The Instructions of Ptah-Hotep
Do These Things and Prosper
If you obey these things that I have said unto you, all your demeanor shall be of the best; for, verily, the quality of truth is among their excellences. Set the memory of them in the mouths of the people; for their proverbs are good.
Nor shall any word that has 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 has heard them ; yea, he shall become as one skilful in obeying, excellent in speaking, after he has heard 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.
