crime? He who should do away with offences against the Law
himself committeth them. He who should act with integrity behaveth
crookedly. He who doeth acts of injustice is applauded. When wilt thou
find thyself able to resist and to put down acts of injustice? [When]
the ... cometh to his place of yesterday the command cometh: 'Do a
[good] deed in order that one may do a [good] deed [to thee],' that is
to say, 'Give thanks unto everyone for what he doeth.' This is to drive
back the bolt before it is shot, and to give a command to the man who is
already overburdened with orders. Would that a moment of destruction
might come, wherein thy vines should be laid low, and thy geese
diminished, and thy waterfowl be made few in number! [Thus] it cometh
that the man who ought to see clearly hath become blind, and he who
ought to hear distinctly hath become deaf, and he who ought to be a just
guide hath become one who leadeth into error. Observe! thou art strong
and powerful. Thine arm is able to do deeds of might, and [yet] thy
heart is avaricious. Compassion hath removed itself from thee. The
wretched man whom thou hast destroyed crieth aloud in his anguish. Thou
art like unto the messenger of the god Henti (the Crocodile-god). Set
not out [to do evil] for the Lady of the Plague (_i.e._ Sekhmet).... As
there is nothing between thee and her for a certain purpose, so there is
nothing against thee and her. If thou wilt not do it [then] she will not
show compassion. The beggar hath the powerful owner of possessions (or
revenues) robbed, and the man who hath nothing hath the man who hath
secreted [much] stolen goods. To steal anything at all from the beggar
is an absolute crime on the part of the man who is not in want, and [if
he doth this] shall his action not be inquired into? Thou art filled
full with thy bread, and art drunken with thy beer, and thou art rich
[beyond count]. When the face of the steersman is directed to what is in
front of him, the boat falleth out of its course, and saileth
whithersoever it pleaseth. When the King [remaineth] in his house, and
when thou workest the rudder, acts of injustice take place round about
thee, complaints are widespread, and the loss (?) is very serious. And
one saith, 'What is taking place?' Thou shouldst make thyself a place of
refuge [for the needy]. Thy quay should be safe. But observe! Thy town
is in commotion. Thy tongue is righteous, make no mistake [in judgment].
The abominable beh