪𓅱ẖsr.w.pl ḏw,t pw sr.w.pl nb.w.pl bw-nfr pw
English
266 Then this peasant came to petition him a seventh time, saying:
267 "High Steward, my lord: you are the rudder of the whole land; the land sails
268 at your command. You are the second of Thoth, who judges
269 without leaning to either side. O lord, may you endure, that a man be called
270 for his true cause. Do not let your heart be quarrelsome; it does not become you,
271 that the man of long face turn into the man of narrow heart. Do not brood over what has not yet come,
272 nor exult over what has not yet befallen: the forbearing man lengthens out friendship
273 and annuls what has come to pass. No one can know what is in the heart.
274 He who hacks up law and wrecks the standard: no wretched man
275 lives on despoiled by him, unless truth had not called him to it. But now
276 my body is full and my heart is laden, and it must come out of my body because of its state:
277 it is a breach in the dyke, its water running, and it opens
278 as my mouth opens to speak. Then I plied my pole with a will and bailed out my water,
279 emptied out what was in my body, and washed my soiled clothes.
280 My speech is made; my misery is spent before you. What more
281 is your need? Your hesitancy will be your harm; your greed
282 will make a fool of you; your gluttony will breed accusers against you.
283 Will you ever find another peasant like me?
284 Would an idle man petition, and wait at the door of his own house?
285 There is no man silent whom you have brought to speak, none sleeping whom you have waked.
286 There is no face dulled that you have not whetted, no mouth shut
287 that you have not opened, none unknowing whom you have made to know, none foolish whom you have taught.
288 The officials are the banishers of evil; they are the lords of good.
The Eighth Petition
Egyptian
289 𓍍𓅱𓏏𓀀𓏥𓊪𓅱𓈖𓏏𓋴𓆣𓂋𓈖𓏏𓏏𓋭𓊃𓍢𓂝𓀀𓏥𓁶𓏤𓎛𓋴𓈎𓌪𓂡𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑ḥmw,t pw n.t sḫpr n,tt ṯs.pl tp ḥsq jwi̯.jn r =f
290 𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓎟𓀀𓀀𓇋𓅱sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f 8.nw sp ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j jw
291 𓐍𓂋𓀒𓏏𓅱𓈖𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏏𓆊𓍯𓄿𓈐𓇋𓅱𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂝𓄣𓏤𓀀𓆄𓅱𓅪𓆑𓅓𓊃𓊪𓊗ḫr =tw n ḥnt wꜣ jw ꜥwn-jb šwi̯ =f m sp
292 𓇋𓅱𓃹𓈖𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓈖𓅱𓉔𓏏𓅪𓇋𓅱𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂡𓄣𓏤𓎡𓂜𓈖𓈖𓎡𓋴𓏏𓇋𓅱𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂡𓎡jw wn sp =f n wh,t jw ꜥwn jb =k nn n =k st jw ꜥwꜣi̯ =k
293 𓂜𓈖𓅜𓏛𓈖𓎡𓂋𓂝𓄿𓊢𓂝𓂻𓊃𓀀𓏤𓂋𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓄤𓆑𓂋𓈖𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀nn ꜣḫ n =k rḏi̯ ꜣ ꜥḥꜥ s r sp =f nfr n-wn-mꜣꜥ
294 𓌨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓎡𓊪𓅱𓅓𓉐𓏤𓎡𓄡𓏏𓏤𓎡𓎔𓏏𓏛𓅱𓃀𓈖𓇳𓌽𓏏𓏤𓍿𓏏𓆑𓂻𓋴ẖr,t =k pw m pr =k ẖ,t =k mḥ.t(j) wbn ḥqꜣ.t ṯtf =s
295 𓄿𓈎𓅪𓉐𓂋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓋴𓈖𓇾𓈇𓏤ꜣq pr,w =s n tꜣ
296 𓎁𓏏𓅱𓂡𓂝𓍯𓄿𓂡𓀀𓈖𓈞𓅓𓅱𓂡𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀙𓀀𓏥𓁹𓈖𓏏𓅱𓂋𓍙𓆑𓂡𓂋jti̯.w ꜥwꜣ nḥm.w sr.w.pl jri̯.n =tw r ḫsf r
297 𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓇋𓃀𓅱𓃙𓉐𓏤𓏥𓊪𓅱𓈖𓄿𓂧𓅱𓆊𓀀𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀙𓀀𓏥𓁹𓈖𓏏𓅱𓂋𓍙𓆑𓂡jy,t jb,w pw n ꜣd,w sr.w.pl jri̯.n =tw r ḫsf
298 𓂋𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓂜𓂋𓂝𓈖𓅾𓀁𓎡𓄭𓂋𓀁𓈖𓎡𓂜𓋷𓀁𓈖𓎡𓄣𓏤𓀀𓎼𓂋𓀁𓀀r grg n rḏi̯.n snḏ =k spr =(j) n =k ⸢n⸣ sjꜣ.n =k jb =j gr
299 𓂝𓈖𓈖𓂽𓇓𓅱𓂋𓁹𓏏𓍿𓋴𓏏𓍞𓏛𓏥𓈖𓎡𓂜𓅾𓀁𓈖𓆑𓈖𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀁𓈖𓆑𓋴𓏏ꜥnn sw r jri̯.t ṯs.t n =k n snḏ.n =f n twꜣ n =f st
300 𓂜𓏎𓈖𓌢𓈖𓀀𓆑𓂋𓎡𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓌸𓂋𓂋𓏏𓊋𓉐𓇋𓅱𓄿𓄞𓂧𓅱𓎡𓏥𓎡𓅓𓇏𓏏𓈇n jni̯ sn =f r =k m-ẖnw mrr,t jw ⸮ꜣ? šd.w{k}.pl =k m sḫ,t
301 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓈎𓄿𓏒𓎡𓅓𓐖𓏏𓊖𓇋𓅱𓅧𓈎𓅱𓏛𓏥𓎡𓅓𓍁𓂝𓉐𓇋𓅱𓋴𓂋𓅱𓀙𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓂋𓂝𓏏𓈖𓎡jw fqꜣ =k m ⸮ḏꜣt,t? jw ꜥq,w =k m šnꜥ jw sr.w.pl ḥr rḏi̯.t n =k
302 𓇋𓅱𓎡𓁷𓏤𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡𓇋𓈖𓇋𓅱𓎡𓅓𓂝𓍯𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂡𓀀𓇋𓅱[⯑]𓈖𓎡jw =k ḥr jti̯.t jn jw =k m ꜥwꜣ,y jw stꜣ.tw n =k
303 𓋴𓎝𓎡𓅱𓂡𓀀𓏥𓎛𓈖𓂝𓎡𓂋𓊪𓊃𓈙𓏏𓏴𓏛𓏥𓄞𓂧𓅱𓏏𓈇𓏤𓏥𓁹𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓈖sk,w ḥnꜥ =k r psš,t šd,wt jri̯ mꜣꜥ,t n
304 𓎟𓅆𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓈖𓏏𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓆑nb mꜣꜥ,t n,tj wn mꜣꜥ,t n.t mꜣꜥ,t =f
305 𓂝𓂋𓆰𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓍼𓐞𓏤𓍘𓇋𓆱𓅝𓅆ꜥr šfd,w gstj Ḏḥwtj
306 𓁷𓂋𓏏𓐡𓈐𓂋𓁹𓏏𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓅪𓏥𓄤𓆑𓂋𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓄤𓆑𓂋𓂋𓆑ḥr.t(j) r jri̯.t jy,t nfr nfr,t nfr r =f
307 𓇋𓅱𓇓𓅱𓏏𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓂋𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳𓉔𓄿𓄿𓂻𓋴jw swt mꜣꜥ,t r nḥḥ hꜣꜣ =s
308 𓅓𓂝𓁹𓂋𓋴𓂋𓊻𓏏𓈉𓇋𓅱𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓌟𓂡𓆑m-ꜥ jrr s(j) r ẖr,t-nṯr jw qrs.t(w) =f
309 𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓄥𓂝𓇾𓈇𓏤𓇋𓅓𓆑𓂜𓊃𓇋𓆛𓈖𓂝𓏏𓅱smꜣm tꜣ jm =f n sjn.⟨n⟩.tw
310 𓂋𓈖𓆑𓁶𓏤𓇾𓈇𓏤𓆑𓇋𓅱𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁𓏏𓅱𓆑𓁷𓏤𓃀𓅱𓄤𓆑𓂋rn =f tp tꜣ ={f} jw sḫꜣ.tw =f ḥr bw-nfr
311 𓁶𓏤𓐎𓏛𓊪𓅱𓈖𓊹𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓇋𓈖𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱tp-ḥsb pw n mdw-nṯr jn jws,w
312 𓊪𓅱𓂜𓎼𓂋𓋴𓐟𓄿𓊊𓈖𓆑𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂝𓆼𓄿𓏏𓍸pw n g{r}sꜣ.n =f jn mḫꜣ,t
313 𓊪𓅱𓂜𓂋𓂝𓈖𓋴𓁷𓏤𓐞𓏤𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀pw n rḏi̯.n =s ḥr gs m =k wj
314 𓂋𓂻𓅱𓏏𓅓𓂝𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓂋𓂻𓅱𓏏𓅱𓄞𓂧𓀁𓎡r jwi̯.t m =k ⟨k⟩y r jwi̯.t wšd =k
315 𓅓𓅱𓈙𓃀𓅱𓏴𓀁𓅓𓅱𓄞𓂧𓀁𓀀𓎼𓂋𓅱𓀁𓀀m wšb.w m wšd gr,w
316 𓅓𓊪𓎛𓄖𓂻𓈖𓏏𓏭𓂜𓄖𓂻𓈖𓏏𓅱𓆑𓂜𓊃𓆑𓂉𓀁𓈖𓎡m pḥ n,tj n pḥ.n.{{tw}} =f n sf.n =k
317 𓂜𓏠𓈖𓅪𓈖𓎡𓂜𓋴𓎝𓎡𓋴𓎝𓅪𓎡𓈖𓎡n mn.n =k n sksk{k}.n =k
318 𓂜𓂋𓂝𓈖𓎡𓈖𓀀𓂧𓃀𓅡𓄿𓅱𓌥𓏛𓏥𓈖𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁n rḏi̯.n =k n =j dbꜣ,w n md,t
319 𓏏𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓉐𓂋𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓂋𓏤𓈖𓂋𓂝𓇳𓅆𓆓𓊃𓆑tn nfr.t prr.t m rʾ n Rꜥ ḏs =f
320 𓆓𓂧𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓁹𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓇥𓂋𓈖𓏏𓏏𓅨𓂋𓋴ḏd mꜣꜥ,t jri̯ mꜣꜥ,t ḏr-n,tt wr s(j)
321 𓉻𓂝𓄿𓏛𓋴𓎛𓎝𓏛𓋴𓅠𓅓𓅱𓏏𓅱𓎡𓆑𓏏𓀁𓏛𓋴ꜥꜣ s(j) wꜣḥ s(j) gmi̯.w.tw kf,t =s
322 𓊄𓃀𓅱𓂻𓋴𓂋[⯑]𓇋𓈖𓎼𓋴𓐟𓄿𓊊sbi̯.w =s r jmꜣḫ jn gsꜣ
323 𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱𓎛𓆰𓈖𓎡𓅱𓄛𓏤𓏥𓆑𓊪𓅱jws,w ḥnkw.pl =f pw
324 𓆑𓄿𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀋𓂡𓏥𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓂜𓆣𓂋𓈖𓉐𓂋𓅱𓏛𓏥fꜣi̯.yw ḫ,t n ḫpr.n pr,w
325 𓈖𓁶𓏤𓐎𓏛𓂜𓄭𓂋𓂻𓈖𓊃𓊪𓊗𓄡𓊃𓅪𓂋n tp-ḥsb n spr.n sp ẖsi̯ r
326 𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓏤𓌨𓂋𓐟𓏤𓀀𓂋𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓂻𓇾𓈇𓏤dmj ẖr,(j)-sꜣ r sꜣḥ tꜣ
English
289 They are the craft that brings what is to be, that joins a severed head. Then this peasant came
290 to petition him an eighth time, saying: "High Steward, my lord:
291 for greed one falls deep; the greedy man is empty of success.
292 His case is failure only. You are greedy — it is not for you; you rob, and
293 it profits you nothing. Let a man stand up for his own truly good cause!
294 Your keep is in your house; your belly is full; the heqat measure brims over
295 and its surplus perishes to the ground.
296 You, who should seize the robber and work rescue! The officials appointed to ward off
297 harm have become a refuge for the furious one — officials appointed to punish.
298 It is not fear of you that brings me to petition you; you do not read my heart, O quiet man
299 who turns to lay his grievances before you: he does not fear to plead his case to you,
300 unless his brother has been brought in to you from the road. Your fields lie out in the country;
301 your reward is in the estate; your income is in the storehouse; the officials go on giving to you,
302 and you go on taking. Are you then a robber? A work crew is brought to you
303 to apportion the fields. Do what is right for
304 the lord of right, in whom the right of his right is!
305 O rush-pen, roll of papyrus, palette of Thoth, keep far away
306 from doing evil: the good of the good man is better than he.
307 And what is right is for eternity: it goes down to the necropolis
308 in the hand of the man who does it; he is buried,
309 and the earth is one with him; it is not wiped away,
310 his name upon the earth, for he is remembered for his goodness.
311 That is the rule of the god's word. Is it a hand-scale,
312 that it cannot tilt? Is it a standing scale,
313 that it cannot lean to one side? See, I shall come,
314 or another come: question the one who comes to you!
315 Do not answer as one who cross-examines the quiet man, nor set upon
316 the man who does not attack. You are neither merciful,
317 nor do you sicken, nor do you destroy.
318 You have given me no recompense for this speech of mine,
319 so perfect, coming from the mouth of Re himself.
320 Speak what is right; do what is right, for it is great,
321 great and enduring: and when its trust is found
322 it leads on to honor. If the hand-scale tips,
323 the fault is with its pans, which carried the goods.
324 The goods are carried, yet no excess of the standard can arise;
325 no wretched case comes to the landing place,
326 while the last of all comes safe to land."
The Ninth Petition
Egyptian
91 𓂻𓅱𓇋𓈖𓂋𓆑𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓂋𓄭𓂋𓂻𓈖𓆑𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏌𓊃𓊪𓊗jwi̯.jn r =f sḫ,tj pn r spr n =f 9.nw sp
92 𓆓𓂧𓆑𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓀀𓎟𓀀𓀀𓅓𓆼𓄿𓏏𓍸𓆱𓊪𓅱𓈖𓏏ḏd =f (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr nb =j mḫꜣ,t pw n.t
93 𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥𓈖𓄓𓋴𓄹𓋴𓈖𓏥𓇋𓈖𓃛𓅱𓇓𓅱𓆱𓆓𓂝𓂋𓌙𓏛r(m)t.pl ns =sn jn jws,w ḏꜥr
94 𓍑𓏏𓏥𓁹𓂋𓍙𓆑𓏏𓂡𓂋𓍙𓆑𓅱𓂡𓈖𓆑𓋴𓈖𓏒𓏛𓏏𓅱𓁶𓐎𓏛𓂋𓎡ḏꜣ,t jrr ḫsf.t r ḫsf.w n =f sn.tw tp-ḥsb r =k
95 𓊃𓅭𓄿𓅱𓊃𓄡𓅓𓂻𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓆣𓂋𓌨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆑⸮sꜣu̯? ⸮sẖm? grg ḫpr ẖr,t =f
96 𓂝𓈖𓈖𓂽𓋴𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓂋𓂝𓈎𓄿𓂭𓂭𓏛𓆑𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓊪𓅱𓈖𓏏ꜥnn s(j) mꜣꜥ,t r-ꜥqꜣ =f ḫ,t pw n.t
97 𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓋴𓇅𓆓𓆑𓊪𓅱𓂜𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓎛𓅱𓏏𓅱𓆑grg mꜣꜥ,t swꜣḏ =f pw n ⸮nwḥ.tw? =f
98 𓇋𓂋𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎼𓂋𓍅𓀁𓇋𓅱𓆑𓏏𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂻𓆑𓂜jr šmi̯ grg jw =f tnm =f n
99 𓍑𓄿𓏴𓊛𓈖𓆑𓅓𓅓𓂝𓄚𓈖𓏏𓊛𓂜[⯑]ḏꜣi̯.n =f m mẖn,t n sšꜣ.[⸮n?] =[f]
100 𓇋𓂋𓐍𓂝𓅱𓂧𓍔𓏛𓌨𓆑𓂜𓈖𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑jr ḫwd ((ẖr)) =f nn ms.w.[pl] =f
101 𓂜𓈖𓃛𓅱𓂝𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑𓁶𓇾𓈇𓏤𓇋𓂋𓋴𓐪𓂧𓂧𓈒𓊛nn jwꜥ.w.pl =f tp tꜣ jr sqdd
102 𓌨𓂋𓆑𓂜𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓂻𓈖𓆑𓇾𓈇𓏤𓂜𓏠𓈖𓇋𓌙𓊛𓈖ẖr =f n sꜣḥ.n =f tꜣ n mnj.n
103 𓂧𓊪𓅱𓏏𓊛𓆑𓂋𓂧𓏇𓇋𓈇𓋴𓅓𓂧𓈖𓋴𓍖𓏛𓂜𓇋𓇩𓊃𓆰𓎡dp,wt =f r dmj =s m dns n js =k
104 𓅓𓇋𓉔𓅓𓂻𓂜𓆼𓄿𓐍𓂻𓎡𓅓𓈖𓌰𓅓𓂝𓀁𓅓𓄔𓅓𓈖m jhm n ḫꜣḫ =k m nmꜥ m sḏm n
105 𓄣𓏤𓅓𓎛𓃀𓋴𓋳𓁷𓏤𓎡𓂋𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓎡𓅓𓈙𓊪𓁹𓁷𓏤𓎡𓂋jb m ḥbs ḥr =k r rḫ.n =k m šp ḥr =k r
106 𓂧𓎼𓁹𓈖𓎡𓅓𓈖𓇋𓂢𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢𓀀𓏏𓅱𓉔𓄿𓂻𓎡dgi̯ n =k m nj twꜣ tw hꜣi̯ =k
107 𓅓𓅯𓄿𓅱𓊃𓆑𓅯𓂻𓋴𓏇𓇋𓏏𓀁𓋭𓊃𓏛𓎡m pꜣ wsf smj.t(w) ṯs =k
108 𓁹𓈖𓁹𓂋𓈖𓎡𓅓𓄔𓅓𓈖𓃀𓅱𓎟𓀀𓁐𓏥𓂋𓆑𓈖𓇋𓋴𓀁𓊃𓀀𓏤jri̯ n jrr n =k m sḏm n bw-nb r =f njs s
109 𓂋𓊃𓊪𓊗𓆑𓈖𓃹𓈖𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏛𓂜𓈖𓋴𓆑𓇳𓈖[⯑]r sp =f n wn-mꜣꜥ nn sf n wsf,w
110 𓂜𓈖𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓀙𓀀𓈖𓊃𓄡𓄔𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓀗𓏛𓂜𓈖𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳nn ḫnms n sẖi̯ mꜣꜥ,t nn hrw
111 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓈖𓂝𓃹𓈖𓂡𓄣𓏤𓀀𓆣𓂋𓅱𓍿𓊃𓅱𓍞𓀁𓀀𓅓nfr n ꜥwn-jb ḫpr wṯs,w m
112 𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓇋𓇋𓅪𓀀𓌳𓄿𓇋𓂋𓌗𓇋𓇋𓅪𓀀𓂋𓄭𓂋𓅱𓀁𓀀mꜣjr,y mꜣjr,y r spr,w
113 𓆣𓂋𓐍𓏏𓆑𓀀𓅓𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓅱𓌪𓅓𓂝𓎡𓅱𓀀𓁷𓏤𓄭𓂋𓀁ḫpr ḫft,(j) m smꜣm,w m =k wj ḥr spr
114 𓈖𓎡𓂜𓄔𓅓𓈖𓎡𓋴𓏏𓇋𓅱𓀀𓂋𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓄭𓂋𓀁𓀀n =k n sḏm.n =k st jw =j r šmi̯.t spr =j
English
91 Then this peasant came to petition him a ninth time, saying:
92 "High Steward, my lord: this scale is the scale
93 of people — their tongue; and the hand-scale is what examines the shortfall.
94 It is the shortfall that brings punishment on him who should be punished; may the standard be squared with you.
95 Guard yourself: falsehood must not stride out boldly,
96 its need arising and what is right turning away before it — that is the possession
97 of falsehood: it flourishes the while it is not bound.
98 When falsehood goes out, it goes astray; it does not
99 cross by the ferry, it makes no headway.
100 He who grows rich by it has no children,
101 no heirs upon earth. He who sails with it
102 does not reach land, does not come to moor:
103 his boat does not reach its landing. Do not be weighty before you have been light!
104 Do not be slow before you have made haste! Do not take sides! Do not listen
105 to the heart. Do not cover your face from the man you know; do not be blind of face
106 toward the man who must see you. Look to yourself: refuse not the man who pleads to you; come down
107 out of this hesitating, so that your verdict may be proclaimed.
108 Act for him who acts for you; do not hear every man against him when a man is called
109 for his true cause. There is no yesterday for the hesitating man;
110 no friend for the man deaf to what is right; no day is fair
111 for the greedy. The accuser turns
112 wretched, and the wretched turn pleaders;
113 the opponent turns killer. See, I stand pleading to you,
114 and you do not hear it; I shall go and plead about you to Anubis
Justice
Egyptian
115 𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓈖𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃥𓅆𓂋𓂝𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓀀ḥr =k n Jnp,w rḏi̯.jn (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
116 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓈝𓅓𓂻𓏶𓎃𓀀𓏤𓏤𓂋𓂝𓈖𓂽𓆑Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj šmi̯ jm,(j)-sꜣ 2 r ꜥn⟨n⟩ =⟨f⟩ ={f}
117 𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖𓅾𓀁𓇋𓃀𓃙𓀁𓆑𓁹𓂋𓏏wn.jn sḫ,tj pn snḏ jb =f jrr =t(w)
118 𓂋𓍙𓆑𓂡𓈖𓆑𓁷𓏤𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓏏𓈖𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓆑𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖r ḫsf n =f ḥr md,t tn ḏd.t.n =f ḏd.jn sḫ,tj pn
119 𓍙𓆑𓅱𓂻𓏥𓈖𓇋𓃀𓃙𓈗𓀁𓀀𓅓𓈗𓈇𓏥𓍑𓄿𓏏𓏴𓂋𓏤ḫsf.w n jb m mw.pl ḏꜣi̯.t rʾ
120 𓈖𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀀𓈖𓋴𓃀𓈖𓏏𓀔𓀭𓅓𓁹𓏏𓏏𓏈𓏥n ẖrd-n-sbn,t m jrt,t
121 [⯑]𓅓𓀏𓀐𓈖𓅘𓎛𓇋𓇋𓀁𓌳𓁹𓄿𓆑𓈖𓇍𓇋𓇋𓂻𓆑⸢n⸣[t]f [m](w)t nḥi̯.y mꜣ =f n jyi̯.y =f
122 𓇍𓇋𓂻𓅱𓂧𓆑𓂻𓅓𓏏𓀏𓆑𓂋𓆑𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗jyi̯ wdf m(w)t =f r =f ḏd.jn (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
123 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓏭𓀀𓅓𓅾𓀁𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓅓𓂝𓎡Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj m snḏ sḫ,tj m =k
124 𓁹𓂋𓎡𓂋𓁹𓏏𓎛𓈖𓂝𓀀𓂋𓂝𓇋𓈖𓇏𓏏𓏭𓀀𓊪𓈖jri̯ r =k r jri̯.t ḥnꜥ =j rḏi̯.jn sḫ,tj pn
125 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀𓁷𓏤𓏶𓀁𓀀𓄿𓅓𓏏𓏐𓈀𓏥𓎡𓋴𓅨𓂋𓇋𓀁𓀀𓄿ꜥnḫ ={j} ḥr wnm =j ꜣ m tʾ =k swrj =j ꜣ
126 [⯑]𓎡𓂋𓈖𓎛𓎛𓇳𓆓𓂧𓈖𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗⟨m⟩ [ḥ(n)q,t] =k r-nḥḥ ḏd.⟨j⟩n (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr
127 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓇋𓀀𓊃𓅭𓄿𓀸𓂻𓎼𓂋𓏏𓉻𓂝𓄿𓈐Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj sꜣi̯ gr,t ꜥꜣ
128 𓄔𓅓𓎡𓈖𓄿𓇋𓇋𓎡𓈖𓄭𓂋𓏏𓀁𓏥𓂋𓂝𓇋𓈖𓆑𓄞𓂧𓏏𓀁sḏm =k nꜣy =k n spr.t.pl rḏi̯.jn =f šdi̯.t(w) =[⸮sn?]
129 𓁷𓏤𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆰𓌳𓄿𓏏𓏛𓄭𓂋𓏏𓀁𓎟𓏏𓂋[⯑]ḥr ꜥr,t mꜣ(w).t spr,t nb.t r ẖr,[t] =[s]
130 [⯑]𓋴𓅓𓂋𓉐𓀗𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓇋𓀀[s]⸢ꜥq⸣.jn s(j) (j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj
131 𓈖𓍛𓏤𓈖𓇓𓏏𓆤𓏏𓇳𓎟𓂓𓏥𓌳𓐙𓊤𓃹𓈖𓇋𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓋴𓏏𓁷𓏤[⯑]n ḥm n (n)sw,t-bj,tj Nb-kꜣ.pl-Rꜥ mꜣꜥ-ḫrw wn.jn nfr st ḥr ⸢jb⸣ =[f]
132 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓎟𓏏𓈖𓏏𓏏𓅓𓇾𓈇𓏤𓊪𓈖𓂋𓇥𓂋𓆑𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓍛𓏤r ⸢ḫ,t⸣ nb.t n,t.t m tꜣ pn r-ḏr =f ḏd.jn ⸢ḥm⸣ =[f]
133 𓐣𓏛𓏏𓅱𓆓𓊃𓎡𓅭𓌸𓂋𓅱𓀀[⯑]wḏꜥ tw ḏs =k zꜣ Mr,w rḏi̯.j[n] [(j)m,(j)-rʾ-pr-wr]
134 𓌸𓂋𓅱𓆇𓂋𓈖𓋴𓇋𓀀𓈝𓅓𓂻𓏶𓎃𓀀𓏤𓏤𓂋Mr,w zꜣ Rnsj šmi̯ jm,(j)-sꜣ 2 r [jni̯.t] [Nm,tj-nḫt]
135 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓆑𓏎𓈖𓁹𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏛𓏥𓅓ꜥḥꜥ.n =f jni̯ jri̯ wp,wt m [ḥn,w] =[f]
136 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓅠𓅓𓈖𓆑𓁶𓏤𓀀𓁐𓏥𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤[⯑] […]⸮⸢ꜥḥꜥ⸣?.n ⸮⸢gmi̯⸣?.n =f tp.pl 6 ḥr.(w)-[r] […]
137 𓂋𓇗𓌾𓏥𓆑𓂋𓇣𓂧𓏏𓌾𓏭𓆑𓂋[⯑] […]r šmꜥ =f r btj =f r ꜥꜣ.[pl] =[f] […]
138 𓂋𓆷𓄿𓅱𓂸𓃟𓆑𓂋𓋿𓅱𓏏 […]r šꜣw =f r ⸢ꜥw,t⸣ =[f] […]
139 𓅇𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓊪𓈖𓈖[⯑] […]Nm,tj-nḫt pn n sḫ,[tj] [pn] […]
140 𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆑𓎟𓏏[⯑] […]⸮⸢ḫ,t⸣? =f nb.t ḏ[.t] =[f] […]
141 𓈖[⯑] […]n Nm,tj-nḫt [pn] […]
142 𓂻𓅱𓆑𓊪𓅱 […]⸢jwi̯⸣ =⸢f⸣ ⸢pw⸣ […]
English
115 about you, to Anubis." Then the High Steward
116 Rensi son of Meru sent two guardsmen to bring him back.
117 Then this peasant was afraid, thinking he was being taken
118 to be punished for this speech he had spoken. Then this peasant said:
119 "Like the coming of a thirsty man to the water, like
120 the mouth of a suckling child coming to the milk —
121 that is death; longed for is the sight of its coming,
122 when death is slow to come to a man." Then the High Steward
123 Rensi son of Meru said: "Do not be afraid, peasant!
124 The man who has dealt with you so will have to deal with me." Then this peasant swore:
125 "As I live, I will eat of your bread
126 and drink of your beer, forever and ever." Then the High Steward
127 Rensi son of Meru said: "Wait here, and you shall hear
128 your petitions." Then he had them read out
129 from a new scroll, each petition according to its full content.
130 Then the High Steward Rensi son of Meru sent it up
131 to the majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebkaure, the justified. And it was better upon his heart
132 than anything that is in this whole land. Then his majesty said:
133 "Judge it yourself, son of Meru!" Then the High Steward
134 Rensi son of Meru sent two guardsmen to fetch Nemtynakht.
135 When he was brought in, an inventory was made of [all] his goods:
136 six persons were found with him, besides […]
137 his Upper Egyptian barley, his emmer, his donkeys […]
138 his pigs, his small cattle […]
139 this Nemtynakht, for this peasant […]
140 all his property, his dependents […]
141 of this Nemtynakht […]
142 It was his coming […]