Papyrus section 17

(17.1) His excellence will be in the hearts of the officials; he will govern his mouth according to what has been said to him.

(17.2) Watchful as he listens, the son will excel, and his goings will be distinguished.

(17.3) There is no good in entering there: the heart finds no sweetness in it, and a man cannot know what will become of his condition.

(17.4) A fool persists in saying what he says; but if a wise man persists, it is through seeing the truth of the matter.

(17.5) The eye sees nothing: a thousand men are turned away from what would profit them, through ignorance of what they see.

(17.6) A brief moment, like a dream—and death is reached through knowing them; every forbidden act ends in abasement.

(17.7) It remains with him every day of his life; it is a vile thing, of which one says:

(17.8) “Strike down the rival!” Yet when he goes to do it, his heart recoils. It is not a thing known among the nobles; it hangs over him all the days of his life.

(17.9) As for him who founders through lust for women, none of his designs will succeed; it remains upon him every day.

(17,10) (17,10) A son who listens is a follower of Horus. Good comes to him after he has listened; he grows old,

(17.11) he reaches burial and the state of one revered. He tells the same to his children, renewing the instruction of his father.

(17.12) Every man instructs according to his conduct. He speaks before his children, that they in turn may speak.

(17.13) They are human beings; then they will speak to their children. Set them an example, and do not give offense.

(17.1) He will be esteemed in the hearts of the officials, controlling his mouth according to what has been said to him.

(17.2) Seen as a listener, the son excels in his conduct; his movements are distinguished.

(17.3) Nothing can be done for the fool who does not listen; he cannot distinguish the knowledgeable man by what he has heard.

(17.4) The fool regards what is said as ignorance, and he treats what is useful as harmful.

(17.5) He sees knowledge as ignorance and what is beneficial as injurious.

(17.6) He does everything hateful, so that people are angry with him every day.

(17.7) He lives on what causes death; distorted speech is his food.

(17.8) His character is known to the officials: alive, yet dead every day.

(17.9) His actions are passed over because of the many troubles that come upon him every day.

(17,10) (17,10) A son who listens is a follower of Horus. It goes well with him after he has listened, and old age comes to him.

(17.11) He attains a revered condition, and he repeats the same words to his children, renewing his father’s instruction.

(17.12) Every man teaches by his conduct. He speaks to his children so that they, in turn, may speak to their children.

(17.13) Set them an example; do not give offense. Make truth firm, so that your children may live and may not see wrongdoing.