Egyptian Literature: Comprising Egyptian tales, hymns, litanies, invocations, the Book of the Dead, and cuneiform writings
Religion
Egyptian Literature: Comprising Egyptian tales, hymns, litanies, invocations, the Book of the Dead, and cuneiform writings
Egyptian literature -- Translations into English
in Annu (Heliopolis) at the end of the second month(89) of the season Pert
(_i.e._, the season of growing) [in the presence of the divine lord of
this earth].(90) I have seen the Eye of Rā when it was full in Annu,
therefore let not evil befall me in this land and in this Hall of double
Maāti, because I, even I, know the name[s] of these gods who are therein
[and who are the followers of the great god].”(91)
The Negative Confession
[From the Papyrus of Nebseni (British Museum No. 9,900, sheet 30).]
The scribe Nebseni, triumphant, saith:
1. “Hail, thou whose strides are long, who comest forth from Annu
(Heliopolis), I have not done iniquity.
2. “Hail, thou who art embraced by flame, who comest forth from
Kher-āba,(92) I have not robbed with violence.
3. “Hail, thou divine Nose (Fenti), who comest forth from Khemennu
(Hermopolis), I have not done violence [to any man].
4. “Hail, thou who eatest shades, who comest forth from the place where
the Nile riseth,(93) I have not committed theft.
5. “Hail, Neha-hāu,(94) who comest forth from Re-stau, I have not slain
man or woman.
6. “Hail, thou double Lion-god, who comest forth from heaven, I have not
made light the bushel.
7. “Hail, thou whose two eyes are like flint,(95) who comest forth from
Sekhem (Letopolis), I have not acted deceitfully.
8. “Hail, thou Flame, who comest forth as [thou] goest back, I have not
purloined the things which belong unto God.
9. “Hail, thou Crusher of bones, who comest forth from Suten-henen
(Heracleopolis), I have not uttered falsehood.
10. “Hail, thou who makest the flame to wax strong, who comest forth from
Het-ka-Ptah (Memphis), I have not carried away food.
11. “Hail, Qerti, (_i.e._, the two sources of the Nile), who come forth
from Amentet, I have not uttered evil words.
12. “Hail, thou whose teeth shine, who comest forth from Ta-she (_i.e._,
the Fayyûm), I have attacked no man.
13. “Hail, thou who dost consume blood, who comest forth from the house of
slaughter, I have not killed the beasts [which are the property of God].
14. “Hail, thou who dost consume the entrails, who comest forth from the
_mābet_ chamber, I have not acted deceitfully.
15. “Hail, thou god of Right and Truth, who comest forth from the city of
double Maāti, I have not laid waste the lands which have been ploughed(?).
16. “Hail, thou who goest backward, who comest forth from the city of Bast
(Bubastis), I have never pried into matters [to make mischief].
17. “Hail, Aati, who comest forth from Annu (Heliopolis), I have not set
my mouth in motion [against any man].
18. “Hail, thou who art doubly evil, who comest forth from the nome of
Ati,(96) I have not given way to wrath concerning myself without a cause.
19. “Hail, thou serpent Uamemti, who comest forth from the house of
slaughter, I have not defiled the wife of a man.
20. “Hail, thou who lookest upon what is brought to him, who comest forth
from the Temple of Amsu, I have not committed any sin against purity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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