h down to the grave with those who perform truth, it is laid in the
coffin and is buried in the earth; its name is never removed from the
earth, and its name is remembered on earth for good (or blessing). That
is the ordinance of the word of God. If it be a matter of a hand-balance
it never goeth askew; if it be a matter of a large pair of scales, the
standard thereof never inclineth to one side. Whether it be I who come,
or another, verily thou must make speech, but do not answer whether thou
speakest to one who ought to hold his peace, or whether thou seizest one
who cannot seize thee. Thou art not merciful, thou art not considerate.
Thou hast not withdrawn thyself, thou hast not gone afar off. But thou
hast not in any way given in respect of me any judgment in accordance
with the command, which came forth from the mouth of Ra himself, saying,
'Speak the truth, perform the truth, for truth is great, mighty, and
everlasting. When thou performest the truth thou wilt find its virtues
(?), and it will lead thee to the state of being blessed (?). If the
hand-balance is askew, the pans of the balance, which perform the
weighing, hang crookedly, and a correct weighing cannot be carried out,
and the result is a false one; even so the result of wickedness is
wickedness.'"

This peasant came the ninth time to lay his complaint [before Rensi],
and said, "The great balance of men is their tongues, and all the rest
is put to the test by the hand balance. When thou punishest the man who
ought to be punished, the act telleth in thy favour. [When he doeth not
this] falsehood becometh his possession, truth turneth away from before
him, his goods are falsehood, truth forsaketh him, and supporteth him
not. If falsehood advanceth, she maketh a mistake, and goeth not over
with the ferry-boat [to the Island of Osiris]. The man with whom
falsehood prevaileth hath no children and no heirs upon the earth. The
man in whose boat falsehood saileth never reacheth land, and his boat
never cometh into port. Be not heavy, but at the same time do not be too
light. Be not slow, but at the same time be not too quick. Rage not at
the man who is listening to thee. Cover not over thy face before the man
with whom thou art acquainted. Make not blind thy face towards the man
who is looking at thee. Thrust not aside the suppliant as thou goest
down. Be not indolent in making known thy decision. Do [good] unto him
that will do [good] unto thee. Hearken not unt