Instruction of Amenemope

Budge1924 English printed page 164

i 64 the teaching OF AMEN-EM-APT 324. His eye travels round about through the Two Lands (i.e., Upper and Lower Egypt). 325. Since he observes the man who makes a slip (or, mistake) with his finger, 326. He will withdraw his benefactions (or, endowments) according to what is right (?).^ 327. If the scribe continues to make slips (or, mistakes) with his finger. 328. His son will not be decreed [for employment.] [The idea that the beak of the Ibis-god (Thoth) is the finger of the scribe is new to me. It has long been known that the deceased was identified with the palette of Thoth, and the scribe’s palette with Osiris. In Chap. XCIV of the Theban Recension of the Book of the Dead, which is entitled “ Chapter of praying for an ink-pot and palette,” the deceased says, " Hail, Aged God, who sees his father, guardian of the Book of Thoth. I bring [them], I hasten, Aker, dweller in Set. I bring the ink-pot and the palette, which are the necessary things for the hand of Thoth ; hidden (or, secret) is what is in them. Behold me, a scribe. I bring the corruptible body of Osiris, I write on it. I make {i.e., write) the words of the great and beautiful god every day, happily. Thou didst order me, Her-Aakhuti. I do what is right {i.e., I perform truth), I bear it to thee every day.” On the palette as Osiris see Pietschmann, Der Verstorbene als Schriebp alette in Festschrift fiir Georg Ebers, Leipzig, 1897, p. 82.] LXVII. 329. If thou wilt pass the days of thy life these things being in thy heart, 330. Thy children — ^behold them ! iOS=Qv V V n AWWV ^ The transcription ^ ll^cg m ^ 'f°'^htful.