The Negative Confession

[From the Papyrus of Nebseni (British Museum No. 9,900, sheet 30).]

The scribe Nebseni, triumphant, saith:

1. “Hail, thou whose strides are long, who comest forth from Annu
(Heliopolis), I have not done iniquity.

2. “Hail, thou who art embraced by flame, who comest forth from
Kher-āba,(92) I have not robbed with violence.

3. “Hail, thou divine Nose (Fenti), who comest forth from Khemennu
(Hermopolis), I have not done violence [to any man].

4. “Hail, thou who eatest shades, who comest forth from the place where
the Nile riseth,(93) I have not committed theft.

5. “Hail, Neha-hāu,(94) who comest forth from Re-stau, I have not slain
man or woman.

6. “Hail, thou double Lion-god, who comest forth from heaven, I have not
made light the bushel.

7. “Hail, thou whose two eyes are like flint,(95) who comest forth from
Sekhem (Letopolis), I have not acted deceitfully.

8. “Hail, thou Flame, who comest forth as [thou] goest back, I have not
purloined the things which belong unto God.

9. “Hail, thou Crusher of bones, who comest forth from Suten-henen
(Heracleopolis), I have not uttered falsehood.

10. “Hail, thou who makest the flame to wax strong, who comest forth from
Het-ka-Ptah (Memphis), I have not carried away food.

11. “Hail, Qerti, (_i.e._, the two sources of the Nile), who come forth
from Amentet, I have not uttered evil words.

12. “Hail, thou whose teeth shine, who comest forth from Ta-she (_i.e._,
the Fayyûm), I have attacked no man.

13. “Hail, thou who dost consume blood, who comest forth from the house of
slaughter, I have not killed the beasts [which are the property of God].

14. “Hail, thou who dost consume the entrails, who comest forth from the
_mābet_ chamber, I have not acted deceitfully.

15. “Hail, thou god of Right and Truth, who comest forth from the city of
double Maāti, I have not laid waste the lands which have been ploughed(?).

16. “Hail, thou who goest backward, who comest forth from the city of Bast
(Bubastis), I have never pried into matters [to make mischief].

17. “Hail, Aati, who comest forth from Annu (Heliopolis), I have not set
my mouth in motion [against any man].

18. “Hail, thou who art doubly evil, who comest forth from the nome of
Ati,(96) I have not given way to wrath concerning myself without a cause.

19. “Hail, thou serpent Uamemti, who comest forth from the house of
slaughter, I have not defiled the wife of a man.

20. “Hail, thou who lookest upon what is brought to him, who comest forth
from the Temple of Amsu, I have not committed any sin against purity.

21. “Hail, Chief of the divine Princes, who comest forth from the city of
Nehatu,(97) I have not struck fear [into any man].

22. “Hail, Khemiu (_i.e._, Destroyer), who comest forth from the Lake of
Kaui, I have not encroached upon [sacred times and seasons].

23. “Hail, thou who orderest speech, who comest forth from Urit, I have
not been a man of anger.

24. “Hail, thou Child, who comest forth from the Lake of Heq-āt,(98) I
have not made myself deaf to the words of right and truth.

25. “Hail, thou disposer of speech, who comest forth from the city of
Unes,(99) I have not stirred up strife.

26. “Hail, Basti, who comest forth from the Secret city, I have made [no
man] to weep.

27. “Hail, thou whose face is [turned] backward, who comest forth from the
Dwelling, I have not committed acts of impurity, neither have I lain with
men.

28. “Hail, Leg of fire, who comest forth from Akhekhu, I have not eaten my
heart.(100)

29. “Hail, Kenemti, who comest forth from [the city of] Kenemet, I have
abused [no man].

30. “Hail, thou who bringest thine offering, who comest forth from the
city of Sau (Saïs), I have not acted with violence.

31. “Hail, thou god of faces, who comest forth from the city of Tchefet, I
have not judged hastily.

32. “Hail, thou who givest knowledge, who comest forth from Unth, I have
not ... and I have not taken vengeance upon the god.

33. “Hail, thou lord of two horns, who comest forth from Satiu, I have not
multiplied [my] speech overmuch.

34. “Hail, Nefer-Tem, who comest forth from Het-ka-Ptah (Memphis), I have
not acted with deceit, and I have not worked wickedness.

35. “Hail, Tem-Sep, who comest forth from Tattu, I have not uttered curses
[on the king].

36. “Hail, thou whose heart doth labor, who comest forth from the city of
Tebti, I have not fouled(?) water.

37. “Hail, Ahi of the water, who comest forth from Nu, I have not made
haughty my voice.

38. “Hail, thou who givest commands to mankind, who comest forth from
[Sau(?)], I have not cursed the god.

39. “Hail, Neheb-nefert, who comest forth from the Lake of Nefer(?), I
have not behaved with insolence.

40. “Hail, Neheb-kau, who comest forth from [thy] city, I have not sought
for distinctions.

41. “Hail, thou whose head is holy, who comest forth from [thy]
habitations, I have not increased my wealth, except with such things as
are [justly] mine own possessions.

42. “Hail, thou who bringest thine own arm, who comest forth from Aukert
(underworld), I have not thought scorn of the god who is in my city.”