Behold, his mouth speaketh not as of yore, his mind is feeble, and remembereth not the deeds of yesterday: Yea, his whole body is afflicted, good is to him as evil, his tongue savoreth no longer. Alas, the old age of a man is full of misery, his nostrils drink not the breath of heaven, his lungs wax feeble, he delighteth neither to stand nor to be seated. Who shall give unto my tongue authority to utter unto the young men the counsels from of old? or who vouchsafeth unto me to declare the counsels received from on high? O Lord Osiris, let thy favor be poured out upon thy servant, and suffer that these evils be removed from those who are unenlightened. Then answered the Lord Osiris and said: Instruct them in the counsels from of old; for verily, wisdom from of old maketh the weak strong; knowledge giveth freedom to him that heareth; wisdom cries aloud, and the ear is not satisfied with hearing. Here beginneth the book of the wise sayings of the Lord Prefect Ptah-Hotep, the first-born, the son of the King, the well-beloved of the Lord: That the ignorant and the foolish may be instructed in the understanding of wisdom. Whoso giveth ear, to him shall these words be as riches; To him who heedeth them not, to the same shall come emptiness forever. Thus speaketh he, giving counsel unto his son. Be not thou puffed up with thy learning; honor the wise, neither withhold thou honor from the simple. The gates of art are closed unto none; whoso entereth thereat, though he seeketh perfection, yet shall he not find it. But the words of wisdom are hid, even as the emerald is hid in the earth, and adamant in the rock, which the slave diggeth up. Yield unto him whose strength is more than thine, who falleth upon thee in anger: be not thou inflamed, neither lay thy hands upon him; so shalt thou escape calamity. He is froward, it shall not profit thee to contend against him; be contained, and when he rageth against thee, oppose him not; so in the end shalt thou prevail over him. If one rail against thee, and flout thee, answer him not again, but be as one who cannot be moved; even so shalt thou overcome him. For the bystanders shall declare that he who, being provoked, holdeth his tongue, is greater than he who provoketh; and thou shalt be honored of those who have understanding. If thou do evil, being thereto commanded by one having authority over thee, the gods shall not condemn thee. Know the master, and the slave: be not froward: obey and reverence him to whom is given dominion over thee: None may know adversity, when it cometh, nor prosperity, when it shall relieve him, for the will of fate is hid from all: But he that abuseth his servant shall be confounded, and God who gave him authority shall suddenly take it away; and great shall be his overthrow. Be diligent, and do more than thy master commandeth thee; for the slothful servant shall be discomfited, and he that is idle shall be chidden.