The Instruction of Ptah-hotep (Book of Proverbs)

The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep

Known as the oldest book recorded, The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and The Instruction of Ke’gemni has been reflected in the Book of Proverbs in the Christian Bible. It is the wisdom from the King of the 5th Dynasty Egypt, Djedkare Isese. On his deathbed at 96 years, he wanted to pass down this wisdom to his son, who would become his replacement. The king conditionally approved, stating that the young aren’t inherently wise. The young needed wisdom of age. Thus, these maxims were ascribed to give the new vizier the wisdom he would need to hold the position with honor.

The “Maxims of Good Discourse” are just as ageless as the Laws of Power, though being “how to hold court as a gentleman” as opposed to “how to survive and rise up the corporate ladder”. These maxims are mirrored in the Bible in Proverbs and Ecclesiastics, and were based on the Laws of Ma’at. It was believed that in order to pass through the trial after death, your heart would be weighed against a feather. These maxims all relate to leading from the heart, balancing truth and karma, and living with wisdom.

I don’t own the rights to this work, I only wish to bring it to the light. Also, I copied the text almost word for word, only changing a few words from King James English to more modern parlance for redundancies. (Thy, eth, etc.)

The Maxims of Good Discourse, or The Wisdom of Ptah-hotep ca. 2200 BCE

The Instruction of the Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, in the Reign of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Isosi, living for ever, to the end of Time.

The Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, he said : “Prince, my Lord, the end of life is at hand; old age descends [upon me]; feebleness comes, and childishness is renewed. He [that is old] lies down in misery every day. Thine eyes are small ; the ears are deaf. Energy is diminished, the heart hath no rest. The mouth is silent, and he speaks no word ; the heart stops, and he remembers not yesterday. The bones are painful throughout the body ; good turns unto evil. All taste departs. These things do old age for mankind, being evil in all things. The nose is stopped, and he breathes in weakness, whether standing or sitting.

Command me, thy servant, therefore, to make over my princely authority [to my son]. Let me speak unto him the words of them that hearken to the counsel of the men of old time ; those that once hearkened unto the gods. I pray thee, let this thing be done, that sin may be banished from among persons of understanding, that thou may enlighten the lands.”

Said the Majesty of this God :

Instruct him, then, in the words of old time; may he be a wonder unto the children of princes, that they may enter and hearken with him. Make straight all their hearts ; and discourse with him, without causing weariness.

Here begin the proverbs of fair speech, spoken by the Hereditary Chief, the Holy Father, Beloved of the God, the Eldest Son of the King, of his body, the Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, when instructing the ignorant in the knowledge of exactness in fair-speaking; the glory of him that obeys, the shame of him that transgresses them.

THE ETHICS OF ARGUMENT

He said unto his son :

1. Be not proud because thou art learned; but discourse with the ignorant man, as with the sage. For no limit can be set to skill, neither is there any craftsman that possesses full advantages. Fair speech is more rare than the emerald that is found by slave-maidens on the pebbles.
2. If thou find an arguer talking, one that is well disposed and wiser than thou, let thine arms fall, bend thy back/ be not angry with him if he agrees not with thee. Refrain from speaking evilly ; oppose him not at any time when he speaks. If he address thee as one ignorant of the matter, thine humbleness shall bear away his contentions.
3. If thou find an arguer talking, thy fellow, one that is within thy reach, keep not silence when he saith aught that is evil; so shalt thou be wiser than he. Great will be the applause on the part of the listeners, and thy name shall be good in the knowledge of princes.
4. If thou find an arguer talking, a poor man, that is to say not thine equal, be not scornful toward him because he is lowly. Let him alone; then shall he confound himself. Question him not to please thine heart, neither pour out thy wrath upon him that is before thee; it is shameful to confuse a mean mind. If thou be about to do that which is in thine heart, overcome it as a thing rejected of princes.
5. If thou be a leader, as one directing the conduct of the multitude, endeavor always to be gracious, that thine own conduct be without defect. Great is Truth, appointing a straight path; never hath it been overthrown since the reign of Osiris. One that oversteps the laws shall be punished. Overstepping is by the covetous man; but degradation bear off his riches. Never has evil-doing brought its venture safe to port. For he saith, ‘I will obtain by myself for myself,’ and saith not, “I will obtain because I am allowed.” But the limits of justice are steadfast; it is that which a man repeats from his father.
6. Cause not fear among men; for [this] the God punishes likewise. For there is a man that saith, ‘ Therein is life ‘ ; and he is bereft of the bread of his mouth. There is a man that saith, ‘ Power [is therein] ‘ ; and he saith, ‘ I seize for myself that which I perceive.’ Thus a man speaks, and he is smitten down. It is another that attained by giving unto him that hath not. Never hath that which men have prepared for come to pass; for what the God hath commanded, even that thing comes to pass. Live, therefore, in the house of kindness, and men shall come and give gifts of themselves.
   

   MANNERS FOR GUESTS

   If thou be among the guests of a man that is greater than thou, accept that which he gives thee, putting it to thy lips. If thou look at him that is before thee (thine host), pierce him not with many glances. It is abhorred of the soul to stare at him. Speak not till he address thee; one knows not what may be evil in his opinion. Speak when he questions thee; so shall thy speech be good in his opinion. The noble who sit before food divide it as his soul moves him; he gives unto him that he would favor — it is the custom of the evening meal. It is his soul that guides his hand. It is the noble that bestows, not the underling that attains, Thus the eating of bread is under the providence of the God; he is an ignorant man that disputes it.

7. If thou be an emissary sent from one noble to another, be exact after the manner of him that sent thee, give his message even as he hath said it. Beware of making enmity by thy words, setting one noble against the other by perverting truth. Overstep it not, neither repeat that which any man, be he prince or peasant, saith in opening the heart ; it is abhorrent to the soul.
8. If thou have plowed, gather thine harvest in the field, and the God shall make it great under thine hand. Fill not thy mouth at thy neighbors’ table. If a crafty man be the possessor of wealth, he steals like a crocodile from the priests. Let not a man be envious that hath no children ; let him be neither downcast nor quarrelsome on account of it. For a father, though great, may be grieved; as to the mother of children, she hath less peace than another. Verily, each man is created [to his destiny] by the God, Who is the chief of a tribe, trustful in following him.
9. If thou be lowly, serve a wise man, that all thine actions may be good before the God. If thou have known a man of none account that hath been advanced in rank, be not haughty toward him on account of that which thou knows concerning him; but honor him that hath been advanced, according to that which he hath become. Behold, riches come not of themselves; it is their rule for him that desire them. If he bestir him and collect them himself, the God shall make him prosperous; but He shall punish him if he be slothful.
10. Follow thine heart during thy lifetime; do not more than is commanded thee. Diminish not the time of following the heart; it is abhorred of the soul, that its time [of ease] be taken away. Shorten not the daytime more than is needful to maintain thine house. When riches are gained, follow the heart; for riches are of no avail if one be weary.
    

    FROM FATHER TO SON

11.  If thou would be a wise man, beget a son for the pleasing of the God. If he make straight his course after thine example, if he arrange thine affairs in due order, do unto him all that is good, for thy son is he, begotten of thine own soul. Sunder not thine heart from him, or thine own begotten shall curse thee. If he be heedless and trespass thy rules of conduct, and is violent; if every speech that comes from his mouth be a vile word; then beat thou him, that his talk may be fitting. Keep him from those that make light of that which is commanded, for it is they that make him rebellious. And they that are guided go not astray, but they that lose their bearings cannot find a straight course.
12. If thou be in the chamber of council, act always according to the steps enjoined on thee at the beginning of the day. Be not absent, or thou shalt be expelled; but be ready in entering and making report. Wide is the seat of one that hath made address. The council-chamber acteth by strict rule, and all its plans are in accordance with method. It is the God that advanceth one to a seat therein; the like is not done for elbowers.
13. If thou be among people, make for thyself love the beginning and end of the heart. One that know not his course shall say in himself (seeing thee), “He that orders himself duly becomes the owner of wealth; I shall copy his conduct.” Thy name shall be good, though thou speak not ; thy body shall be fed; thy face shall be [seen] among thy neighbors; thou shalt be provided with what thou lacks. As to the man whose heart obeys his belly (lust?), he causes disgust in place of love. His heart is wretched, his body is gross, he is insolent toward those endowed of the God. He that obeys his belly has an enemy.
14. 15. Report thine actions without concealment; discover thy conduct when in council with thine overlord. It is not evil for the envoy that his report be not answered, “Yea, I know it,” by the prince; for that which he knows includes not [this]. If he (the prince) think that he will oppose him on account of it, [he thinks] “He will be silent because I have spoken.”
    

    A JUST JUDGE

15. If thou be a leader, cause that the rules that thou hast enjoined be carried out; and do all things as one that remembers the days coming after, when speech avails not. Be not lavish of favors; it leads to servitude, producing slackness.
16. If thou be a leader, be gracious when thou hearkens unto the speech of a suppliant. Let him not hesitate to deliver himself of that which he hath thought to tell thee; but be desirous of removing his injury. Let him speak freely, that the thing for which he hath come to thee may be done. If he hesitate to open his heart, it is said, “Is it because he (the judge) do the wrong that no entreaties are made to him concerning it by those to whom it happened”. But a well-taught heart hearkens readily.
17. If thou desire to continue friendship in any abode wherein thou enter, be it as master, as brother, or as friend; wheresoever thou goes, beware of consorting with women. No place prospers wherein that is done. Nor is it prudent to take part in it; a thousand men have been ruined for the pleasure of a little time short as a dream. Even death is reached thereby ; it is a wretched thing. As for the evil liver, one leaves him for what he does, he is avoided. If his desires be not gratified, he regards no laws.
18. If thou desire that thine actions may be good, save thyself from all malice, and beware of the quality of covetousness, which is a grievous inner malady. Let it not chance that thou fall thereunto. It sets at variance fathers-in-law and the kinsmen of the daughter in-law; it sunders the wife and the husband. It gathers unto itself all evils; it is the girdle of all wickedness. But the man that is just flourishes; truth goes in his footsteps, and he makes habitations therein, not in the dwelling of covetousness.
19. Be not covetous as touching shares, in seizing that which is not thine own property. Be not covetous toward thy neighbors ; for with a gentle man praise avails more than might. He [that is covetous] comes empty from among his neighbors, being void of the persuasion of speech. One hath remorse for even a little covetousness when his belly cools.
20. If thou would be wise, provide for thine house, and love thy wife that is in thine arms. Fill her stomach, clothe her back; oil is the remedy of her limbs. Gladden her heart during thy lifetime, for she is an estate profitable unto its lord. Be not harsh, for gentleness masters her more than strength. Give (relief) unto her that for which she sigheth and that toward which her eye looketh; so shalt thou keep her in thine house.
    

    TREATMENT OF SERVANTS

21.  Satisfy thine hired servants out of such things as thou hast ; it is the duty of one that hath been favored of the God. In sooth, it is hard to satisfy hired servants. For one saith, “He is a lavish person; one knows not that which may come [from him].” But on the morrow he thinks, “He is a person of exactitude (parsimony), content therein.” And when favors have been shown unto servants, they say, “We go.” Peace dwells not in that town wherein dwell servants that are wretched.
22. Repeat not extravagant speech, neither listen thereto ; for it is the utterance of a body heated by wrath. When such speech is repeated to thee, hearken not thereto, look to the ground. Speak not regarding it, that he that is before thee may know wisdom. If thou be commanded to do a theft, bring it to pass that the command be taken off thee, for it is a thing hateful according to law. That which destroys a vision is the veil over it.
23. If thou wouldest be a wise man, and one sitting in council with his overlord, apply thine heart unto perfection. Silence is more profitable unto thee than abundance of speech. Consider how thou may be opposed by an expert that speak in council. It is a foolish thing to speak on every kind of work, for he that dispute thy words shall put them unto proof.
24. If thou be powerful, make thyself to be honored for knowledge and for gentleness. Speak with authority, that is, not as if following injunctions, for he that is humble (when highly placed) fall into errors. Exalt not thine heart, that it be not brought low. Be not silent, but beware of interruption and of answering words with heat. Put it far from thee; control thyself. The wrathful heart speaks fiery words ; it darts out at the men of peace that approach, stopping his path. One that reckons accounts all the day passes not an happy moment. One that gladdeneth his heart all the day provideth not for his house. The bowman hitteth the mark, as the steersman reacheth land, by diversity of aim “He that obeyeth his heart shall command.”

    DUTIES OF THE GREAT

25. Let not a prince be hindered when he is occupied ; neither oppress the heart of him that is already laden. For he shall be hostile toward one that delayeth him, but shall bare his soul onto one that loveth him. The disposal of souls is with the God, and that which He loveth is His creation. Set out, therefore, after a viol^it« quarrel ; be at peace with him that is hostile unto [thee] his opponent. It is such souls that make love to grow.
26. Instruct a noble in such things as be profitable unto him ; cause that he be received among men. Let his satisfaction fall on his master, for thy provision dependeth upon his will. By reason of it thy belly shall be satisfied ; thy back will be clothed thereby. Let him receive thine heart, that thine house may flourish and thine honour — “if thou wish it to flourish — thereby. He shall extend thee a kindly hand. Further, he shall implcmt the love of thee in the bodies of thy friends. Forsooth, it is a soul loving to hearken.”
27. If thou be the son of a man of the priest* hood, and an envoy to conciliate the multitude, . . . .’ speak thou without favouring one side. Let it not be said, * His conduct is that of the nobles, favouring one side in his speech.’ Turn thine aim toward exact judgments.
28. If you have been gracious at a former time, having forgiven a man to guide him aright, shun him, remind him not after the first day that he hath been silent to thee [concerning it].
29. If thou be great after being of none account; and hast gotten riches after squalor, being foremost in these in the city, and hast knowledge concerning useful matters, so that promotion is come unto thee; then swathe not thine heart in thine hoard, for thou art become the steward of the endowments of the God. Thou art not the last; another shall be thine equal, and to him shall come the like [fortune and station].
30. Bend thy back unto thy chief, thine overseer in the King’s palace, for thine house depend upon his wealth, and thy wages in their season. How foolish is one that quarrels with his chief, for one lives only while he is gracious. . . .Plunder not the houses of tenants; neither steal the things of a friend, lest he accuse thee in thine hearing, which thrust back the heart. If he know of it, he will do thee an injury. Quarreling in place of friendship is a foolish thing.
    

    THE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP

31. [Concerning unnatural sin].
32. If thou would seek out the nature of a friend, ask it not of any companion of his; but pass a time with him alone, that thou injure not his affairs. Debate with him after a season; test his heart in an occasion of speech. When he hath told thee his past life, he hath made an opportunity that thou may either be ashamed for him or be familiar with him. Be not reserved with him when he opens speech, neither answer him after a scornful manner. Withdraw not thyself from him, neither interrupt (?) him whose matter is not yet ended, whom it is possible to benefit.
33. Let thy face be bright what time thou livest. That which goes into the storehouse must come out therefrom; and bread is to be shared. He that is grasping in entertainment shall himself have an empty belly; he that causes strife brings himself sorrow. Take not such an one for thy companion. It is a man’s kindly acts that are remembered of him in the years after his life.
34. Know well thy merchants; for when thine affairs are in evil case, thy good repute among thy friends is a channel (?) which is filled. It is more important than the dignities of a man; and the wealth of one passes to another. The good repute of a man’s son is a glory unto him; and a good character is for remembrance.
35. Correct chiefly; instruct conform-ably [therewith]. Vice must be drawn out, that virtue may remain. Nor is this a matter of misfortune, for one that is a gainsayer becomes a strife maker.
36. If thou make a woman to be ashamed, wanton of heart, one known by her townsfolk to be falsely placed, be kind unto her for a space, send her not away, give her to eat. The wantonness of her heart shall esteem thy guidance. c. If thou obey these things that I have said unto thee, all thy demeanor shall be of the best, for verily, the quality of truth is among their excellencies. Set the memory of them in the mouths of the people; for their proverbs are good. Nor shall any word that hath here been set down cease out of this land for ever, but shall be made a pattern whereby princes shall speak well. They (my words) shall instruct a man how he shall speak, after he hath heard them; yea, he shall become as one skillful in obeying and excellent in speaking after he hears them. Good fortune shall befall him, for he shall be of the highest rank. He shall be gracious to the end of his life; he shall be contented always. His knowledge shall be his guide into a place of security, wherein he shall prosper while on earth. The scholar shall be content in his knowledge. As to the prince, in his turn, forsooth, his heart shall be happy, his tongue made straight. And [in these proverbs] his lips shall speak, his eyes shall see, and his ears shall hear that which is profitable for his son, so that he deal justly, void of deceit.
    

    THE BEAUTY OF OBEDIENCE

37. A splendid thing is the obedience of an obedient son; he comes in and listens obediently. Excellent in hearing, excellent in speaking, is every man that obeys what is noble; and the obedience of an obey-or is a noble thing. Obedience is better than all things that are; it makes good-will. How good it is that a son should take that from his father by which he hath reached old age (Obedience). That which is desired by the God is obedience; disobedience is abhorred of the God. Verily, it is the heart that makes its master to obey or to disobey; for the safe and sound life of a man are his heart. It is the obedient man that obeys what is said; he that loves to obey, the same shall carry out commands. He that obeyeth becometh one obeyed. It is good indeed when a son obey his father; and he (his father) that hath spoken hath great joy of it. Such a son shall be mild as a master, and he that hears him shall obey him that hath spoken. He shall be comely in body and honored by his father. His memory shall be in the mouths of the living, those upon earth, as long as they exist.
38. Let a son receive the word of his father, not being heedless of any rule of his. Instruct thy son [thus] ; for the obedient man is one that is perfect in the opinion of princes. If he direct his mouth by what hath been enjoined him, watchful and obedient, thy son shall be wise, and his goings seemly. Heedlessness leads unto disobedience in the future; but understanding shall establish him. As for the fool, he shall be crushed.
39. As for the fool, devoid of obedience, he does nothing. Knowledge he regards as ignorance, profitable things as hurtful things. He does all kind of errors, so that he is rebuked therefor every day. He lives in death there-with; it IS his food. At chattering speech he marvels as at the wisdom of princes, living in death every day. He is shunned because of his misfortunes, by reason of the multitude of afflictions that comes upon him every day.
    

    ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER

40. A son that hearkens is as a Follower of Horus. He is good after he hearkens; he grows old, he reaches honor and reverence. He repeats in like manner to his sons and daughters, so renewing the instruction of his father. Each man instructs as did his begetter, repeating it unto his children. Let them [in turn] speak with their sons and daughters, that they may be famous in their deeds. Let that which you speak implant true things and just in the life of thy children. Then the highest authority shall arrive, and sins depart [from them]. And such men as see these things shall say, “Surely that man hath spoken to good purpose”, and they shall do likewise; or: “But surely that man was experienced.” And all people will declare, “It is they that should direct the multitude; dignities are not complete without them.”Take not any word away, neither add one; set not one in the place of another. Beware of opening . . . in thyself. Be wary of speech when a learned man hearkens unto thee ; desire to be established for good in the mouth of those that hear thee speaking. If thou have entered as an expert, speak with exact (?) lips, that thy conduct may be seemly.
41. Be thine heart overflowing; but refrain thy mouth. Let thy conduct be exact while amongst nobles, and seemly before thy lord, doing that which he hath commanded. Such a son shall speak unto them that hearken to him; moreover, his begetter shall be favored. Apply thine heart, what time you speak, to saying things such that the nobles who listen declare, “How excellent is that which comes out of his mouth!”
42. Carry out the behest of thy lord to thee. How good is the teaching of a man’s father, for he hath come from him, who hath spoken of his son while he was yet unborn; and that which is done for him (the son) is more than that which is commanded him. Forsooth, a good son is of the gift of the God; he does more than is enjoined on him, he does right, and puts his heart into all his goings.
    

    WHO THE KING HONORS

    D. If now thou attain my position, thy body shall flourish; the King shall be content in all that thou does, and thou shalt gather years of life not fewer than I have passed upon earth. I have gathered even five-score and ten years of life, for the King hath bestowed upon me favors more than upon my forefathers ; this because I wrought truth and justice for the King unto mine old age.