The Song Of The Harper

[Chanted by the singer to the harp who is in the chapel of the
Osirian, the Patriarch of Amen, the blessed Neferhotep.]

He says:

The great one is truly at rest,
the good charge is fulfilled.
Men pass away since the time of Rā(531)
and the youths come in their stead.
Like as Rā reappears every morning,
and Tum(532) sets in the horizon,
men are begetting,
and women are conceiving.
Every nostril inhaleth once the breezes of dawn,
but all born of women go down to their places.

Make a good day, O holy father!
Let odors and oils stand before thy nostril.
Wreaths of lotus are on the arms and the bosom of thy sister,
dwelling in thy heart, sitting beside thee.
Let song and music be before thy face,
and leave behind thee all evil cares!
Mind thee of joy, till cometh the day of pilgrimage,
when we draw near the land which loveth silence.
Not ...(533) peace of heart ...(534) his loving son.

Make a good day, O blessed Neferhotep,
thou patriarch perfect and pure of hands!
He finished his existence ... (the common fate of men).
Their abodes pass away,
and their place is not;
they are as they had never been born
since the time of Rā.
(They in the shades) are sitting on the bank of the river,
thy soul is among them, drinking its sacred water,
following thy heart, at peace ...(535)
Give bread to him whose field is barren,
thy name will be glorious in posterity for evermore;
they will look upon thee ...(536)
(The priest clad in the skin)(537) of a panther will pour to the
ground,
and bread will be given as offerings;
the singing-women ...(538)
Their forms are standing before Rā,
their persons are protected ...(539)
Rannu(540) will come at her hour,
and Shu will calculate his day,
thou shalt awake ...(541) (woe to the bad one!)
He shall sit miserable in the heat of infernal fires.

Make a good day, O holy father,
Neferhotep, pure of hands!
No works of buildings in Egypt could avail,
his resting-place is all his wealth ...(542)
Let me return to know what remaineth of him!
Not the least moment could be added to his life,
(when he went to) the realm of eternity.
Those who have magazines full of bread to spend,
even they shall encounter the hour of a last end.
The moment of that day will diminish the valor of the rich
...(543)

Mind thee of the day, when thou too shalt start for the land,
to which one goeth to return not thence.
Good for thee then will have been (an honest life,)
therefore be just and hate transgressions,
for he who loveth justice (will be blessed).
The coward and the bold, neither can fly, (the grave)
the friendless and proud are alike ...
Then let thy bounty give abundantly, as is fit,
(love) truth, and Isis shall bless the good,
(and thou shalt attain a happy) old age.