The Satire of the Trades (The Teaching of Khety)
Writing Outranks Manual Trades
Egyptian
3.9 […] 𓄂𓂝𓅓𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓏛𓁹𓏏𓈖𓊃𓀀𓏤𓇼𓄿𓅱𓅱𓀢𓏛𓆑𓅭𓏤𓄡𓂋𓍘𓇋𓇋𓏭𓀻𓂋𓈖𓀁𓆑𓈖𓅭𓏤𓅆𓆑𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋𓏭𓀻𓂋𓈖𓇋𓋴𓏏𓅱𓂋𓆑𓅓𓏃𓈖𓏏𓏭𓍘𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊛[…] ḥꜣ,t-ꜥ-m sbꜣ,yt jri̯.t.n z ⟨n(,j)⟩ ⟨Ṯꜣr,w⟩ Dwꜣ,ww≡f zꜣ H̱{r}ty rn =f n zꜣ =f Ppy rn =⟨f⟩ jstw r =f ⟨sw⟩ m ḫnti̯.yt
4.1 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓊖𓂋𓂋𓂝𓏏𓅱𓆑𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓂡𓉐𓈖𓏏𓏞𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓀙𓅱𓀀𓏥𓏶𓅓𓏭𓈖𓏏𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓊖𓊢𓂝𓈖𓆓𓂧𓈖𓆑𓈖𓆑⟨r⟩ ẖnw r rḏi̯.ṱ =f m ꜥ,t-sbꜣ n.t zẖꜣ,w ={f} ⟨m-qꜣb⟩ ms.w.pl sr.w.pl jm,j⟨.pl⟩ ⟨ḥꜣ,t⟩ n.t ẖnw ꜥḥꜥ.n ḏd.n =f n =f
4.2 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓈖𓀀𓈎𓈖𓈎𓈖𓏴𓂡𓊗𓏭𓂞𓂞𓎡𓄣𓏤𓎡𓅓𓐟𓏤𓏞𓅱𓏛𓏥𓂧𓎼𓄿𓁺𓈖𓀀𓈖𓈞𓅓𓅱𓏛𓂡𓁷𓏤𓅡𓎡𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏥𓏛𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓅓𓇉𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓏞𓅱𓏛𓏥𓏇𓏏𓏏𓏛𓁷𓏤𓈗𓊪𓅱𓄞𓂧𓏛𓂡⟨jw⟩ mꜣꜣ.n =j qnqn zp-2 ḏḏ =k jb =k m-sꜣ zẖꜣ,w dgꜣ.n =j nḥm =⟨tw⟩ ḥr bꜣk.w ={f} m =kı͗ nn-wn m-ḥꜣ,w zẖꜣ,w mj,tt ḥr⟨,j⟩ mw pw šdi̯
4.3 𓇋𓂋𓎡𓅓[⯑]𓆎𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓍼𓅠𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏛𓎡𓋭𓊃𓏛𓀁𓊪𓈖𓇋𓅓𓋴𓏏𓅓𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥𓇋𓂋𓏞𓀀𓊨𓏏𓉐𓏏𓅱𓆑𓎟𓏏𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓊖𓂜𓈖𓎛𓅱𓅨𓂋𓅱𓀉𓅪𓆑jr =k m pḥ[,wj] km,yt gmi̯.y =k ṯ(ꜣ)s pn jm =st m-ḏd{.t} jr zẖꜣ ⟨m⟩ s,t.ṱ =f nb.t ⟨n.t⟩ ẖnw nn ḥwrw =f
4.4 𓇋𓅓𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑𓁹𓂋𓆑𓋴𓐟𓄿𓂋𓏏𓀁𓈖𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓂜𓈖𓉐𓂋𓂻𓆑𓊵𓏏𓊪𓅱𓏛𓀀 […] 𓂜𓈖𓉐𓂋𓂻𓆑𓊵𓏏𓊪𓅱𓏛𓀁𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓈖𓀀𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥[⯑]𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥𓋭𓊃𓏛𓂡𓊪𓈖jm =f jw =f jri̯ =f sꜣr,t n ky nn pri̯ =f ḥtp.w […] nn pr(.w) =f ⟨ḥr⟩ ḥtp ⟨n⟩ mꜣꜣ.n =j jꜣw,t m-mj,tt =s[t] ḏd.t ṯ(ꜣ)s pn
4.5 𓇋𓅓𓋴𓏏𓂞𓀀𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓀁𓎡𓏞𓅱𓏛𓏥𓅐𓏏𓁐𓎡𓂞𓀀𓅧𓈎𓂻𓄤𓏤𓏛𓏥𓅓𓁷𓂋𓏤𓅆𓎡𓅨𓂋𓏏𓇓𓅱𓎼𓂋𓏏𓂋𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓎟𓏏𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓅓𓇾𓏤𓈇𓊪𓈖𓆷𓄿𓂝𓏛𓈖𓆑jm =st ḏi̯ =j mri̯.y =k zẖꜣ,w ⟨r⟩ mw,t =k ḏi̯ =j ꜥq nfr.pl =⟨st⟩ m-ḥr =k wr{t} sw{t} gr,t r jꜣw,t nb.t nn-wn ⟨mj,tt⟩ =⟨st⟩ m tꜣ pn ⟨mdwi̯.t⟩ šꜣꜥ.n =f
4.6 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓅓𓄡𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓏏𓅱𓐩𓏌𓀁𓐍𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓏏𓅱𓆑𓏏𓅱𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓆑𓂋𓁹𓂋𓏏𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏴𓀁𓏥𓂜𓈖𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂻𓆑𓂞𓆑𓇓𓅱𓅓𓂧𓄿𓇋𓅱𓈀𓏤𓍱𓂜𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓈖𓀀⟨wḏ⟩ jw =f m ẖrd,w{.pl} tw ⟨r⟩ nḏ ḫr,t.ṱ =f tw ⟨r⟩ hꜣb =f r jri̯.t wpw,t.pl n{n} jy⟨.t⟩ =f ḏi̯ =f sw m dꜣj,w n mꜣꜣ.n =j
4.7 𓌟𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓏥𓅓𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏴𓀁𓋞𓃀𓇋𓇋𓅱𓈖𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓆑𓇋𓅱𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓈖𓀀𓈔𓏏𓏭𓅂𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓅡𓎡𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓂋𓂋𓏤𓈖𓁷𓂋𓇋𓇋𓐡𓏏𓉐𓊮𓉐𓆑gn,wtj{.pl} m wpw,t nb,yw{n}{.pl} hꜣb =f jw mꜣꜣ.n =j ḥmt,j{.pl} ḥr bꜣk.w =f r rʾ n(,j) ḥr,yt =f
4.8 𓂭𓂭𓂭𓆑𓏭𓏇𓇋𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓆊𓏥𓐍𓈖𓈙𓆝𓅪𓇓𓂋𓋴𓎛𓅱𓏏𓆇𓂋𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆝𓏥𓍍𓅱𓅱𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓎟𓏏𓅷𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂷𓂡[⯑]𓅨𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀉𓅪ḏbꜥ.pl =fj mj ḫ,t mzḥ.pl ḫnš sw r s⟨w⟩ḥ{w},t rrm.pl ḥmw.w{.pl} nb{.t} ṯꜣi̯.y ꜥn[,t] wrd.w
4.9 𓇓𓅱𓂋𓏠𓈖𓇋𓇋𓏏𓌸𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓄿𓎛𓏏𓈇𓏥𓏏𓅱𓆑𓅓𓆱𓏏𓏤𓆑𓅓𓈔𓈒𓏥𓅓𓎼𓂋𓎛𓏏𓇰𓇳𓏤𓈖𓈞𓅓𓅱𓂡𓆑𓁹𓈖𓆑𓅓𓇉𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥sw r mny,t(j){.pl} ꜣḥ,t{.pl}.ṱ =f m ḫt ={f} ⟨ḥnn⟩ =⟨f⟩ m ḥmt m grḥ nḥm =f jri̯.n =f {m-}ḥꜣ,w
English
3.9 […] The beginning of the teaching composed by a man of Tjaru named Khety, son of Duaef, for his son named Pepi. Now he was sailing upstream
4.1 toward the Residence to place him in the school of writing among the children of the officials who stood at the head of the Residence. Then he said to him:
4.2 “I have seen beatings. Set your heart on writing: I have seen that it saves a man from labor. Look, nothing surpasses writing. It is like one who is on the water. Read
4.3 at the end of the Kemit, and you will find this saying there: ‘As for a scribe in any post in the Residence, he will not be miserable
4.4 there. He fulfills another’s wishes. Will he not come away satisfied? […] There is no excess to his satisfaction.’ I have seen no profession like it of which this saying may be spoken.
4.5 I will make you love writing more than your mother. I will bring its beauty before your eyes. It is greater than any other profession. Nothing like it exists in this land of which one may speak. He began
4.6 to command when he was still a child. He is greeted and sent out to carry messages; before he returns he appears in a linen kilt. I have never seen
4.7 a sculptor entrusted with a message or a goldsmith sent out. But I have seen the coppersmith at work at the mouth of his furnace.
4.8 His fingers are like the limbs of crocodiles; he stinks more than fish eggs. Every craftsman who takes up an adze is wearier
4.9 than the fieldworker. His field is wood, his hoe is copper. He even takes possession of the night; he has done more than his arms can bear.
Cutters, Barbers, and Potters Suffer
Egyptian
5.1 𓏌𓏤𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓁷𓏤𓁹𓂋𓏏𓅓𓎼𓂋𓎛𓏏𓇰𓇳𓏤𓋴𓏏𓍔𓄿𓅱𓊮𓉐𓆑𓄟𓋴𓅱𓏴𓏥𓉻𓏏𓏴𓊌𓏥𓁷𓏤𓅓𓏠𓈖𓐍𓏏𓍊𓏛𓅓𓉻𓏏𓏴𓊌𓎟𓏏𓂋𓂧𓌗𓏛𓐖𓈖𓏛𓈖𓆑n{.w} ꜥ.wj.du =fj ḥr jri̯.t m grḥ stꜣ =f ms.w-ꜥꜣ,t ḥr ⟨whb⟩ m mnḫ,t m ꜥꜣ,t nb.t r(w)d(.t) ꜥḏn.n =f
5.2 𓎔𓏛𓏌𓏤𓄿𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓂝𓈎𓅱𓏴𓅪𓅨𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀉𓅪𓇓𓅱𓇋𓅱𓈞𓊃𓀔𓏏𓅱𓁷𓏤𓅧𓈎𓅱𓈀𓏥𓏌𓏤⯑𓂝𓇳𓅆[⯑]𓆑𓄿𓏏𓄦𓄹𓆑mḥ n{.w} ꜣḫ,t ꜥ.wj.du =fj ꜣq.w wrd.w sw jw ḥmsi̯ =tw ḥr ꜥq,w n.w Rꜥ mꜣs,tj.du =f ꜣ,t =f
5.3 𓅱𓂝𓅱𓆑𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓄡𓂝𓈎𓅱𓍜𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓄡𓂝𓈎𓅱𓍜𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓅓𓄖𓅱𓏭𓂻𓅓𓂝𓈙𓂋𓃭𓃭𓇰𓇳𓏤𓂞𓂞𓆑𓇓𓅱𓈖[⯑]𓂞𓂞𓆑𓇓𓅱wꜥf{.pl} ẖꜥq,w{.pl} ḥr ẖꜥq{.w.pl} m pḥ,wj mšr,w{rw} ḏḏ =f sw n ꜥmy,t ḏḏ =f sw
5.4 𓁷𓏥𓈎𓂝𓎛𓂢𓏏𓏤𓄹𓆑𓂞𓂞𓆑𓇓𓅱𓂋𓌸𓂋𓉕𓏏𓉐𓏥𓂋𓌸𓂋𓉕𓏏𓉐𓏥𓂋𓅱𓆼𓄿𓐍𓂻𓂋𓄡𓂝𓈎𓅱𓍜𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓆑𓈎𓈖𓋔𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓆑𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓂋𓎔𓏛𓄡𓏏𓏤𓄹𓆑ḥr qꜥḥ,t =f ḏḏ =f sw r mr,t{.pl} r mr,t{.pl} r wḫꜣḫ r:ẖꜥq.w{.pl} =f qnn{.pl} =f ꜥ.wj.du =fj r mḥ ẖ,t =f
5.5 𓏇𓇋𓆤𓏏𓀗𓏊𓏥𓏶𓅓𓅱𓀁𓂋𓂓𓏏𓀗𓀋𓏛𓏥𓋴𓏏𓃀𓎁𓏏𓏏𓇋𓇋𓅱𓐎𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓐍𓂧𓊛𓆑𓂋𓇋𓂧𓎛𓅱𓇇𓆰𓏥𓊖𓂋𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡𓈖𓆑𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌕𓏛𓏥𓁹𓈖𓆑mj bj,t{.pl} wnm(.t) r kꜣ,t =st bṯy,w{.pl} ḫdi̯ =f r jdḥ,w r jṯi̯(.t) n =f swn.pl jri̯.n =f
5.6 𓅓𓇉𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥𓏌𓏤𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓁷𓏤𓁹𓂋𓏏𓋴𓌳𓄿𓅓𓅱𓌪𓂡𓈖𓇓𓅱𓐍𓈖𓅓𓅓𓋴𓀛𓅯𓏛𓏥𓐍𓅓𓇋𓇋𓅯𓏛𓏥𓆑𓇓𓅱𓆑𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓅱𓆓𓂝𓐣𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥{m-}ḥꜣ,w n{.w} ꜥ.wj.du =fj ḥr jri̯.t smꜣm.n sw ḫnms{.pl} ḫmy{.pl} ⟨sft⟩ =f sw ⟨fn⟩ =f ḫr wnn =⟨f⟩ wḏꜥ{.pl}
5.7 𓇋𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓀨𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓈖𓆓𓊃𓏏𓀗𓅪𓏥𓄡𓂋𓄿𓎛𓏏𓈇𓏥𓋴𓊢𓂝𓅱𓇳𓏤𓆑𓅓𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅱𓀀𓏥𓐍𓅓𓂝𓅱𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥 […] 𓇓𓅱𓂋𓆷𓄿𓅱𓏏𓆰𓂋𓆷𓄿𓇋𓅱𓄛𓏥𓂋[⯑]jqd{.pl}-nḏs,t ẖr ꜣḥ,t {s}ꜥḥꜥ,w =f m ꜥnḫ{.pl} ḫmꜥ{w.pl} […] ḫm{ꜥw.pl} sw r šꜣ,wt r šꜣj.w.pl r psst
5.8 𓆑𓎛𓃀𓋴𓏏𓍱𓏥𓏏𓅱𓆑𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓏏𓅱𓅓𓂝𓉻𓂝𓄿𓎼𓄿𓋴𓅱𓍱𓏥𓆑𓅓𓅧𓈎𓂻𓊡𓅱𓏥𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓄹𓆑𓉐𓂋𓂻𓋴𓏏𓍔𓄿𓅱𓊮𓉐𓆑={f} ⟨qrḥ,t⟩ =⟨f⟩ ḥbs,t.ṱ =f nḫt.tw m-ꜥ ⟨dbn⟩ ꜥꜣgꜣs,w =f m ⟨stp⟩ ꜥq ṯꜣw ⟨r⟩ {s}fnd =f pri̯ ={s} ⟨m⟩ tꜣw =f
5.9 𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓀀𓇋𓅱𓆑𓁷𓏤𓅓𓂋𓂧𓂾𓂾𓄹𓆑𓋴𓈞𓅓𓅱𓂡𓇋𓅓𓆑𓆓𓊃𓆑𓐍𓅓𓂝𓅱𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓉔𓏤𓉐𓈖𓉐𓏤𓎟𓏏𓃛𓅱𓏏𓉐𓏥wḏꜣ ={j} jw =f ḥr ⟨tjtj⟩ m rd.du =f sḥm,w jm =f ḏs =f ḫmꜥ{w.pl} h n(,j) pr nb{.t} ḥwi̯ jw(y),t{.pl}
English
5.1 He sets his arms to work. It is night that he lights up. The maker of stone ornaments bores with a chisel into every hard gemstone. When he has finished
5.2 one cubit of fine work, his arms are ruined and he is exhausted. A man sits over the food of Re, his knees and back bent.
5.3 The barber shaves until late evening. He sets himself against the throat, he sets himself
5.4 against the shoulder. He goes from street to street in search of someone to shave. He strains his arms to fill his belly,
5.5 like a bee that eats in proportion to its work. The reed cutter sails downstream to the Delta marshes to gather arrow shafts for himself. When he has done
5.6 far more than his arms should do, mosquitoes slaughter him. Sand flies tear him apart and leave him weak; then he is cut to pieces.
5.7 The potter is beneath the earth though he is still alive. […] He wallows among the garden plants more than pigs, to fire
5.8 his pottery. His clothing is stiff with clay, his work belt a mere rag. Air enters his nostrils straight out of his kiln,
5.9 unscathed. He tramples with his feet; he himself becomes the pestle. Every house’s courtyard is torn up; its precinct is beaten down.
Wall Builders and Gardeners Suffer
Egyptian
6.1 𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓎡𓏇𓇋𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓀨𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓇋𓆛𓈖𓃀𓅱𓊅𓈇𓏤𓍋𓅓𓂋𓅪𓂧𓊪𓏏𓄓𓀁𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓈖𓆑𓅓𓂋𓅱𓏏𓏭𓇯𓈖𓋴𓅓𓌳𓐙𓂝𓏏𓊡𓅱𓏥𓇋𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓀨𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓆑ḏd =j n =k mj qd{.pl} jnb mḥr dp.t =⟨f⟩ ḫr wnn =f m-rw,tj n {s}mꜣꜥ,t jqd{.pl} =f
6.2 𓅓𓂧𓄿𓇋𓅱𓈀𓏤𓍱𓉻𓂝𓄿𓎼𓄿𓋴𓅱𓍱𓅓𓈖𓄖𓅱𓏭𓂻𓆑𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭[⯑][⯑]𓀀𓅓𓏠𓈖𓐍𓏏𓍊𓏛𓈙𓃀𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏴𓈇𓏥𓎛𓋴𓃀𓅱𓐎𓏏𓏤𓆑m dꜣj,w ꜥꜣgꜣsw =⟨f⟩ m ⟨sšn,t⟩ ⟨n⟩ ⟨⸮ꜣ,t?⟩ ⟨⸮jw?⟩ ⟨wꜣ⟩ n pḥ,wj =f ꜥ.wj.du =f ꜣq ⟨ḥr⟩ ⸢jni̯⸣ ={j} m mnḫ{,t} ⟨ḥr⟩ šbn ḥs{b,w} ={f}
6.3 𓎟𓏏𓏶𓅓𓀁𓆑𓏏𓏐𓈀𓏥𓂭𓂭𓂭𓆑𓏭𓇋𓂝𓈗𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓆑𓇓𓅱𓁷𓏤𓄡𓏏𓂋𓇋𓆴𓇳𓌡𓂝𓏤𓀀𓄡𓋴𓅪𓏭𓇓𓅱𓂋[⯑][⯑]𓊃𓈖𓈖𓏭𓏒𓂻𓈙𓊪𓅱𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐nb{.t} wnm =f tʾ ⟨m⟩ ḏbꜥ.pl =fj jꜥi̯{.pl} =f sw ḥr {ẖ}trj wꜥ ẖsj sw r mt(j) rʾ-sj snn {š}pw m ꜥ,t ((m)) ((ꜥ,t))
6.4 𓈖𓏏𓂋𓎔𓂢𓎆𓂋𓎔𓂢𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓏤𓊃𓈖𓈖𓏭𓏒𓂻𓈙𓊪𓅱[⯑][⯑]𓈖𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓉐𓏥𓁹𓅱[⯑]𓋴𓏏[⯑][⯑]n,t⟨t⟩ r mḥ 10 r mḥ 6 snn {š}pw ꜣbd [m-sꜣ] [s]wꜣḥ [zb.pl] [m] ⟨sšn,t⟩ nꜣy,t.pl jri̯ [kꜣ,t] =st nb[.t] [j]r
6.5 𓅧𓈎𓅱𓈀𓏥𓂞𓆑𓇓𓅱𓈖𓉐𓏤𓆑𓊪𓈖𓈎𓈖𓏴𓂡𓊗𓏭𓄡𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑𓂓𓂋𓇋𓅱𓇭𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓏎𓈖𓈖𓂻𓌳𓄿𓎗𓅱𓂢𓆱[⯑]𓆑𓎟𓏏ꜥq,w ḏi̯ =f sw n pr =f pnq{n} zp-2 ⟨n⟩ ẖrd.w.pl =f kꜣr,yw{.pl} ḥr jn{n} ⟨mw⟩ ⟨m⟩ mꜣwḏ [qꜥ]ḥ{,t} =f nb{.t}
6.6 𓌨𓂋𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌙𓀗𓐍𓏥𓀀𓅨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓁷𓏤𓅘𓎛𓃀𓏏𓄹𓏴𓀭𓆑𓇋𓅱𓋴𓏏𓁷𓏤𓁹𓂋𓏏𓎙𓂧𓅱𓐎𓏥𓋴𓇼𓄿𓇳𓏤𓆑𓁷𓃛𓅱𓎛𓂝𓈗𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥ẖr tnw ={j} ⟨ꜥꜣ,t⟩ wr.t ḥr nḥb,t =f jw =st ḥr jri̯.t ꜥḏ,w sdwꜣ =f [ḥr] jwḥ{.pl}
6.7 𓇋𓄿𓈎𓏏𓆰𓅓𓂝𓈙𓂋𓃭𓅱𓇰𓇳𓏤𓆷𓄿𓅱𓏏𓆰𓏥𓁹𓈖𓆑[⯑]𓂋𓇳𓏤𓅓𓐟𓏤𓆑𓅓𓏏𓏏𓁐𓆑𓂋𓈖𓀁jꜣq,t ⟨s⟩mšrw =⟨f⟩ ⟨ḥr⟩ šꜣw,t jri̯.n =f ḥr[,j-jb] [h]rw m-sꜣ ={f} ⟨ḫt-bnr⟩ ⟨⸮ḫm.n?⟩ mw,t =f rn =[f] ⟨m⟩ [tnw] ⟨r⟩
6.8 𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓎟𓏏𓌤𓅱𓏏𓏭𓅂𓂡𓀀𓏥𓎛𓋴𓃀𓅱𓐎𓏥𓆑𓂋𓈖𓅘𓎛𓇳𓎛𓈎𓄿𓀠𓏛𓊤𓅱𓀁𓂝𓃀𓃂𓅯𓏥𓂭𓂭𓂭𓆑𓏭𓁹𓏥𓀀𓆑𓏭jꜣw,t nb.t ꜥḥ,wtj{.pl} ḥsb{.w} =f r-nḥḥ qꜣi̯ ḫrw =⟨f⟩ ⟨r⟩ ꜥb ḏbꜥ.pl =fj jri̯ ={j} ⟨m⟩ ={fj} ⟨ꜥꜣ,t⟩
6.9 𓎟𓈖𓋴𓎛𓃀𓅱𓊡𓅱𓏥𓆑𓇓𓅱𓂋𓂸𓏏𓂋𓏏𓂭𓂭𓀁𓂋𓇋𓂧𓎛𓅱𓇇𓆰⯑𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓈖𓆑⟨ẖr⟩ ⟨⸮ḥꜣw?⟩ nb n sḥb,w ={f} ⟨wrḏ⟩ sw r-mtr{,t}-r jdḥ,w ḫr wnn =f
English
6.1 I will tell you also of the builder of walls. Painful is what he endures. He must be outside in the wind, building
6.2 in a linen kilt. His work belt is a cord across his back, a band around his buttocks. His arms are spent from carrying […] and mixing every kind of filth.
6.3 He eats bread with his fingers, washing himself only once. He is wretched indeed. He passes by a chamber within a chamber
6.4 that measures 10 cubits by 6 cubits. He passes a month laying beams with the weaver’s cords and doing all the work on it. As for
6.5 food, he gives it to his household, apportioned in full among his children. The gardener fetches water with a carrying yoke; each shoulder
6.6 is afflicted by wear. A great swelling rises on his neck and gives off pus. He spends the morning watering
6.7 leeks, the evening over garden plants, the middle of the day among fruit trees. His mother does not even know his name, unlike
6.8 every other profession. The fieldworker counts forever. His voice is louder than a pigeon’s. His fingers have become swellings
6.9 from every weather-borne affliction. He is exhausted near the Delta marshes. He must be
Weavers, Arrow-Makers, and Messengers Struggle
Egyptian
7.1 𓅓𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓆑𓀀𓅓𓂝𓌳𓄿𓇋𓅱𓄛𓏥𓍋𓅓𓂋𓅪𓇋𓂋𓆑𓋴𓈖𓏥𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓇋𓅓𓅓𓆷𓏤𓈇𓏤𓆰𓏥m ⟨stp⟩ wḏꜣ =f ={j} ⟨wḏꜣ⟩ m-ꜥ mꜣj.w.pl mḥr ⟨db⟩ jr =f ={sn} ⟨hꜣw,t⟩ =⟨f⟩ ⟨m-ẖnw⟩ =⟨sn⟩ spr =f jm m šꜣ
7.2 𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓂋𓉐𓏤𓆑𓄿𓈙𓂋𓃭𓅱𓇰𓇳𓏤𓅱𓆓𓂝𓂭𓐣𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓈖𓇓𓅱𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓐖𓈖𓏌𓅱𓇋𓇋𓅱𓎅𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓈖𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓉐𓏥𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪𓇓𓅱spr =f r pr =f ⟨m⟩ {ꜣ}⟨m⟩šr,w wḏꜥ{.pl}.n sw šm(.t) qn,yw{.pl} m-ẖnw nꜣy,t bjn sw
7.3 𓂋𓊃𓊃𓁐𓈞𓏏𓁐𓌳𓄿𓊨𓏏𓏭𓂾𓂾𓄹𓆑𓂋𓂋𓏤𓈖𓄣𓏤𓆑𓂜𓈖𓏏𓊪𓇋𓂉𓂡𓈖𓆑𓊡𓅱𓏥𓇋𓂋𓐍𓃀𓅯𓐎𓂝𓏏𓅱𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓌦𓐍𓏏𓏴𓂡𓏏𓅱𓇋𓏏𓎛𓅱𓏛𓂡𓆑𓊃𓈙𓈖𓏭𓆸r z,t-ḥm,t mꜣs,tj.du =⸢f⸣ r rʾ-⸮⸢n⸣?-jb =f nn tpj.n =f ((ṯꜣw)) jr ḫbꜣ.tw hrw ⟨nn⟩ sḫt{tw} jtḥw =f sšnj
7.4 𓅓𓈘𓈇𓏤𓀀𓅧𓈎𓅱𓈀𓏥𓏌𓏤𓇋𓂋𓏭𓀸𓉿𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂞𓏏𓊪𓏏𓂋𓇋𓆳𓁺𓆑𓏏𓄿𓎛𓆓𓇳𓇶𓏥𓁹𓅱𓂚𓄿𓂡𓌕𓆱𓏥𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓄹𓆑𓂋𓏤𓋴𓏭𓈐𓁷𓏤𓉐𓂋𓂻m mr ={j} ⟨jw⟩ =⟨f⟩ ⟨ḏi̯⟩ =⟨f⟩ ꜥq,w n{.w} jr,j-ꜥꜣ.pl [r] ḏi̯.t ptrj =f tꜣ ḥḏ(w,t) jri̯,w-ꜥḥꜣ.pl {s}fn{d} =f rʾ-sj ḥr pri̯(.t)
7.5 𓂋𓈉𓏏𓏤𓇋𓅱𓅨𓂋𓂞𓂞𓇋𓇋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓈖𓄿𓉻𓂸𓏏𓀗𓃫𓄛𓏤𓏥𓇋𓅱𓅨𓂋𓂞𓂞𓇋𓇋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑𓈖𓄿𓏶𓅓𓏏𓆷𓈇𓂞𓂞𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏥𓇓𓅱𓁷𓏤𓈐𓏏𓏤𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓇋𓅓𓅓𓅓𓆷𓈇𓏤𓆰𓏥r ḫꜣs,t jw wr ḏḏ.yw =f ⟨n⟩ nꜣ ꜥꜣ,t.pl jw wr ḏḏ.yw =f ⟨n⟩ nꜣ jm,j{t}⟨.pl⟩-šꜣ ḏḏ.yw.pl sw ḥr wꜣ,t spr =f jm m šꜣ
7.6 𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓂋𓉐𓏤𓆑𓄿𓈙𓂋𓃭𓅱𓇰𓇳𓏤𓅱𓆓𓂝𓐣𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓈖𓇓𓅱𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓋴𓐍𓐍𓏏𓏭𓂿𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓉐𓂋𓂻𓂋𓈉𓏏𓏤𓄿𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓏏𓅱𓆑spr =f r pr =f ⟨m⟩ {ꜣ}⟨m⟩šr,w wḏꜥ{.pl}.n sw šm.t sḫḫ,tj{.pl} ḥr pri̯ r ḫꜣs,t ⟨swḏ⟩ ꜣḫ,t.ṱ =f
7.7 𓈖𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓆑𓋴𓈖𓂧𓅱𓅾𓀁𓏥𓅓𓌳𓄿𓇋𓅱𓄛𓏥𓎛𓈖𓂝𓌙𓅓𓅱𓏛𓂡𓇓𓅱𓂋𓆑𓇋𓅱𓆑𓁷𓏤𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓇋𓅓𓅓𓆷𓈇𓏤𓆰𓏥𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑n ms.w.pl =f snd,w m mꜣj.w.pl ḥnꜥ ꜥꜣm.w⟨.pl⟩ ⟨rḫ⟩ =⟨f⟩ sw r =f jw =f ḥr Km,t spr =f jm m šꜣ spr =f
7.8 𓂋𓉐𓏤𓆑𓄿𓈙𓂋𓃭𓅱𓇰𓇳𓏤𓅱𓆓𓂝𓂭𓐣𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓈖𓇓𓅱𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓇋𓅱𓆑𓉐𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓂻𓆑𓅯𓄿𓇋𓇋𓆑𓂧𓄿𓇋𓅱𓏳𓏤𓍱𓂧𓃀𓏏𓊌𓇍𓇋𓇋𓏭𓂻𓆑𓋴𓇛𓅓𓏛𓄣𓏤r pr =f ⟨m⟩ {ꜣ}⟨m⟩šr,w wḏꜥ{.pl}.n sw šm.t jw =f pri̯{.y} =f pꜣy =f dꜣjw ⟨m⟩ db,t ⟨nn⟩ jy =f snḏm jb
7.9 𓋴𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓇋𓇋𓅱𓐎𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂭𓂭𓂭𓆑𓏭𓎛𓍯𓄿𓅱𓐎𓏥𓋴𓏏𓏭𓐎𓏥𓇋𓂋𓏭𓀸𓏛𓀀𓅓𓂝𓆞𓄿𓅱𓄓𓏥𓁹𓁹𓆑𓏭𓅱𓂝𓄿𓏛𓂡𓅓𓂝𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓀔𓅪𓈖𓀀stn.yw{.pl} ḏbꜥ.pl =fj ḥwꜣ stj jr,j m{ꜥ} ẖꜣ,wt.pl jr,t.du =fj wꜥw⟨ꜥ⟩ m-ꜥ ḥwrw{.n} ={j}
English
7.1 in rags. He survives among lions; the hippopotamus is savage toward him. His shelter stands amid them when he reaches the marsh.
7.2 When he reaches home in the evening, walking has worn him out. The weaver in his workshop fares worse than a woman.
7.3 His knees are pressed against his belly; he cannot breathe. If a day passes without weaving, he must pull a lotus from the pool.
7.4 He gives food to the doorkeepers so that he may see the daylight. The arrow-maker is deeply miserable when he goes out
7.5 into the desert: great is what he gives the donkeys, great what he gives the marsh dwellers who guide him along the road. He arrives there in the marsh;
7.6 when he reaches home in the evening, walking has worn him out. The messenger goes out into the desert after leaving his property
7.7 to his children. Afraid of lions and Asiatics, he knows himself again only when he is back in Egypt. He arrives there in the marsh; when he reaches
7.8 home in the evening, walking has worn him out. He leaves with his linen kilt tied up in a bundle; he will not return with a glad heart.
7.9 The charcoal burner’s fingers are decayed; their smell is the smell of corpses. His eyes are narrowed by his wretchedness.
Washers, Bird Catchers, and Fishermen
Egyptian
8.1 𓂻𓈖𓆑𓍙𓆑𓂡𓆑𓅭𓏏𓏤𓆑𓅨𓂋𓈙𓇳𓏤𓆑𓈙𓂝𓂧𓄦𓌪𓂡𓃀𓅱𓏏𓐎𓏥𓆑𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓍱𓏥𓋸𓅱𓅱𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓃀𓇋𓈖𓅪𓇓𓅱𓂋𓋴𓏭𓈐𓆑nn ={f} ḫsf =f zꜣ,t =f wrš =f ⟨⸮ḥr?⟩ šꜥd ⟨jz⟩ bw,t =f ⟨pw⟩ ḥbs,w ṯbww{.pl} bjn sw rsj ={f} ⟨ẖr⟩ ⟨dbḥ⟩ =⟨f⟩
8.2 𓅓𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓆑𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓀀𓅓𓂝𓆞𓄿𓅱𓄓𓏥𓊪𓊃𓎛𓏏𓎺𓄑𓀁𓏥𓆑𓇋𓄟𓋴𓂓𓄿𓅱𓄛𓏥𓅹𓏏𓏭𓅂𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓅹𓏏𓏭𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤[⯑]m ⟨nḥḥ⟩ wḏꜣ =f wḏꜣ =j m-ꜥ ẖꜣ,wt.pl psḥ.t =f ⟨m⟩ {j}mskꜣ.w.pl rḫt,j{.pl} ḥr rḫt{.pl} ḥr mr[y],t
8.3 𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓂻𓇾𓏤𓈇𓅓𓏃𓈖𓏏𓏭𓍘𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊛𓆊𓏥𓉐𓂋𓂻𓆑𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀𓁷𓏤𓈗𓂜𓈖𓍙𓆑𓂡𓆑𓅭𓏏𓏤𓆑𓂜𓈖𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏛𓏥sꜣḥ-tꜣ m ḫnt,y{t}.pl pri̯ ={f} jt ḥr mw ⟨ꜥḏ⟩ nn ḫsf =f zꜣ,t =f nn jꜣw,t ḥtp(.t)
8.4 𓅓𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌙𓅯𓏛𓏥𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓎟𓏏𓈙𓃀𓃀𓏴𓈇𓏥𓁷𓏤𓈙𓃀𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏴𓏛𓏥𓁷𓏤𓆑𓀀𓀀𓆑𓂞𓂞𓆑m-ḥr =k m{ꜥ} tnw(.t) ⟨r⟩ jꜣw,t nb.t šbb ḥr šbn ḥr ={f} ⟨ḥs⟩ ={j} ={j} ={f} ⟨nn⟩ ⟨ꜥ,t⟩ ⟨wꜥb(.t)⟩ ⟨jm⟩ =⟨f⟩ ḏḏ =f
8.5 𓅓𓂧𓄿𓇋𓅱𓈀𓏤𓍱𓊃𓏏𓁐𓈞𓏏𓁐𓏥𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓈖𓆑𓅓𓍖𓏤𓅪𓏥𓂋𓅓𓇋𓇋𓁺𓎡𓅨𓂋𓈙𓇳𓏤𓆑𓅓𓂝𓎼𓄿𓏏𓆱𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏎𓈖𓈖𓀀𓇋𓅓𓎡𓆓𓂧𓏏𓅱⟨sw⟩ m dꜣj,w z,t-ḥm,t{.pl} ḫr wnn =f m ḥzmn =⟨st⟩ rmi̯.y ={k} =⟨f⟩ wršu̯ =f ⟨m⟩ mgꜣ,t jw =j jn{n} =j jm =k ḏd =tw ⟨šꜣm⟩
8.6 𓈖𓎡𓅓𓋴𓐍𓂋𓅱𓀒𓂡𓊃𓊪𓊗𓂏𓇋𓅓𓎡𓊠𓂝𓅱𓅻𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅯𓏥𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓏤𓄹𓆑𓂋𓏤𓋴𓏭𓈐𓃀𓅱𓅠𓅓𓏛𓆑n =k m sḫr sp,t jm =k wḥꜥ{.pl} ꜣpd.w.pl {s}fn{d} =f rʾ-sj ((bw)) gmi̯ =f ⟨jr,j.pl-p,t⟩
8.7 𓇋𓂋𓏴𓅱𓅱𓈇𓏤𓅓𓁷𓏤𓎡𓐍𓂋𓆑𓆓𓂧𓆑𓇉𓄿𓈖𓏥𓂋𓏤𓀁𓇋𓄿𓂧𓏏𓏴𓍱𓏥𓂜𓈖𓂋𓂝𓅱𓄣𓏤𓊹𓅆𓆣𓂋𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏛𓏥𓆑𓅱𓋴𓄿𓆑𓏏𓅯𓅪𓏥𓋴𓐍𓂋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓆑jr swꜣ ⟨ẖnm,w⟩ m-ḥr ={k} =⟨f⟩ ḫr =f ḏd =f ḥꜣ~n~rʾ jꜣd,t nn rḏi̯{w} jb nṯr ḫpr,w =f wsfꜣ{t} sḫr.w =f
8.8 𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓎡𓏇𓇋𓊠𓂝𓅱𓅻𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂋𓂋𓅓𓅱𓆝𓏥𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓏤𓄹𓆑𓂋𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓎟𓏏𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓅓𓅡𓎡𓅱𓏛𓏥𓅓𓇋𓏏𓅱𓂋𓏥𓈘𓈇𓈙𓃀𓈖𓏌𓅱𓏴𓏛𓏥ḏd =j n =k mj wḥꜥ{.pl} rrm.w.pl {s}fn{d} =f r jꜣw,t nb.t nn-wn m bꜣk.w =⟨f⟩ m jtrw šbn
8.9 𓎛𓈖𓂝𓅓𓋴𓎛𓅱𓆊𓏥𓇋𓂋𓐍𓃀𓅯𓄿𓐎𓂝𓏏𓅱𓋬𓂧𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤𓈖𓏏𓏭𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓈖𓅓𓈖𓐍𓅱𓏏𓀁𓏥𓂜𓈖𓆓𓂧𓈖𓏏𓅱𓅓𓋴𓎛𓅱𓆊ḥnꜥ msḥ.w.pl jr ḫbꜣ.tw dmḏ,yt n.tj ⟨jp,t⟩ =⟨f⟩ ḫr wnn =⟨f⟩ m nḫ,wt nn ḏd.n =tw msḥ
English
8.1 He cannot keep his daughter safe. He spends the day cutting reeds; clothes are hateful to him. The sandal-maker fares badly, burdened with his jars.
8.2 If he remains unharmed, I shall remain unharmed by corpses. What he bites is animal hides. The washerman washes on the riverbank;
8.3 the crocodiles are his neighbors. When the father goes out upon the rushing water, he cannot protect his daughter. Is there no profession you find satisfying
8.4 above all the rest? Whoever handles filth in his washing has no clean limb left on him. When he wears a woman’s kilt,
8.5 he is among her menstrual blood. He longs to weep, spending the day with his washing bat. I turn to you. People say, “The dirty laundry is yours.”
8.6 Do not let the riverbank collapse beneath you! The bird catcher fares miserably: he finds no birds of the sky.
8.7 When flocks pass before him, he says, “If only I had a net!” The heart of the god will not permit his change of fortune, for his plans are feeble.
8.8 I will tell you also of the fisherman. He is more miserable than men of any other profession. His work is in the river, amid
8.9 crocodiles. When the sum of his dues is deducted, he must lament. No one can say, “The crocodile is there,” for fear has blinded him.
Scribal Superiority and Proper Conduct
Egyptian
9.1 𓊢𓂝𓂻𓈙𓊪𓅱𓁺𓈖𓇓𓅱𓋴𓈖𓂧𓅱𓅾𓀁𓏥𓊪𓂋𓂻𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀𓁷𓏤𓈗𓊪𓅱𓐍𓂋𓆑𓏇𓇋𓅢𓊹𓅆𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓂜𓈖𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓆄𓅱𓏴𓅪𓐍𓂋𓊪𓅱𓌂𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥ꜥḥꜥ špw.n sw snd.w ⟨jr⟩ pri̯ jt ḥr mw pw ⟨ꜥḏ⟩ ḫr =f ((mj)) bꜣ.pl nṯr m =kı͗ nn jꜣw,t šwi̯(.t) ⟨m⟩ ḫrp.w{.pl}
9.2 𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏴𓀁𓏞𓀀𓏥𓅓𓈖𓏏𓆑𓐍𓂋𓊪𓅱𓌂𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓇋𓂋𓇓𓅱𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎡𓅱𓀀𓏞𓅱𓏛𓏥𓐍𓂋𓃹𓈖𓈖𓆑𓅓𓄤𓆑𓂋𓈖𓎡𓋴𓏏𓂜𓈖𓇋𓄿𓅱𓏏𓊑𓏛𓏥𓀀𓅓𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛wpw{,t} zẖꜣ,w{.pl} mntf ḫrp.w{.pl} jr sw[t] rḫ =kw zẖꜣ,w ḫr wnn =f m nfr n =k st nn jꜣw,t ={j} ⟨ḏḏ.t⟩ m-ḥr =k m =kı͗ ⟨jr,j⟩
9.3 𓎛𓅨𓂋𓅱𓀔𓅪𓀀𓂜𓈖𓆓𓂧𓈖𓏏𓅱𓌤𓅱𓏏𓏭𓅂𓂡𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓊃𓀀𓏤𓊪𓈖𓅓𓀸𓄿𓅱𓏛𓂡𓀀𓏥𓇋𓂋𓎡𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓁹𓂋𓋴𓏏𓅓𓏃𓈖𓏏𓏭𓍘𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊛ḥwrw ={j} ⟨r⟩ ⟨jr,j⟩ nn ḏd.n =tw ꜥḥ,wtj{.pl} ḥr z pn m zꜣw{.pl} jr =k m =kı͗ jri̯ =st m ḫnti̯.yt ⟨r⟩
9.4 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓊖𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓁹𓂋𓏏𓋴𓏏𓈖𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓀁𓎡𓅜𓐍𓏛𓈖𓎡𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓂡𓉐𓇋𓅱𓂋𓈖𓅘𓎛𓇳𓎛𓂓𓏏𓀗𓀋𓏛𓏥𓋴𓏏𓈋𓅱𓅱𓊌𓏥𓇋𓅱𓋴𓏏𓄿𓊄𓐎𓏥𓀀ẖnw m =kı͗ jri̯{.t} =st n mry =k ꜣḫ n =k hrw m ꜥ,t-sbꜣ jw {r-}nḥḥ ⟨m⟩ kꜣ,t ={st} ḏw.w jw =st ꜣs
9.5 𓊗𓏭𓂞𓀀𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎡𓂞𓀀𓌸𓂋𓇋𓇋𓀁𓋴𓋴𓉔𓊪𓂻𓃀𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓆙𓆓𓂧𓀀𓈖𓎡𓏇𓇋𓎡𓏏𓐍𓏴𓏛𓏥𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀗𓀁𓏥𓂋𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓂡𓎡𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎡𓏇𓇋𓃀𓅱𓂚𓄿𓂡𓏏𓆑𓈖𓎡zp-2 ḏi̯ =j rḫ =k ḏi̯ =j mri̯.y =⟨k⟩ s{s}⟨n⟩hp btn ḏd =j n =k mj k,t-ḫ(,t) md,t.pl r sbꜣ =k rḫ =k mj bw ꜥḥꜣ =t{f}⟨w⟩ n =k
9.6 𓈖𓈖𓏏𓏭𓅂𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂧𓃀𓏏𓊌𓁷𓏤𓋴𓐍𓂋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓇋𓂋𓅷𓄿𓇋𓇋𓂷𓂡𓏏𓅱𓂧𓃀𓏏𓊌𓄿𓋴𓍬𓏏𓂻𓐎𓏥𓀀𓂜𓈖𓂋𓐍𓏛𓏏𓅱𓃀𓅱𓋴𓐍𓂋𓅱𓏛𓏥𓐍𓂋𓆑⟨m⟩ ⟨tkn⟩ n n,tjw db,t ḥr sḫr.w jr ṯꜣi̯.y.tw db,t ⟨jn⟩ ꜣs{t} nn rḫ =tw bw sḫr.w{ḫr} =f
9.7 𓁹𓈖𓆑𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏴𓀁𓏥𓁷𓂋𓏤𓆑𓅱𓆓𓆑𓄿𓏏𓅯𓅪𓏥𓇋𓂋𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓎡𓅓𓄖𓅱𓏭𓂻𓀙𓅱𓀀𓏥𓅓𓈖𓏏𓎡𓈖𓂻𓍯𓄿𓅱𓅱𓈐𓂻𓅓𓂋𓐍𓏛𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋⟨mtr⟩ ⟨ḫr⟩ ⟨sḏm.yw.pl⟩ jri̯ n =f wšb{,t} ḥr ={f} wḏfꜣ,t jr šm =k m pḥ,wj sr.w.pl m {n}tkn wꜣ.ww m rḫ nfr,t jr
9.8 𓅧𓈎𓂻𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎟𓏏𓉐𓏤𓅓𓉐𓏤𓆑𓇋𓅱𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓈖𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓂋𓄂𓏏𓏤𓎡𓈞𓊃𓀔𓎡𓅱𓀀𓂧𓏏𓏤𓎡𓅓𓂋𓏤𓎡𓅓𓂧𓃀𓎛𓏏𓎺𓄑𓀁𓏥𓄿𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥ꜥq =k jw nb{,t} pr m pr =f jw ꜥ.wj.du =fj n ky r-ḥꜣ,t =k ḥmsi̯ =kwj ḏr,t =k m rʾ =k m dbḥ{t} ꜣḫ,t
9.9 𓂋𓐛𓏤𓆑𓁹𓎡𓈖𓆑𓏇𓇋𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥𓇋𓅓𓅓𓂝𓀸𓄿𓅱𓏛𓂡𓂋𓍿𓏏𓏤𓆱𓂧𓈖𓋴𓏠𓈖𓍖𓏛𓇋𓅓𓎡𓅨𓂋𓈙𓆑𓇋𓇋𓏏𓀗𓏛𓏥𓅆𓅓𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥r-gs =f jri̯ =((k)) n =f mj ḏd{.t} jmi̯ zꜣw ⟨ṯsi̯(.t)⟩ r ṯ,t dns{mn} jm =k wr šf,yt =⟨k⟩ m ḏd{.t}
English
9.1 When the father comes out of that water unhurt, it is like a manifestation of divine power. Look: no profession lacks a superior, except
9.2 the scribe’s: he himself is the superior. If you know writing, it will be well for you. No profession will be placed ahead of yours. Look: one companion fares worse than another.
9.3 No one calls this man a fieldworker. Pay no heed to that! Look, it was composed on the journey upstream toward
9.4 the Residence, made for love of you. One day in the schoolroom benefits you more than an eternity at labor in the mountains. It passes in a flash;
9.5 I will make you understand. I will make you love to stir the oppressed into motion. I will tell you other things to instruct you, so that you may be wise and no one will quarrel with you:
9.6 Do not approach those whose way is the brick! If a hasty man seizes a brick, you will not know what he intends.
9.7 Bear witness before the judges. Answer him cautiously. When you walk behind officials, do not press near them; remain at a distance, as one who knows proper conduct. If
9.8 you enter a householder’s home and he is occupied with another person before you, sit with your hand over your mouth. Do not ask for anything
9.9 beside him. Do as he says: “Set it down!” Beware of approaching the table. Be measured within yourself, that your standing may be great. Speak no word that must be hidden.
Scribal Advice and Divine Favor
Egyptian
10.1 𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀗𓀁𓏥𓈖𓇉𓄿𓊪𓅱𓍱𓂡𓇋𓅱𓇉𓄿𓊪𓅱𓍱𓂡𓆑𓄡𓏏𓏤𓄹𓁹𓈖𓆑𓆑𓅓𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀗𓀁𓏥𓈖𓉐𓂋𓂻𓂝𓏤𓄣𓏤𓂡𓇋𓅱𓈞𓊃𓀔𓏏𓅱𓎛𓈖𓂝𓎡𓎡𓊃𓅓𓅱𓂢𓅪𓏥mdw,t n(.t) ḥꜣp.w jw ḥꜣp.w ={f} ẖ,t jri̯ =⟨f⟩ n =f ={f} ⟨jkm⟩ m ḏd{.t} mdw,t n(.t) pri̯-ꜥ-jb jw ḥmsi̯ =tw ḥnꜥ ={k} ksm
10.2 𓇋𓂋𓉐𓂋𓂻𓎡𓅓𓂝𓏏𓉐𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓂡𓉐𓐍𓂋𓋴𓏇𓇋𓀁𓏏𓅱𓈖𓎡𓂸𓏏𓂋𓏏𓇳𓏤𓁷𓏤𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓉔𓄿𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀤𓀁𓏥𓃛𓅱𓇋𓇋𓏏𓉐𓏥𓀀𓈖𓎡𓅓𓄖𓅱𓏭𓂻𓈖jr pri̯ =k m ꜥ,t-sbꜣ ḫr smj.tw n =k mtr,t ḥr šm(.t) hꜣnw ⟨m⟩ jwy,t ={j} ⟨ḏꜣjs⟩ n =k pḥ,wj n(,j)
10.3 𓃀𓅱𓈖𓊃𓋴𓏏𓇋𓂋𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓏏𓅱𓀙𓀀𓅓𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓏴𓀁𓏥𓇋𓀁𓆓𓂧𓆑𓏇𓇋𓇋𓀁𓆓𓂧𓆑𓇓𓅱𓅓𓎁𓏏𓏏𓂡𓅓𓂋𓂝𓏏𓎛𓂋𓋴𓏏𓆼𓄿𓂝𓂻𓂡𓉔𓄿𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀤𓀁𓏥𓂜𓈖bw n ={s} =⟨k⟩ st jr hꜣb tw sr m wp,wt{.pl} j:ḏd =f mj j:ḏd =f sw m jṯi̯ m rḏi̯{.t} ḥr =st ḫꜣꜥ ={f} hꜣn,w nn
10.4 𓂋𓈖𓆑𓎝𓎛𓏛𓇋𓅱𓆑𓅓𓃀𓇋𓄿𓏏𓎺𓄑𓀁𓏥𓆑𓎟𓏏𓂜𓈖𓃹𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀢𓏛𓏥𓇋𓂋𓆑𓂜𓈖𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌙𓅯𓏛𓏥𓆑𓊨𓏏𓉐𓆑𓎟𓏏𓅓𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏥𓎼𓂋𓍅𓏛𓅪𓏥rn =f wꜣḥ jw =f ⟨ꜥrq⟩ m bjꜣ,t =f nb.t nn-wn jmn jr =f nn tni̯ =f ⟨r⟩ s,t =f nb.t m ḏd{.t} grg
10.5 𓂋𓅓𓏏𓏏𓁐𓆑𓂋𓍋𓃀𓅱𓀁𓏥𓀙𓀀𓊪𓈖𓇋𓂋𓅓𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂻𓆣𓂋𓅱𓄿𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓂝𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓆑𓏭𓏏𓅱𓀾𓏛𓏥𓂋𓂝𓅱𓄣𓏤𓋴𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉𓏤𓄹𓆑𓅓𓂋𓂝𓏏𓁷𓂋𓋴𓏏𓎛𓈖𓂝𓎡𓊃𓅓𓂢𓅱𓅪𓏥r mw,t ={f}⟨k⟩ r ꜣb.w sr pn jr m-ḫt ḫpr.w ꜣḫ,t ꜥ.wj.du =fj tw(t) rḏi̯.w jb {s}fn{d} =f m rḏi̯{.t} ḥr =st ḥnꜥ ksm
10.6 𓇋𓅱𓄡𓊃𓏭𓅪𓇓𓅱𓄡𓏏𓏤𓄹𓏥𓄔𓅓𓏛𓏏𓅱𓈖𓎡𓇋𓂋𓋴𓐟𓄿𓀁𓏏𓅱𓏤𓏤𓏤𓈖𓏏𓏐𓈀𓏥𓏤𓏤𓈖𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏥𓂜𓈖𓇥𓂋𓅱𓈐jw ẖsj sw ⟨r⟩ ẖ,t{.pl} sḏm =tw n =k jr sꜣi̯ tw 3 n(,j) tʾ ⟨sꜥm⟩ ⟨m⟩ ⟨hnw⟩ 2 n(,j) ḥ(n)q,t nn ḏr,w
10.7 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓄹𓏥𓂚𓄿𓅱𓂡𓁷𓂋𓋴𓏏𓇋𓂋𓋴𓐟𓄿𓀁𓎡𓇋𓇋𓀀𓅓𓊢𓂝𓂻[⯑]𓂋𓍿𓏏𓏤𓆱𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓉔𓄿𓃀𓂻𓎡𓆈𓏏𓏥[⯑]𓎡ẖ,t{.pl} ꜥḥꜣ ḥr =st jr sꜣi̯ ky m ꜥḥꜥ zꜣw{.pl} ⟨ṯzi̯.t⟩ r ṯ,t m =kı͗ ⟨nfr⟩ hꜣb =k ꜥšꜣ sḏm =k
10.8 𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓏥𓀙𓅱𓀀𓏥𓇋𓐍𓏛𓁹𓇋𓇋𓀀𓅓𓐪𓂧𓏌𓅱𓏛𓎡𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥𓇋𓅱𓎡𓁷𓏤𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄿𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏞𓀀𓏥mdw,t.pl sr.w.pl jḫ jri̯.y ={j} =⟨k⟩ {m-}qd ={k} ms.w.pl r(m)ṯ jw =k ḥr šm.t ⟨r⟩ ⟨nmt.t⟩ =⟨sn⟩ mꜣꜣ{.n} =tw zẖꜣ,w{.pl}
10.9 𓄔𓅓𓏛𓆣𓂋𓅱𓄔𓅓𓏛𓉐𓂋𓂻𓂝𓏤𓄣𓏤𓂡𓀀𓏥𓂚𓄿𓂡𓎡𓅱𓀀𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁𓏥𓈖𓏏𓏏𓂋𓊃𓋴𓏏𓄿𓋴𓏏𓍬𓂻𓐎𓏥𓂋𓂧𓂾𓂾𓄹𓎡𓇋𓅱𓎡𓁷𓏤𓈝𓅓𓏏𓂻𓂜𓈖sḏm ḫpr sḏm ⟨m⟩ pri̯-ꜥ-jb{.pl} ꜥḥꜣ =kw mdw,t.pl n.tt r =sst ꜣs{t} rd.du =k jw =k ḥr šm.t nn
11.1 𓎡𓆑𓄿𓅱𓄖𓏛𓄣𓏤𓎡𓄥𓄿𓅓𓏛𓅓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓏌𓅱𓌙𓅯𓏥𓂋𓊃𓋴𓏏𓐍𓈖𓅓𓅓𓋴𓀛𓅯𓏛𓏥𓊃𓀀𓏤𓍑𓄿𓅓𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎡𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓂋𓈖𓈖𓏏𓆇𓆗𓁷𓏤𓈐𓏏𓏤kfꜣ jb =k zmꜣm m{ꜥ} tn.w r ={sst} =⟨k⟩ ḫnms{.pl} z ⟨n(,j)⟩ ḏꜣm =k m =kı͗ Rnn,t ḥr wꜣ,t
11.2 𓊹𓅆𓂋𓈖𓈖𓏏𓆇𓆗𓏞𓀀𓁷𓏤𓈎𓂝𓎛𓂢𓏏𓏤𓄹𓆑𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳𓏤𓈖𓆑 […] 𓄭𓂋𓂻𓆑𓂋𓏏𓄿𓊋𓏏𓀗𓀀𓏥𓁹𓈖𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛nṯr Rnn,t zẖꜣ,w ḥr qꜥḥ{,t} =f hrw n(,j) ={f} ⟨msi̯.tw⟩ =⟨f⟩ […] ⟨ms,wt⟩ =⟨f⟩ spr =f r ⟨ꜥrr,yt⟩{.pl} tꜣ qnb,t jri̯ n r(m)ṯ m =kı͗
11.3 𓂜𓈖𓏞𓅱𓀀𓏥𓆄𓅱𓏴𓅪𓏥𓏶𓅓𓅱𓀁𓏥𓄿𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥𓈖𓏏𓏭𓇓𓏏𓈖𓅆𓉐𓏤𓅆𓋹𓍑𓋴𓄟𓋴𓐍𓈖𓏏𓊌𓆗𓏞𓀀𓂞𓂞𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏥𓌨𓂋𓏭𓏛𓄂𓏏𓏤𓊋𓏏𓀗𓀀𓏥nn zẖꜣ,w{.pl} šwi̯ ⟨m⟩ wnm ⟨m⟩ ꜣḫ,t n.tj pr-nsw ꜥnḫ-(w)ḏꜣ-s(nb) Msḫn,t ⟨wḏ.t⟩ ⟨n⟩ zẖꜣ,w ḏḏ{.yw.pl} =⟨st⟩ ⟨sw⟩ ẖr-ḥꜣ,t qnb,t
11.4 𓊹𓅆𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀𓅐𓏏𓁐𓆑𓂞𓂞𓇋𓇋𓅱𓀀𓏥𓁷𓏤𓈐𓏏𓏤𓈖𓏏𓏏𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅱𓀀𓏥𓅓𓂝𓎡𓏭𓏛𓇑𓇑𓈖𓈖𓀀𓅓𓁷𓂋𓏤𓎡𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓈖𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀔𓁐𓏥⟨dwꜣ⟩ nṯr ⟨n⟩ jt =⟨k⟩ mw,t ={f} =⟨k⟩ ḏḏ{.yw.pl} ⟨tw⟩ ḥr wꜣ,t n.t{t} ꜥnḫ.w.pl m =kı͗ nn ={j} ⟨rḏi̯.n⟩ =⟨j⟩ m-ḥr =k ⟨n⟩ ms.w.pl n(.w) ms.w.pl =⟨k⟩
11.5 𓂻𓅱𓋴𓊪𓅱𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏛𓇋𓈖𓎛𓎿𓋴𓏛𓀁𓇋𓈎𓂋𓏛𓄤𓆑𓂋[⯑]𓏞𓉐𓌉𓉐𓈎𓄿𓀠𓏛𓎼𓄿𓃀𓅱𓂢𓏏𓏤𓀀𓈖𓉐𓌉𓉐𓈖𓉻𓉐𓉐𓏤 […]jwi̯ =s pw nfr m-ḥtp jn ⟨kꜣ⟩ ⟨n(,j)⟩ ḥsi̯ jqr nfr b[j]ꜣ,t zẖꜣ,w-pr-ḥḏ Qꜣi̯-gꜣb.w n(,j) pr-ḥḏ n(,j) pr-ꜥꜣ […]
English
10.1 The man whose body is concealed makes himself a shield. Speak no impulsive word when you sit beside a stubborn man.
10.2 When you leave the schoolroom, the midday hour will be announced to you amid the uproar of celebration in the streets. Consider the end of the passage
10.3 you have reached. If an official sends you with a message, say it exactly as he said it: take nothing away, add nothing. The man who abandons rejoicing has no name
10.4 that endures. He is accomplished in all his conduct; nothing is hidden from him, and he will not be removed from any of his posts. Speak no lie
10.5 to your mother at the bidding of that official! When a thing has happened, his two arms are joined, while his heart leaves him wretched. Do not add to it or be defiant:
10.6 he is more miserable than the belly when one listens to you. If three loaves satisfy you, washed down with two hin-measures of beer, there is no limit
10.7 to the belly: fight against it. When another eats his fill, do not stand up. Beware of approaching the table! Look, it is good to be sent often, so that you hear
10.8 the words of the officials. May you take on the bearing of the children of eminent men, walking in their footsteps. A scribe who listens is recognized:
10.9 listening turns into valor. Fight against words raised in opposition. Urge your feet onward when you walk; do not be too trusting.
11.1 Keep your heart trustworthy. Join yourself to one greater than you. Befriend a man of your own generation. Look, Renenet is on the road
11.2 of the god. The scribe’s Renenet rests upon his shoulder on the day he was born […] at his birth. When he reaches the gatehouse, the council […]
11.3 No scribe goes without food from the goods of the royal palace—life, prosperity, and health! Meskhenet, assigned to the scribe, places him at the head of the council.
11.4 Praise the god for your father and mother, who set you upon the path of the living. Look: what I have entrusted to you is for your children’s children.
11.5 It has come to a good and peaceful end, for the ka of the worthy and accomplished praised one, Qagabu, scribe of the treasury of Pharaoh’s treasury. […]