[Footnote 1:  The Forty-two gods represent the forty-two nomes, or counties, into which Egypt was divided.]

[Illustration:  Her-Heru and Queen Netchemet standing in the Hall of Osiris and praying to the God, whilst the Heart of the Queen is being weighed in the Balance. From a papyrus (about 1050 B.C.) in the British Museum.]

In the second part of the Chapter the deceased repeats many of the above declarations of his innocence, but with each declaration the name of one of the Forty-two Judges is coupled.  Thus we have: 

     1.  “Hail, thou of the long strides, who comest forth from
     Heliopolis, I have not committed sin.

     2.  “Hail, thou who art embraced by flame, who comest forth from
     Kheraha, I have not robbed with violence.

     3.  “Hail, Nose, who comest forth from Hermopolis, I have not done
     violence [to any man].

     4.  “Hail, Eater of shadows, who comest forth from the Qerti, I have
     not thieved.

     5.  “Hail, Stinking Face, who comest forth from Rastau, I have not
     slain man or woman.

     9.  “Hail, Crusher of bones, who comest forth from Hensu, I have not
     lied.”

Nothing is known of the greater number of these Forty-two gods, but it is probable that they were local gods or spirits, each one representing a nome, whose names were added to the declarations with the view of making the Forty-two Judges represent all Egypt.

In the third part of the Chapter we find that the religious ideas expressed by the deceased have a far more personal character than those of the first and second parts.  Thus, having declared his innocence of the forty-two sins or offences, “the heart which is righteous and sinless” says: 

“Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in your Hall of Maati!  I know you and I know your names.  Let me not fall under your knives, and bring ye not before the god whom ye follow my wickedness, and let not evil come upon me through you.  Declare ye me innocent in the presence of Nebertcher,[1] because I have done that which is right in Tamera (Egypt), neither blaspheming God, nor imputing evil (?) to the king in his day.  Homage to you, O ye gods, who live in your Hall of Maati, who have no taint of sin in you, who live upon truth, who feed upon truth before Horus, the dweller in his disk.  Deliver me from Baba, who liveth upon the entrails of the mighty ones, on the day of the Great Judgment.  Let me come to you, for I have not committed offences [against you]; I have not done evil, I have not borne false witness; therefore let nothing [evil] be done unto me.  I live upon truth.  I feed upon truth.  I have performed the commandments of men, and the things which make the gods contented.  I have made the god to be at peace [with me by doing] that which is his will.  I have given bread to the hungry man, and water to the thirsty man, and apparel to