Behold, his mouth speaketh not as of yore, his mind is feeble, and remembereth not the deeds of yesterday:
Yea, his whole body is afflicted, good is to him as evil, his tongue savoreth no longer.
Alas, the old age of a man is full of misery, his nostrils drink not the breath of heaven, his lungs wax feeble, he delighteth neither to stand nor to be seated.
Who shall give unto my tongue authority to utter unto the young men the counsels from of old? or who vouchsafeth unto me to declare the counsels received from on high?
O Lord Osiris, let thy favor be poured out upon thy servant, and suffer that these evils be removed from those who are unenlightened.
Then answered the Lord Osiris and said: Instruct them in the counsels from of old; for verily, wisdom from of old maketh the weak strong; knowledge giveth freedom to him that heareth; wisdom cries aloud, and the ear is not satisfied with hearing.
Here beginneth the book of the wise sayings of the Lord Prefect Ptah-Hotep, the first-born, the son of the King, the well-beloved of the Lord:
That the ignorant and the foolish may be instructed in the understanding of wisdom.
Whoso giveth ear, to him shall these words be as riches;
To him who heedeth them not, to the same shall come emptiness forever.