Papyrus section 12

(12.1) If you are one who leads, commanding the affairs of the multitude, seek out every excellent deed,

(12.2) so that your conduct may be without fault. Justice is great, and its efficacy endures;

(12.3) it has not been overturned. The transgressor of its laws is cast down, though this escapes the greedy man’s notice.

(12.4) It has endured from the god’s own day; none has seen it confounded. Its goodness remains for the one who acts by it.

(12.5) It establishes a house and brings the deed safely to land; wrongdoing has never brought its venture into harbor.

(12.6) The greedy man says in his heart, “I shall seize possession,” but the moment of reckoning comes, and the heart cannot ignore it.

(12.7) Baseness may gather riches, and falsehood may increase its hoard; yet rebellion against justice comes to ruin.

(12.8) Together with the god, what he desires is done for him. Speak when he addresses you; then your words will satisfy him.

(12.9) The heart of the great man seated over his food is guided by his inclination; he bestows what he loves, teaching people to recognize what belongs to him.

(12.10) His purpose proceeds according to his will. When you enter before a man, let him show favor in his own sight; he will not say, “Stretch out your hand to me.”

(12.11) It rests with his will. What is loved leads to contentment. When you come to cover the great man’s table, do not press yourself upon him.

(12.12) It is the sustenance of your household and the support of those who love you. The king’s sustenance comes from what he loves; when he sees a worthy man, he is gracious toward him.

(12.13) Be silent: what you love is what the great man loves. What is given into your hand is his favor; his will makes the meal pleasant.

(12.1) Do not raise your heart in pride, or it will be brought low. Do not remain silent, but guard against overstepping what lies before you.

(12.2) When you answer the words of a hot-tempered man, turn your face away and control yourself. The flame of the hothearted sweeps past, but there is no bread for the one who gives himself to it.

(12.3) The gentle-hearted man has his path made smooth. The man whose heart is troubled all day has no happy passage.

(12.4) He has no untroubled day for its whole length, and no good moment comes to him. His good becomes worse for him. The pleasure-seeker who follows his heart all day—

(12.5) does not establish a household for himself. He is like a man caught while steering, one who sees the landing place yet is driven away from his own ground when the captor comes.

(12.6) The heart of the man who listens is put in order, while the heedless man is swallowed up. At the god’s moment, the heart is found sound in the midst of turbulence because of what truly exists.

(12.7) It is a moment that comes into being, while his rebellion lasts only until what must be occurs. The king releases the restrained man; the ka is among those who love, and the king gives abundant sustenance.

(12.8) Together with the god he loves, what he desires is done for him. Be on your guard against interfering with another man’s affairs; one who is content rests beneath his own ka.

(12.9) If a man prospers for the benefit of his household, fill his wife’s belly and clothe her body; ointment is the remedy for her flesh.

(12.10) Make her heart glad as long as you live: she is a fertile field for her lord. Do not contend with her, and do not let her cry out against you.

(12.11) Restrain her, but do not withhold clothing from her. Her eye is her storm when she looks at you.

(12.12) This is how to keep her living in your house throughout your lifetime. If you love her, let her eye see what is good coming from you; be silent.

(12.13) But opposing the woman you love brings misery. Keep wrongdoing away from yourself: the ka loves a well-founded household.