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 unto the cry of the mob, who say, ‘A man will assuredly cry out when his case is really righteous.’  There is no yesterday for the indolent man, there is no friend for the man who is deaf to [the words of] truth, and there is no day of rejoicing for the avaricious man.  The informer becometh a poor man, and the poor man becometh a beggar, and the unfriendly man becometh a dead person.  Observe now, I have laid my complaint before thee, but thou wilt not hearken unto it; I shall now depart, and make my complaint against thee to Anubis.”

Then Rensi, the son of Meru, the steward, caused two of his servants to go and bring back the peasant.  Now this peasant was afraid, for he believed that he would be beaten severely because of the words which he had spoken to him.  And this peasant said, “This is [like] the coming of the thirsty man to salt tears, and the taking of the mouth of the suckling child to the breast of the woman that is dry.  That the sight of which is longed for cometh not, and only death approacheth.”