Papyrus section 11

(11.1) Gladden your wife’s heart as long as you live; the god has ordained that she be made content.

(11.2) A woman whose heart is satisfied will not raise contention; restrain her from what brings disorder throughout her days.

(11.3) Her vital spirit is nourished by contentment. Do not oppose her in judgment, nor let strife enter her heart.

(11.4) Thus she will remain within your house; but if she departs, the woman’s heart is left to wander.

(11.5) Do not be arrogant because of what you know. Take counsel with the ignorant as with the learned, for the limits of craftsmanship cannot be reached.

(11.6) No craftsman is fully master of his art. Excellent speech is more hidden than greenstone,

(11.7) yet it may be found among women working at the grindstones.

(11.8) If you encounter a disputant in action, your equal, one who stands on your level, let your worth surpass his through silence while he speaks maliciously.

(11.9) The hearers will speak greatly of it, and your name will be esteemed in the judgment of the officials.

(11.10) If he is a weak man, not your equal, do not let your heart assail him because of his words.

(11.11) Leave him to speak in his confusion; the magistrates will rebuke him, and his words will answer themselves.

(11.12) Do not vent your heart against your opponent, nor repay speech with speech merely to ease yourself.

(11.13) Wretched is one who injures a poor man. What you desire will be done, and the judgment of the great will overcome him.

(11.1) Satisfy your dependents with what has come to you. It is something the god does for one he favors. As for anyone who does not satisfy—

(11.2) his dependents, it is said, “He is a ka swollen with greed.” What tomorrow may bring is unknown; no one knows what each day will produce.

(11.3) The ka is the sustaining power by which a person is satisfied. When a good deed is done, dependents are the ones who say—

(11.4) “Welcome!” Contentment reaches throughout the land; when dependents are satisfied, they bear no malice.

(11.5) If you hear a malicious accusation, keep it far from you; do not repeat it. It is an outburst from a heated belly.

(11.6) Repeat only a statement you have seen for yourself; what you merely heard, let fall entirely to the ground. Then the person before you will recognize your worth.

(11.7) An accurate report is excellent; exaggeration is offensive. Twisting an account into something else kindles hostility.

(11.8) Let the matter die in your hands. Restrain the evil of anger against it; cover it over completely, and do not bring evil upon yourself through another person.

(11.9) Excellent is the man who sits in his lord’s council and directs every heart toward what is best. Your silence—

(11.10) is more useful than chatter. Speak only when you know that you understand the matter; it is the craftsman—

(11.11) who should speak in council. Speech is harder than every other craft, but the one who interprets it correctly makes it serve him.

(11.12) If skill is in your hand, your hand will protect you as one who knows. Speak with accomplished mastery.

(11.13) Authority does not come by itself. A man goes to ruin when his conduct becomes abhorrent.