Column 5

5.1 his house. People will say, when they hear it: "Destroyed are the loaves, in abundance, for the children. There are no plain or notched sycamore figs […]

5.2 What is the taste of it like today? Indeed, the officials are hungry and suffering, and their retinue is followed; […] is made strong […]

5.3 because of the wailing. Indeed, the hot-tempered man says: "If only I could perceive, and knew where god is, I would act for him!" Indeed, [Maat] is throughout the land

5.4 in this its name. Wrongdoing is what they do, building upon it. Indeed, the runners fight over the possessions of another […]

5.5 The robber: all his possessions are seized. Indeed, all the herds, their hearts weep; the cattle mourn because of the state of the land.

5.6 Indeed, the children of officials are thrown against the walls; the children of 〈prayer〉 are laid on the high ground; Khnum is in mourning

5.7 because of his weariness. Indeed, terror slays; fear repels the man who would act against your enemies. Moreover, scarce are the sta[tues]

5.8 and the amulets on him who is small. Is it serving Khenty, together with what he butchers? Is it as 〈slaughtering〉 for the lion, roasting on the flame? Is it

5.9 libating to Ptah, seizing the cattle? Why do you give to him? None can reach him, and your giving to him is misery! Indeed, the wo[rk] […]

5.10 is throughout the land. The strong man sends to everyone; a man strikes his brother by the same mother. What is this that is done? I speak

5.11 for the ruined one. Indeed, the roads are watched, the paths guarded; one sits in the bushes until the night-wayfarer comes, to seize his load;

5.12 what is on him is taken away; he is dealt blows of the stick; he is killed wrongfully. Indeed, those things have perished which were seen yesterday:

5.13 perished — seen yesterday — the land is left to its weakness like the pulling up of flax; the commoners come and go, and are homeless,

5.14 they come suffering; they swim (?) […] amidst (?) the flood (?). Would that this were the end of humankind: no conceiving, no birth!

5.1 his house. People will say when they hear it, “The many loaves for children have been destroyed. There are no plain figs or cut figs […].

5.2 What do they taste like today?” Indeed, officials are hungry and homeless, and their attendants are pursued. […] because of mourning.

5.3 Indeed, the hot-tempered man says, “If I could understand and know where god is, I would act for him!” Indeed, Maat, justice, is throughout

5.4 the land in name only; what they really do is wrong, and they build on it. Indeed, runners fight over another's possessions,

5.5 and everything the robber owns is seized. Indeed, all herds are weeping in their hearts; the cattle mourn the condition of the land.

5.6 Indeed, officials' children are thrown against walls; children for whom people prayed are laid on high ground. Khnum mourns

5.7 because he is weary. Indeed, terror kills, and fear drives away anyone who would act against your enemies. Also, images

5.8 and amulets are not enough for a poor man. Is it serving Khenty and the one he cuts up? Is it killing for the lion and roasting in the fire?

5.9 Is it pouring an offering for Ptah and taking cattle? Why do you give to him? No one can reach him; your gift brings him misery! Indeed, work […]

5.10 is everywhere in the land. The violent man sends for everyone, and a man strikes his own brother, born of the same mother. What has been done? I speak for someone already lost.

5.11 Indeed, roads are watched and paths guarded. Someone sits in the bushes until a nighttime traveler arrives,

5.12 so that his load can be taken, everything on him stolen, and he can be struck with a stick and killed unjustly. Indeed, what could be seen yesterday has disappeared;

5.13 the land is left exhausted, like flax pulled up from the ground. Ordinary people come and go without homes,

5.14 […] in the flood […]. If only this were the end of humanity, with no conception and no births!