Instruction of Amenemope

Budge1924 English printed page 140

140 THE TEACHING OF AMEN-EM-APT, THE SON OF KA-NEKHT. Translation. [The Title of the Work and its Object.] 1. (Col. I). The Beginning of the Teaching CONCERNING LiFE {i.e., of how to live), 2. [and of] the testimonies (or, admonitions) of {i.e., which lead to) safe conduct, 3. [and of] the directions for behaviour set forth by the Aqaqiu [i.e., the high officials who had the privilege of entering the council chambers of kings and governors), 4. [and of] the commandments^ of the Smeru {i.e., the friends [of the king], or high officers of state). [This Teaching and the precepts con- tained therein will enable a man] 5. to know how to return a suitable answer to him that has spoken to him, 6. [and] to carry back a [satisfactory] report to the man who has despatched him on a mission, 7. [and] will make him to follow a straight course on the roads of life, ^ The testimonies, directions for behaviour, and command- ments mentioned in the above lines are the equivalents of the testimonies, precepts, and righteous judgements spoken of by David in Psalm cxix, and the " instruction of wisdom, justice and judgement and equity," referred to by Solomon in Proverbs, Chap. I.