Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 4-6)
Dd.in Hm n nTr pn
sbA r.k sw r mdt Xr HAt
ix ir.f biA n msw wrw
aq sDm im.f mtrt ib nb
Dd n.f nn msy siA
Then the Power of this god said:
Teach him then the speech from the past
that he may provide the example for the children of the great.
May hearing enter into him, the measure of every heart.
Speak to him. For noone can be born wise.
Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 6-8)
HAt-a m Tsw n mdt nfrt
Ddt.n iry-pat HAty-a
it-nTr mry nTr
sA nswt smsw n Xt.f
imy-r niwt TAty ptH-Htp
m sbA xmw r rx
r tp-Hsb n mdt nfrt
m Axt n sDm.ty.fy
m wggt n nty r tht st
Beginning of the collection of fine words
Said by the man of the elite, foremost of arm
god’s father and beloved of the god
eldest son of the king of his body
overseer of the city, vizier Ptahhotep
in teaching the ignorant to be wise
according to the rules of fine words,
something useful to whoever heeds,
and something harmful to whoever transgresses it.
Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 8-10)
Dd.in.f xr sA.f
m aA ib.k Hr rx.k
nDnD r.k Hna xm mi rx
n in.tw Drw Hmwt
nn Hmww apr Axw.f
dgA mdt nfrt r wAD
iw gm st m-a Hmwt Hr bnwt
Then he addressed his son:
Do not be proud on account of your knowledge,
but discuss with the ignorant as with the wise.
The limits of art cannot be delivered;
there is no artist whose talent is fulfilled.
Fine words are more sought after than greenstone,
but can be found with the women at the grindstone.
Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 10-13)
ir gm.k DAisw m At.f
xrp ib m iqr r.k
xAm awy.k XmsA.k
m TA ib.k r.f
nn mn.n.f n.k
sand.k Dd bin
m tm xsf sw m At.f
nis.t(w).f m xm-xt pw
rmn.n dAir ib.k aHa.f
If you meet an opponent in his moment
A director of heart who is superior to you,
bend your arms and bow;
do not take up your heart against him,
for he will not be swayed for you.
You can belittle bad speaking
by not clashing with him in his moment;
it will mean he is called a fool,
when your self-restraint has subdued his excess.
Papyrus Prisse, column 5, lines 13-14)
ir gm.k DAisw m At.f
mitw.k nty m rmnwt.k
dd.k xpr iqr.k r.f m gr
iw.f Hr mdt bint
wr wfA in sDmyw
rn.k nfr m rx n srw
If you meet an opponent in his moment
Your equal, a man from your levels,
silence is how you establish your superiority over him,
while he is bad mouthing,
greatly to the disgust of the assessors,
and your name is the good one in the mind of the officials.
Papyrus Prisse column 6, lines 1-3)
ir gm.k DAisw m At.f
m Hwrw n is mitw.k
m Ad ib.k r.f xft Xss.f
imi sw r tA xsf.f n.f Ds.f
m wSd sw r isy ib.k
m ia-ib n nty xft.k
qsn pw HDDw Hwrw ib
tw r irt ntt m ib.k
Hw.k sw m xsf n srw
If you meet an opponent in his moment
Who is a poor man, and not your equal,
do not vent your hear on him by his wretchedness.
Put him on land for him to oppose himself.
Do not pour out your heart at the man facing you.
The demolition of a wretched heart is a difficult matter.
What you wish will be done;
beat him with the hostility of the officials.
Papyrus Prisse column 6, lines 3-6)
ir wnn.k m sSmyw
Hr wD n sxr n aSAt
HH n.k sp nb mnx
r wnt sxr.k nn iw im.f
wr mAat wAH spdt
n Xnn.t(w).s Dr rk wsir
iw xsf.tw n swA Hr hpw
swAt pw m Hr n awn-ib
in nDyt iTt aHaw
n pA DAyt mni sp.s
iw.f Dd.f sxt.i r.i Ds.i
n Dd n.f sxt.i Hr Hnt.i
wn pHwy mAat wAH.s
Ddw s w it.i pw
If you are to be among leaders
at a command for the condition of the multitude,
seek out for yourself every effective moment,
until your condition reaches faultlessness.
What is right is great, and (its) keenness enduring.
It has not been overturned since the time of Osiris.
The one who overlooks laws is punished;
that is what is overlooked in the sight of the greedy.
It is the small-minded that seize riches,
but crime never managed to land its rewards.
Whoever says ‘I snare for myself’
does not say ‘I snare for my needs’.
The final part of what is right is its endurance;
of which a man says ‘that is my father’
Papyrus Prisse column 6, lines 8-10)
im.k ir Hr m rmT
xsf nTr m mitt
iw s Dd.f anx.i im
iw.f Sw m t n tp-r.f
iw s Dd.f wsr.i
iw.f Dd.f sxt.i r.i siAt.i
iw s Dd.f Hwt.f ky
iw.f pH.f rdi.t(w).f n xm.n.f
Do not cause fear among people
God punishes with the same.
Anyone who says ‘I can live by it’
will lack bread for his statement.
Anyone who say ‘I can be powerful’
will have to say ‘I snare against myself by my cleverness’.
Anyone who says he will strike another,
will end by being given to a stranger.