Ipuwer fue un profeta y sabio egipcio, presumiblemente de la dinastia XIV, que escribió al faraón dando una visión bastante apocalíptica de lo que estaba ocurriendo en esos días en Egipto. Aquí encontrareis la traducción de los restos encontrados de un papiro de la dinastia XIX copia del que Ipuwer escribió.

Supongo que os estareis preguntando, qué tiene que ver un papiro egipcio con la Atlántida, ¿me equivoco? :) Bien, pues quizás nada, quizás mucho, todo siempre según los ojos con que lo mires. A mi entender este texto es uno de los datos más fiables que tenemos de una época de caos que ocurrió aproximadamente entre el 1.600 y el 1.450 a.C., aunque quizás el dato más relevante es la referencia que hace de Keftiu. Pero no voy a contaros mucho más ahora, eso lo dejaré para otro día.

El papiro de Ipuwer es también conocido como 'el papiro de Leiden #344' que es el museo holandés donde se encuentra. El estilo de escritura parece indicar que pertenece al periodo de la dinastía XIX pero este papiro se trata de una copia de otro escrito con anterioridad. Así lo dijo Sir Alan H. Gardiner, el primer egiptólogo que lo estudió a fondo en el año 1909, que defendía la hipótesis de que el texto contaba el caos que hubo en Egipto alrededor de la dinastia XII aunque posteriores estudios lo acercaron a la época de las dinastias XIII o XIV.

En fin, dado lo tumultuoso de identificar hechos de algo que ocurrió hace unos 3.500 años y más aún de asociarlo a una determinada dinastia pues nos quedamos con que pertenece como mínimo a la XIV (dinastía en la que se supone que Ipuwer vivió) y sobre el año 1.600 a.C., que tampoco es cuestión de andarse peleando.

Desafortunadamente el papiro está bastante deteriorado. Tanto el principio como el final ha desaparecido y el texto en sí tiene algún que otro agujero o rasguño en ciertas palabras o frases. En él, Ipuwer relata al faraón (seguramente el nombre de este faraón estaría en el encabezado) como Egipto se halla en el más absoluto caos y le insta a que restablezca el orden. Y ahí Ipuwer habla de esa otra tierra que también está sufriendo, Keftiu.

Esto ha sido un muy pequeño anticipo de lo que otro día desarrollaré con mayor detalle, ahora os voy a escribir la traducción de lo que ha quedado del papiro. Primero teneis una versión castellana en la que faltan algunas partes. Versión que podeis conseguir en el libro "Textos para la historia antigua de Egipto" de José Miguel Serrano Delgado. Después teneis todo el papiro en inglés para aquellos que quieran profundizar más en él. Si lo leeis con atención podreis notar y sentir la agonia que Egipto pasaba en esos instantes.. es un escenario nada envidiable.

Capítulo 1

(I)... Los porteros exclaman: "¡Vayamos a saquear!". Los confiteros (?)... El lavandero rehúsa llevar su carga... [los cazadores] de aves se han dispuesto en orden de batalla... [los habitantes] del Delta llevan escudos... Los cerveceros... tristes. El hombre mira a su hijo como a su enemigo... "Ven y conquista"... Esto que fue predestinado para nosotros en el tiempo de Horus, en la época de [la Enéada de los Dioses]... El hombre virtuoso deambula lamentándose a causa de lo que ha sucedido en el país... Los extranjeros se han convertido en egipcios por todas partes...

Capítulo 2

(II) Mira, el rostro está pálido, y el arquero, preparado. Hay maldad por todas partes. No existe ya el hombre de ayer. Mira, el saqueador... por todas partes. El criado se apodera de lo que encuentra. Mira, el Nilo se desborda, pero nadie ara para él. Todos exclaman: "No sabemos qúe ha sucedido en el país". Mira, las mujeres son estériles; ninguna concibe. Khnum no da forma (a la humanidad) a causa de la situación del país. Mira, los pobres se han convertido en poseedores de riquezas. Aquél que no podía hacerse un par sandalias es un señor de bienes. Mira, los esclavos de la gente, sus corazones son miserables. Los nobles no fraternizan con su gente cuando están gritando...

(VII) Mira, los nobles se lamentan: los pobres se regocijan. Cada ciudad exclama: "¡Expulsemos al poderoso de entre nosotros!". Mira, los hombres son como ibises negros. La suciedad se extiende por la tierra. No existe en este tiempo nadie cuyas ropas sean blancas. Mira, el país está girando, como hace el torno del alfarero; el ladrón es un poseedor de riquezas [en tanto que el noble se ha convertido en] un saqueador. Mira, los fieles son como... El plebeyo [se lamenta]: "¡Terrible! ¿Qué voy a hacer?"...

Capítulo 3

(VII) Hoy nadie navega hasta Biblos. ¿Qué haremos respecto a la madera de cedro para nuestras momias? Los sacerdotes son enterrados con sus productos; los nobles son embalsamados con sus óleos correspondientes, hasta tan lejos como Keftiu. Pero ya no llegan; el oro escasea. Se han terminado... las materias primas para todo tipo de trabajos. Ha sido desplazado... del palacio real, v.p.s.. ¿Cuántas veces vienen los habitantes de los oasis con sus ofrendas para el festival, [sus] esteras, [pieles], con plantas frescas... y grasa de aves...?

(X) Mira, Elefantina, Tinis... del Alto Egipto, sin pagar impuestos a causa de la contienda (civil). Falta el grano, el carbón de la leña, la fruta-irtyu, la madera-maau, la madera-nut, los arbustos. Se echa en falta el trabajo de los artesanos... ¿Para qué (sirve) un tesoro sin sus impuestos? Feliz ciertamente es el corazón del rey a quien llegan presentes. Y si [viene] cada país extranjero, es nuestro éxito; es nuestra fortuna. ¿Qué es lo que vamos a hacer al respecto? Todo está arruinado...

Capitulo 5

(XI) Mira, los caminos están [bloqueados]; las rutas están vigiladas. La gente se sienta bajo los matorrales, hasta que el (viajero) nocturno llega, para apoderarse de su carga. Se le arrebata lo que lleva; se le apalea a golpes de garrote, y es malamente asesinado. Mira, lo que ayer (aún) se veía (hoy) se ha esfumado. El país ha sido abandonado a su debilidad, como (el acto de) cortar el lino (?). Las gentes del pueblo van y vienen llenos de aflicción... ¡Ojalá esto fuera el fin de la humanidad!, sin más concepciones ni nacimientos.

Capítulo 6

(I) Entonces la tierra dejaría de dar voces, y no habría (más) tumultos. Mira, [la gente se come] la hierba, lavada con agua. Ni fruta ni hierba se encuentran [para] las aves... es arrebatado de la boca de los cerdos. Ningún rostro brilla... por el hambre. Mira, el cereal ha esaparecido de todas pares. La gente es despojada de los vestidos, no ungida con óleo. Todos exclaman: "¡No hay nada!". El almacén está vacío, y su guardián está tendido en el suelo. ¡Ojalá hubiera yo alzado mi voz en ese momento para que ella me rescatara de esta dolorosa situación en la que me encuentro! Mira la Cámara Privada, sus escritos han sido robados, y han sido revelados los secretos que [allí] había. Mira, las fórmulas mágicas se han divulgado; los encantamientos shemu y sekhenu son ineficaces a causa de que la gente los repite. Mira, se han abierto los arhivos, y han sido robados sus inventarios. Los esclavos se han convertido en señores de esclavos. Mira [los escribas] son asesinados, y sus escritos, robados. ¡Maldito yo por la miseria de este tiempo! Mira, los escribas del catastro, sus escritos han sido destruidos. El cereal de Egipto es propiedad comunal. Mira, las leyes de la Cámara Privada han sido arrojadas fuera. La gente anda sobre ellas en los lugares públicos, y los pobres las quebrantan por las calles. Mira, el pobre ha alcanzado el lugar de la Enéada de los dioses. Los proceimientos de la Casa de los Treinta se han divulgado. Mira, la Gran Cámara del Consejo está invadida; los pobres van y vienen por las grandes mansiones. Mira, los hijos de los nobles han sido arrojados a la calle. El sabio dice "Sí"; el ignorante dice "No". El que no lo conoce está complacido. Mira, los que estaban en las tumbas han sido puestos en el terraplén; los secretos de los embalsamadores se han derrumbado.

Capítulo 7

(I) Mirad, el fuego se ha lanzado al o alto; su llama surge contra los enemigos del país. Mirad, cosas se han hecho que no habían sucedido desde hacía mucho tiempo: el rey ha sido arrebatado por los pobres. Mirad, el que había sido enterrado como un halcón... Lo que ocultaba la pirámide ha quedado vacío. Mirad, pues; la tierra ha sido privada de la realeza por unos pocos hombres que desconocen las costumbres. Mirad, se han rebelado contra el Uraeus... de Re, que pacifica las Dos Tierras. Mirad, los secretos del país, cuyos límites no se conocen, se han divulgado. La Residencia ha sido derrumbada en un minuto. Mirad, Egipto se ha puesto a verter agua. El que (antes) vertía agua, ha atrapado al poderoso en la miseria. Mirad, la serpiente ha sido arrebatada de su agujero; se han divulgado los secretos de los reyes del Alto y Bajo Egipto...

Capítulo 9

(I) Mirad, aquellos que (antes) poseían camas ahora yacen sobre el suelo. El que yacía en la suciedad prepara (ahora) para sí un tapiz de piel. Mirad, las mujeres nobles vagan hambrientas; (en cambio) los siervos están saciados con lo que se ha hecho para ellos. Mirad, ninguna de las dignidades (oficiales) está en su sitio, como un rebaño descarriado sin pastor. Mirad, el ganado anda extraviado, sin nadie que lo reúna de nuevo. Cada uno lo busca para sí, marcándolo con su nombre. Mirad, el hombre es asesinado junto a su hermano, que huye y lo abandona para protegerse a sí mismo. Mirad, el que no poseía una yunta (de bueyes) ahora tiene una manada. El que no podía proporcionarse bueyes para arar, (ahora) posee un rebaño. Mirad, el que no tenía ni sus semillas ahora posee graneros. Aquel que se procuraba cereal en préstamo es ahora quien lo proporciona. Mirad, el que carecía de dependientes ahora posee siervos. El que había sido un notable ahora tiene que hacer él mismo los recados. Mirad, los poderosos del país no son informados. Los asuntos del pueblo se han arruinado...

Capítulo 12

(XII) Autoridad, Conocimiento y Verdad están contigo, y sin embargo es la confusión lo que difundes por el país, junto con el ruido del tumulto. Mira, los hombres se atacan unos a otros. (La gente) se extralimita de acuerdo con lo que tú (mismo) has ordenado. Si tres hombres mrchan por un camino, pronto se encuentra que son (sólo) dos, pues el (número) grande mata la pequeño. ¿Es que hay un pastor que ame la muerte? Así pues, ordena dar una respuesta, pues esto significa que lo que uno ama el otro (lo) detesta. Esto significa reducir sus formas por todos lados. Esto significa que tu acción es lo que originó eso. Tú has hablado falsamente...

Capítulo 1

[. . .] The door [keepers] say: "Let us go and plunder." The confectioners [. . .]. The washerman refuses to carry his load [. . .] the bird [catchers] have drawn up in line of battle [. . . the inhabitants] of the Delta carry shields.

The brewers/[. . .] sad. A man regards his son as his enemy. Confusion [. . .] another. Come and conquer; judge [. . .] what was ordained for you in the time of Horus, in the age [of the Ennead . . .]. The virtuous man goes in mourning because of what has happened in the land [. . .] goes [. . .] the tribes of the desert have become Egyptians everywhere.

Indeed, the face is pale;/[. . .] what the ancestors foretold has arrived at [fruition . . .] the land is full of confederates, and a man goes to plough with his shield. Indeed, the meek say: ["He who is . . . of] face is as a well-born man."
Indeed, [the face] is pale; the bowman is ready, wrongdoing is everywhere, and there is no man of yesterday. Indeed, the plunderer [. . .] everywhere, and the servant takes what he finds.
Indeed, the Nile overflows, yet none plough for it. Everyone says: "We do not know what will happen throughout the land." Indeed, the women are barren and none conceive. Khnum fashions (men) no more because of the condition of the land.

Capítulo 2

Indeed, poor men have become owners of wealth, and he who could not make sandals for himself is now a possessor of riches. Indeed, men's slaves, their hearts are sad, and magistrates do not fraternize with their people when they shout.
Indeed, [hearts] are violent, pestilence is throughout the land, blood is everywhere, death is not lacking, and the mummy-cloth speaks even before one comes near it.
Indeed, many dead are buried in the river; the stream is a sepulcher and the place of embalmment has become a stream.
Indeed, noblemen are in distress, while the poor man is full of joy. Every town says: "Let us suppress the powerful among us."
Indeed, men are like ibises. Squalor is throughout the land, and there are none indeed whose clothes are white in these times.
Indeed, the land turns around as does a potter's wheel; the robber is a possessor of riches and [the rich man is become] a plunderer.
Indeed, trusty servants are [. . .]; the poor man [complains]: "How terrible! What am I to do?"
Indeed, the river is blood, yet men drink of it. Men shrink from human beings and thirst after water.
Indeed, gates, columns and walls are burnt up, while the hall of the palace stands firm and endures.
Indeed, the ship of [the southerners] has broken up; towns are destroyed and Upper Egypt has become an empty waste.
Indeed, crocodiles [are glutted] with the fish they have taken, for men go to them of their own accord; it is the destruction of the land. Men say: "Do not walk here; behold, it is a net."
Behold, men tread [the water] like fishes, and the frightened man cannot distinguish it because of terror.
Indeed, men are few, and he who places his brother in the ground is everywhere. When the wise man speaks, [he flees without delay].
Indeed, the well-born man [. . .] through lack of recognition, and the child of his lady has become the son of his maidservant.

Capítulo 3

/Indeed, the desert is throughout the land, the nomes are laid waste, and barbarians from abroad have come to Egypt. Indeed, men arrive [. . .] and indeed, there are no Egyptians anywhere.
Indeed, gold and lapis lazuli, silver and turquoise, carnelian and amethyst, Ibhet-stone and [. . .] are strung on the necks of maidservants. Good things are throughout the land, (yet) housewives say: "Oh that we had something to eat!"
Indeed, [. . .] noblewomen. Their bodies are in sad plight by reason of their rags, and their hearts sink when greeting [one another].
Indeed, /chests of ebony are broken up, and precious ssndm-wood is cleft asunder in beds [. . .].
Indeed, the builders [of pyramids have become] cultivators, and those who were in the sacred bark are now yoked [to it]. None shall indeed sail northward to Byblos today; what shall we do for cedar trees for our mummies, and with the produce of which priests are buried and with the oil of which [chiefs] are embalmed as far as Keftiu? They come no more; gold is lacking [. . .] and materials for every kind of craft have come to an end. The [. . .] of the palace is despoiled. How often do people of the oases come with their festival spices, mats, and skins, with fresh rdmt-plants, /grease of birds . . . ?
Indeed, Elephantine and Thinis [are in the series] of Upper Egypt, (but) without paying taxes owing to civil strife. Lacking are grain, charcoal, irtyw-fruit, m;'w-wood, nwt-wood, and brushwood. The work of craftsmen and [. . .] are the profit of the palace. To what purpose is a treasury without its revenues? Happy indeed is the heart of the king when truth comes to him! And every foreign land [comes]! That is our fate and that is our happiness! What can we do about it? All is ruin!
Indeed, laughter is perished and is [no longer] made; it is groaning that is throughout the land, mingled with complaints.

Capítulo 4

Indeed, every dead person is as a well-born man. Those who were / Egyptians [have become] foreigners and are thrust aside. Indeed, hair [has fallen out] for everybody, and the man of rank can no longer be distinguished from him who is nobody. Indeed, [. . .] because of noise; noise is not [. . .] in years of noise, and there is no end [of] noise.
Indeed, great and small {say}: "I wish I might die." Little children say: "He should not have caused {me} to live."
Indeed, the children of princes are dashed against walls, and the children of the neck are laid out on the high ground.
Indeed, those who were in the place of embalmment are laid out on the high ground, and the secrets of the embalmers are thrown down because of it.
Indeed, / that has perished which yesterday was seen, and the land is left over to its weakness like the cutting of flax.
Indeed, the Delta in its entirety will not be hidden, and Lower Egypt puts trust in trodden roads. What can one do? No [. . .] exist anywhere, and men say: "Perdition to the secret place!"
Behold, it is in the hands of those who do not know it like those who know it. The desert dwellers are skilled in the crafts of the Delta.
Indeed, citizens are put to the corn-rubbers, and those who used to don fine linen are beaten with . . . Those who used never to see the day have gone out unhindered; those who were on their husbands' beds, / let them lie on rafts. I say: "It is too heavy for me," concerning rafts bearing myrrh. Load them with vessels filled with [. . . Let] them know the palanquin. As for the butler, he is ruined. There are no remedies for it; noblewomen suffer like maidservants, minstrels are at the looms within the weaving-rooms, and what they sing to the Songstree-goddess is mourning. Talkers [. . .] corn-rubbers.
Indeed, all female slaves are free with their tongues, and when their mistress speaks, it is irksome to the maidservants.
Indeed, trees are felled and branches are stripped off.

Capítulo 5

I have separated him and his household slaves, / and men will say when they hear it: "Cakes are lacking for most children; there is no food [. . .]. What is the taste of it like today?" Indeed, magnates are hungry and perishing, followers are followed [. . .] because of complaints.
Indeed, the hot-tempered man says: "If I knew where God is, then I would serve Him."
Indeed, [Right] pervades the land in name, but what men do in trusting to it is Wrong.
Indeed, runners are fighting over the spoil [of ] / the robber, and all his property is carried off.
Indeed, all animals, their hearts weep; cattle moan because of the state of the land.
Indeed, the children of princes are dashed against walls, and the children of the neck are laid out on the high ground. Khnum groans because of his weariness.
Indeed, terror kills;16 the frightened man opposes what is done against your enemies. Moreover, the few are pleased, while the rest are . . . Is it by following the crocodile and cleaving it asunder? Is it by slaying the lion roasted on the fire? [Is it] by sprinkling for Ptah and taking [. . .]? Why do you give to him? There is no reaching him. It is misery which you give to him.
Indeed, slaves . . . / throughout the land, and the strong man sends to everyone; a man strikes his maternal brother. What is it that has been done? I speak to a ruined man.
Indeed, the ways are [. . .], the roads are watched; men sit in the bushes until the benighted traveler comes in order to plunder his burden, and what is upon him is taken away.
He is belabored with blows of a stick and murdered.
Indeed, that has perished which yesterday was seen, and the land is left over to its weakness like the cutting of flax, commoners coming and going in dissolution [. . .].

Capítulo 6

Would that there were an end of men, without conception, / without birth! Then would the land be quiet from noise and tumult be no more.
Indeed, [men eat] herbage and wash {it} down with water; neither fruit nor herbage can be found {for} the birds, and [. . .] is taken away from the mouth of the pig. No face is bright which you have {. . .} for me through hunger.
Indeed, everywhere barley has perished and men are stripped of clothes, spice, and oil; everyone says: "There is none." The storehouse is empty and its keeper is stretched on the ground; a happy state of affairs! . . ./
Would that I had raised my voice at that moment, that it might have saved me from the pain in which I am.
Indeed, the private council-chamber, its writings are taken away and the mysteries which were {in it} are laid bare.
Indeed, magic spells are divulged; smw- and shnw-spells are frustrated because they are remembered by men.
Indeed, public offices are opened and their inventories are taken away; the serf has become an owner of serfs.
Indeed, [scribes] are killed and their writings are taken away. Woe is me because of the misery of this time!
Indeed, the writings of the scribes of the cadaster are destroyed, and the corn of Egypt is common property.
Indeed, the laws / of the council chamber are thrown out; indeed, men walk on them in public places, and poor men break them up in the streets.
Indeed, the poor man has attained to the state of the Nine Gods, and the erstwhile procedure of the House of the Thirty is divulged.
Indeed, the great council-chamber is a popular resort, and poor men come and go to the Great Mansions.
Indeed, the children of magnates are ejected into the streets; the wise man agrees and the fool says "no," and it is pleasing in the sight of him who knows nothing about it.
Indeed, those who were in the place of embalmment are laid out on the high ground, and the secrets of the embalmers are thrown down because of it.

Capítulo 7

/ Behold, the fire has gone up on high, and its burning goes forth against the enemies of the land.
Behold, things have been done which have not happened for a long time past; the king has been deposed by the rabble.
Behold, he who was buried as a falcon {is devoid} of biers, and what the pyramid concealed has become empty.
Behold, it has befallen that the land has been deprived of the kingship by a few lawless men.
Behold, men have fallen into rebellion against the Uraeus, the [. . .] of Re, even she who makes the Two Lands content.
Behold, the secret of the land whose limits were unknown is divulged, and the Residence is thrown down in a moment.
Behold, Egypt is fallen to / pouring of water, and he who poured water on the ground has carried off the strong man in misery.
Behold, the Serpent is taken from its hole, and the secrets of the Kings of Upper and Lower Egypt are divulged.
Behold, the Residence is afraid because of want, and [men go about] unopposed to stir up strife.
Behold, the land has knotted itself up with confederacies, and the coward takes the brave man's property.
Behold, the Serpent [. . .] the dead: he who could not make a sarcophagus for himself is now the possessor of a tomb.
Behold, the possessors of tombs are ejected on to the high ground, while he who could not make a coffin for himself is now {the possessor} of a treasury.
Behold, this has happened {to} men; he who could not build a room for himself is now a possessor of walls.
Behold, the magistrates of the land are driven out throughout the land: {. . .} are driven out from the / palaces.
Behold, noble ladies are now on rafts, and magnates are in the labor establishment, while he who could not sleep even on walls is now the possessor of a bed.
Behold, the possessor of wealth now spends the night thirsty, while he who once begged his dregs for himself is now the possessor of overflowing bowls.
Behold, the possessors of robes are now in rags, while he who could not weave for himself is now a possessor of fine linen. Behold, he who could not build a boat for himself is now the possessor of a fleet; their erstwhile owner looks at them, but they are not his.
Behold, he who had no shade is now the possessor of shade, while the erstwhile possessors of shade are now in the full blast of the storm.
Behold, he who was ignorant of the lyre is now the possessor of a harp, while he who never sang for himself now vaunts the Songstress-goddess.
Behold, those who possessed vessel-stands of copper {. . .} not one of the jars therof has been adorned.

Capítulo 8

Behold, he who slept / wifeless through want [finds] riches, while he whom he never saw stands making dole.
Behold, he who had no property is now a possessor of wealth, and the magnate praises him.
Behold, the poor of the land have become rich, and the {erstwhile owner} of property is one who has nothing.
Behold, serving-men have become masters of butlers, and he who was once a messenger now sends someone else.
Behold, he who had no loaf is now the owner of a barn, and his storehouse is provided with the goods of another.
Behold, he whose hair is fallen out and who had no oil has now become the possessors of jars of sweet myrrh.
/ Behold, she who had no box is now the owner of a coffer, and she who had to look at her face in the water is now the owner of a mirror.
Behold, {. . .}.
Behold, a man is happy eating his food. Consume your goods in gladness and unhindered, for it is good for a man to eat his food; God commands it for him whom He has favored {. . .}.
{Behold, he who did not know} his god now offers to him with incense of another [who is] not known [to him].
[Behold,] great ladies, once possessors of riches, now give their children for beds.
Behold, a man [to whom is given] a noble lady as wife, her father protects him, and he who has not {. . .} killing him. Behold, the children of magistrates are [ . . . the calves] / of cattle [are given over] to the plunderers.
Behold, priests transgress with the cattle of the poor [. . .]. Behold, he who could not slaughter for himself now slaughters bulls, and he who did not know how to carve now sees [. . .]. Behold, priests transgress with geese, which are given {to} the gods instead of oxen.
Behold, maidservants [. . .] offer ducks; noblewomen {. . .}. Behold, noblewomen flee; the overseers of [. . .] and their [children] are cast down through fear of death.
{Behold,} the chiefs of the land flee; there is no purpose for them because of want. The lord of [. . .].

Capítulo 9

[Behold,] / those who once owned beds are now on the ground, while he who once slept in squalor now lays out a skin-mat for himself.
Behold, noblewomen go hungry, while the priests are sated with what has been prepared for them.
Behold, no offices are in their right place, like a herd running at random without a herdsman.
Behold, cattle stray and there is none to collect them, but everyone fetches for himself those that are branded with his name.
Behold, a man is slain beside his brother, who runs away and abandons him to save his own skin.
Behold, he who had no yoke of oxen is now the owner of a herd, and he who could find for himself no ploughman is now the owner of cattle.
Behold, he who had no grain is now the owner of granaries, / and he who had to fetch loan-corn for himself is now one who issues it.
Behold, he who had no dependents is now an owner of serfs, and he who was {a magnate} now performs his own errands.
Behold, the strong men of the land, the condition of the people is not reported {to them}. All is ruin!
Behold, no craftsmen work, for the enemies of the land have impoverished its craftsmen.
[Behold, he who once recorded] the harvest now knows nothing about it, while he who never ploughed [for himself is now the owner of corn; the reaping] takes place but is not reported. The scribe [sits in his office], but his hands [are idle] in it.
Destroyed is [. . .] in that time, and a man looks [on his friend as] an adversary. The infirm man brings coolness [to what is hot . . .] fear [. . . / . . .]. Poor men [. . . the land] is not bright because of it.

Capítulo 10

Destroyed is [. . .] their food is taken from them [. . . through] fear of his terror. The commoner begs [. . .] messenger, but not [. . .] time. He is captured laden with goods and [all his property] is taken away. [. . .] men pass by his door [. . .] the outside of the wall, a shed, and rooms containing falcons. It is the common man who will be vigilant, / the day having dawned on him without his dreading it. Men run because of {. . . for} the temple of the head, strained through a woven cloth within the house. What they make are tents, just like the desert folk.
Destroyed is the doing of that for which men are sent by retainers in the service of their masters; they have no readiness. Behold, they are five men, and they say: "Go on the road you know, for we have arrived."
Lower Egypt weeps; the king's storehouse is the common property of everyone, and the entire palace is without its revenues. To it belong emmer and barley, fowl and fish; to it belong white cloth and fine linen, copper and oil; / to it belong carpet and mat, [. . .] flowers and wheat-sheaf and all good revenues . . .
If the . . . it in the palace were delayed, men would be devoid [of . . .].
Destroy the enemies of the august Residence, splendid of magistrates [. . .] in it like [. . .]; indeed, the Governor of the City goes unescorted.
Destroy [the enemies of the august Residence,] splendid [. . .]. [Destroy the enemies of] that erstwhile august Residence, manifold of laws [. . .].
[Destroy the enemies of] / that erstwhile august [Residence . . .].
Destroy the enemies of that erstwhile august Residence [. . .] none can stand [. . .].
Destroy the enemies of that erstwhile august Residence, manifold of offices; indeed [. . .].
Remember to immerse [. . .] him who is in pain when he is sick in his body; show respect [. . .] because of his god that he may guard the utterance [. . .] his children who are witnesses of the surging of the flood.

Capítulo 11

Remember to [. . . / . . .]. . . shrine, to fumigate with incense and to offer water in a jar in the early morning. Remember {to bring} fat r-geese, trp-geese, and ducks and to offer god's offerings to the gods.
Remember to chew natron and to prepare white bread; a man {should do it} on the day of wetting the head.
Remember to erect flagstaffs and to carve offering stones, the priest cleansing the chapels and the temple being plastered (white) like milk; to make pleasant the odor of the horizon and to provide bread-offerings.
Remember to observe regulations, to fix dates correctly, and to remove him who enters / on the priestly office in impurity of body, for that is doing it wrongfully, it is destruction of the heart [. . .] the day which precedes eternity, the months [. . .] years are known.
Remember to slaughter oxen [. . .].
Remember to go forth purged [. . .] who calls to you; to put r-geese on the fire [. . .] to open the jar [. . .] the shore of the waters [. . .] of women [. . .] clothing [. . . / . . .] to give praise . . . in order to appease you.
[. . .] lack of people; come [. . .] Re who commands [. . .] worshipping him [. . .] West until [. . .] are diminished [. . .].
Behold, why does he seek to fashion {men . . .}? The frightened man is not distinguished from the violent one.

Capítulo 12

He brings coolness upon heat; / men say: "He is the herdsman of mankind, and there is no evil in his heart." Though his herds are few, yet he spends a day to colloect them, their hearts being on fire. Would that he had perceived their nature in the first generation; then he would have imposed obstacles, he would have stretched out his arm against them, he would have destroyed their herds and their heritage. Men desire the giving of birth, but sadness supervenes, with needy people on all sides. So it is, and it will not pass away while the gods who are in the midst of it exist. Seed goes forth into mortal women, but none are found on the road. Combat has gone forth, / and he who should be a redresser of evils is one who commits them; neither do men act as pilot in their hour of duty. Where is he today? Is he asleep? Behold, his power is not seen.
If we had been fed, I would not have found you, I would not have been summoned in vain; "Aggression against it means pain of heart" is a saying on the lips of everyone. Today he who is afraid . . . a myriad of people; [. . .] did not see [. . .] against the enemies of [. . .] at his outer chamber; who enter the temple [. . .] weeping for him [. . .] that one who confounds what he has said . . . / The land has not fallen [. . .] the statues are burned and their tombs destroyed [. . .] he sees the day of [. . .]. He who could not make for himself {. . .} between sky and ground is afraid of everybody.
. . . if he does it . . . what you dislike taking. Authority, knowledge, and truth are with you, yet confusion is what you set throughout the land, also the noise of tumult. Behold, one deals harm to another, for men conform to what you have commanded. If three men travel on the road, they are found to be only two, for the many kill the few.

Capítulo 13

Does a herdsman desire death? Then may you command reply to be made, / because it means that one loves another detests; it means that their existences are few everywhere; it means that you have acted so as to bring those things to pass. You have told lies, and the land is a weed which destroys men, and none can count on life. All these years are strife, and a man is murdered on his housetop even though he was vigilant in his gate lodge. Is he brave and saves himself? It means he will live.
When men send a servant for humble folk, he goes on the road until he sees the flood; the road is washed out / and he stands worried. What is on him is taken away, he is belabored with blows of a stick and wrongfully slain. Oh that you could taste a little of the misery of it! Then you would say [. . .] from someone else as a wall, over and above [. . .] hot . . . years . . . [. . .].
[It is indeed good] when ships fare upstream [. . . / . . .] robbing them. It is indeed good [. . .].
[It is indeed] good when the net is drawn in and birds are tied up [. . .].
It is [indeed] good [. . .] dignities for them, and the roads are passable.
It is indeed good when the hands of men build pyramids, when ponds are dug and plantations of the trees of the gods are made.
It is indeed good when men are drunk; they drink myt and their hearts are happy.

Capítulo 14

It is indeed good when shouting is in men's mouths, when the magnates of districts stand looking on at the shouting / in their houses, clad in a cloak, cleansed in front and well-provided within.
It is indeed good when beds are prepared and the headrests of magistrates are safely secured. Every man's need is satisfied with a couch in the shade, and a door is now shut on him who once slept in the bushes.
It is indeed good when fine linen is spread out on New Year's Day [. . .] on the bank; when fine linen is spread out and cloaks are on the ground. The overseer of [. . .] the trees, the poor [. . . / . . .] in their midst like Asiatics [. . .]. Men {. . .} the state therof; they have come to an end of themselves; none can be found to stand up and protect themselves [. . .]. Everyone fights for his sister and saves his own skin.
Is it Nubians? Then will we guard ourselves; warriors are made many in order to ward off foreigners. Is it Libyans? Then we will turn away. The Medjay are pleased with Egypt.

Capítulo 15

How comes it that every man kills his brother? The troops / whom we marshaled for ourselves have turned into foreigners and have taken to ravaging. What has come to pass through it is informing the Asiatics of the state of the land; all the desert folk are possessed with the fear of it. What the plebs have tasted {. . .} without giving Egypt over {to} the sand. It is strong [. . .] speak about you after years [. . .] devastate itself, it is the threshing floor which nourishes their houses [. . .] to nourish his children [. . .] said by the troops [. . . / . . .] fish [. . .] gum, lotus leaves [. . .] excess of food.

Capítulo 16

What Ipuwer said when he addressed the Majesty of the Lord of All:48 [. . .] all herds. It means that ignorance of it is what is pleasing to the heart. You have done what was good in their hearts and you have nourished the people with it. They cover / their faces through fear of the morrow.
That is how a man grows old before he dies, while his son is a lad of understanding; he does not open [his] mouth to speak to you, but you seize him in the doom of death [. . .] weep [. . .] go [. . .] after you, that the land may be [. . .] on every side.

Capítulo 17
>P>If men call to [. . .] weep [. . .] them, who break into the tombs and burn the statues [. . .] the corpses of the nobles [. . . / . . .] of directing work.