The Legacy Of Egypt

Proverbs.

For it is pleasant if thou keep them

in thy belly,
That they may be fixed like a peg

upon thy lips.

Have I not written for thee thirty

sayings

Of counsels and knowledge!
That thou mayest make known truth

to him that speaketh,
That thou mayest carry back words

to hJTn that sent thee.

Rob not the poor, for he is poor,
Neither oppress the lowly in the gate.

Associate not with a passionate man,
Nor go with a wrathful man,
Lest thou learn his ways
And get a snare to thy soul.

A man who is skilful in his business
Shall stand before kings.

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,
Consider diligently what is before

thee;

And put a knife to thy throat,
If thou be a mart given to appetite.
Be not desirous of his dainties,
Seeing they a^e deceitful meat.

Toil not to become rich,

And cease from thy dishonest gain;

Egypt and Israel 247

7'be Teaching of AiKen-e?K-o£e.

It is good for thee to place them £n

thine heart,
Let them rest in the casket of thy

belly;
That they may act as a peg upon thy

tongue.

Consider these thirty chapters;
They delight, they instruct.
Knowledge how to answer him that

speakers,
And how to carry hack a report to

one that sent him.

Beware of robbing the poor,
And of oppressing the afflicted.

Associate not with a passionate man.
Nor approach him for conversation;
Leap not to cleave to such an one,
That the terror carry thee noc away.

A scribe who is skilful in his business
Findeth himself worthy to be a
courtier.

Eat not bread in the presence of a

ruler,
And lunge not forward (?) with thy

mouth, before a governor(r)
When thou art replenished with that

to which thou hast no right,
It is only a delight to thy spittle.
Look upon the dish that is before

thee,
And let that (alone) supply thy need.

Toil not after riches;

If stolen goods are brought to thee,

the translations of Griffith, Ranke (in Gressmann), Lange, Das Weisbeitsbucb
de$ Amen-em-ope (19-5).