Teaching for King Merykara

The Teaching for King Merykara, or Instruction Addressed to King Merikare, is a literary composition in Middle Egyptian, the classical phase of the Egyptian language, probably of Middle Kingdom date (2025–1700 BC). In this sebayt the author has a First Intermediate Period king of Egypt possibly named Kheti address his son, the future king Merykara, advising him on how to be a good king, and how to avoid evil.

Quotes

  • Be skillful in speech, that you may be strong; [...] it is the strength of [...] the tongue, and words are braver than all fighting; none can circumvent the clever man [...] on the mat; a wise man is a [school] for the magnates, and those who are aware of his knowledge do not attack him.
    • Par. 4 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
  • Copy your forefathers, for [work] is carried out through knowledge; see, their words endure in writing. Open, that you may read and copy knowledge; (even) the expert will become one who is instructed. Do not be evil, for patience is good; make your lasting monument in the love of you.
    • Par. 5 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
  • Wretched is he who has bound the land to himself [...]; a fool is he who is greedy when others possess. Life on earth passes away, it is not long; he is fortunate who has a good remembrance in it.
    • Par. 6 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
  • Do justice, that you may live long upon earth. Calm the weeper, do not oppress the widow, do not oust a man from his father’s property, do not degrade magnates from their seats. Beware of punishing wrongfully; do not kill, for it will not profit you.
    • Par. 8 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
  • More acceptable is the character of the straightforward man than the ox of the wrongdoer. Serve God, that He may do the like for you, with offerings for replenishing the altars and with carving; it is that which will show forth your name, and God is aware of whoever serves Him. Provide for men, the cattle of God, for He made heaven and earth at their desire. He suppressed the greed of the waters, he gave the breath of life to their noses, for they are likenesses of Him which issued from His flesh.
    • Par. 22 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
  • Instill the love of you into all the world, for a good character is what is remembered.
    • Par. 24 (tr. R. O. Faulkner, 1972)
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