Of Knowing The Souls Of Khemennu

[From the Papyrus of Nebseni (British Museum No. 9,900, sheet 7).]

THE CHAPTER OF KNOWING THE SOULS OF KHEMENNU (Hermopolis).

“The goddess Maāt is carried by the arm at the shining of the goddess
Neith in the city of Mentchat, and at the shining of the Eye when it is
weighed. I am carried over by it and I know what it bringeth from the city
of Kesi,(76) and I will neither declare it unto men nor tell it unto the
gods. I have come, being the envoy of Rā, to stablish Maāt upon the arm at
the shining of Neith in the city of Mentchat and to adjudge the eye to him
that shall scrutinize it. I have come as a power through the knowledge of
the Souls of Khemennu (Hermopolis) who love to know what ye love. I know
Maāt, which hath germinated, and hath become strong, and hath been judged,
and I have joy in passing judgment upon the things which are to be judged.
Homage to you, O ye Souls of Khemennu, I, even I, know the things which
are unknown on the festivals of the month and half month. Rā knoweth the
hidden things of the night, and know ye that it is Thoth who hath made me
to have knowledge. Homage to you, O ye Souls of Khemennu, since I know you
each day.”

[From the Papyrus of Nu (British Museum No. 10,477, sheet 18).]

ANOTHER CHAPTER OF KNOWING THE SOULS OF KHEMENNU (HERMOPOLIS). The
chancellor-in-chief, Nu, triumphant, saith:

“The goddess Neith shineth in Matchat, and the goddess Maāt is carried by
the arm of him who eateth the Eye, and who is its divine judge, and the
Sem priest carrieth me over upon it. I will not declare it unto men, and I
will not tell it unto the gods; I will not declare it unto men, and I will
not tell it unto the gods. I have entered in being an ignorant man, and I
have seen the hidden things. Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in
Khemennu, ye know me even as I know the goddess Neith, and [ye give] to
the Eye the growth which endureth. There is joy [to me] at the judgment of
the things which are to be judged. I, even I, know the Souls of Annu; they
are great at the festival of the month, and are little at the festival of
the half month. They are Thoth the Hidden one, and Sa, and Tem.”

IF THIS CHAPTER BE KNOWN [BY THE DECEASED] OFFAL SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION
UNTO HIM, AND HE SHALL NOT DRINK FILTHY WATER.