Papyrus section 16

(16.1) when he speaks; his eyes are exact when they see, and his ears when they hear what is useful—

(16.2) to his son. Practice truth, and be free of falsehood.

(16.3) Listening is profitable to a son; what is heard enters the listener. A listener becomes one who listens through listening.

(16.4) Good is listening, and good is speech. The listener is master of what is useful.

(16.5) Listening is good for the listener; listening is better than anything that exists. Love comes into being—how good, how good!

(16.6) A son who receives what his father says will attain old age through it, greatly honored.

(16.7) The god loves the listener and hates the one who will not listen. It is a man’s heart that makes—

(16.8) its owner a listener or one who will not listen. A man’s life, prosperity, and health are his heart. It is the listener—

(16.9) who hears what is said; one who loves listening does what is said. How good when a son listens to—

(16.10) his father! How joyful is the man of whom it is said, “The son—how pleasing is his place as one who listens!”

(16.11) A listener of whom this is said is firmly established and honored before—

(16.12) his father. His remembrance is in the mouths of the living, of those who are upon the earth—

(16.13) and those who shall be. If a son receives what his father says, he will not go astray in any—

(16.14) plan of his. You will be praised through your son, the listener.

(16.1) when he speaks. His eyes see, and his ears hear

(16.2) what is beneficial for his son. He acts according to truth and is free from falsehood.

(16.3) Listening is beneficial to a son. Listening enters into a listener; listening resides in a listener, and a listener comes into being

(16.4) through listening. Good listening makes good speaking. Every listener hears what is beneficial. Listening is beneficial.

(16.5) Listening is good for the listener; listening is better than everything that exists. It creates love. How good—how very good!

(16.6) A son accepts what his father says, and old age comes to him because of it. A listener is one whom God loves.

(16.7) It is God who makes a person listen; one whom God hates is not made to listen. It is a person’s heart that makes

(16.8) its owner a listener or a nonlistener. A person’s life, prosperity, and health are his heart. It is the listener

(16.9) who hears what is said. One who loves listening is one who does what is said to him. How good it is when a son listens to

(16.10) his father! How joyful is the one to whom it is said: “A son, great in his position, a master

(16.11) of listening!” The listener to whom this is said is firmly established in body and honored before

(16.12) his father. His memory is in the mouths of the living who are upon the earth.

(16.13) What they say of him will endure. If a man’s son accepts what his father says, none

(16.14) of his plans will fail. Teach your son to be a listener.