Papyrus section 15

(15.1) He whose face is restrained is a discerning man. A skilled speaker speaks from the measure of his heart; thus a man comes into dignity.

(15.2) In the sight of the king, let your standing not go to your head. A man sent on a mission must hold fast to the charge entrusted to him and carry out his commission exactly.

(15.3) Do not add a thing of your own to the message. Beware of contentious speech: it embroils one great man with another.

(15.4) Report his utterance as he spoke it. “I came to you; I came bearing the charge entrusted to me.” Then the son of a man will say of him, “What he said was good.”

(15.5) Do not spread words against anyone, great or small; it is the ka’s abomination. Set your face toward exactness, and restrain violent speech.

(15.6) If an occasion arises while you are on a mission, let trustworthiness govern your conduct. If you see a woman abroad, do not let your eyes follow her.

(15.7) Her heart is set on the things of the town; her ways are known to those among whom she dwells. Many are the men she has drawn aside—do not let her come near you.

(15.8) Her heart is a snare, her body a trap, a deep water whose course is unknown. If she says to you, “I am yours,” do not surrender your judgment to her.

(15.9) To go to her is death. She is a net spread out, a snare upon the road. A brief moment of pleasure—and every good thing is cast away.

(15.10) No word shall perish from this land forever. It shall be made a standard of goodness, and officials shall speak according to it. It is a son’s instruction, to be spoken to—

(15.11) those who come after. When one hears it, he becomes a master of listening. Good is speech addressed to posterity: posterity will hear it. If a good example comes from the hand of—

(15.12) the leader, it remains excellent for him, without limit of days; all his wisdom endures forever. It is the knowledgeable man who listens; what he hears establishes him, and good speech is within him.

(15.13) Throughout the land, the wise man is known by his knowledge; the official, by the excellence of his conduct. His heart governs his tongue, and his lips are exact—

(15.1) so that you are foremost in your town, do not become hard because of what has happened to you; do not put your confidence in your wealth.

(15.2) Do not overlook the one who was formerly like you. Conduct yourself toward him as toward your equal. What comes is the god’s gift, and property does not come by itself.

(15.3) Do not set your heart proudly on your wealth. What you possess was given to you; the god who granted it is greater than the king.

(15.4) Act so that he may praise you, and your possessions will remain with you. One like you may become prosperous; the son of a man may be given the same.

(15.5) Guard against boasting, against raising your head and exalting yourself over what was given. It came by the god’s command, and what was granted can be taken away.

(15.6) If you hear a report, let it die in your belly. Do not pass it from mouth to mouth. If you see something, speak of what you saw, not of what you heard.

(15.7) Keep your heart from slander in the town. A man is judged by his mouth; people repeat his words day after day, and what you say is laid against you.

(15.8) The heart is trapped by its own speech. When you speak, say what you know. Do not let your mouth bring disgrace upon you; self-command is the master of conduct.

(15.9) People praise the man whose children act wisely, whose household lives by honest speech, and whose character is good; his children are protected, and every matter is spoken rightly.

(15.10) You will be established in this land; what is said will be done. You will strengthen yourself through good speech among the officials. As for teaching your son, it means saying to him:

(15.11) “After he has listened, he will become a master of what is heard. Good listening is better than abundance. After he has listened to his father, if excellent understanding arises, his goodness will be in everyone’s hands.

(15.12) “Through it, his name will remain for millions of years.” Everyone wise in what is said knows this. As for the knowledgeable man, his understanding is established, and his excellence is in him.

(15.13) On earth, the wise person is known by knowledge, and the official by the good action of his heart. His heart is in accord with his tongue, and his lips are accurate