3. Comparison with the Bible.
None of the sentiments expressed in these proverbs is identical with any in the Bible. No. 21 is on the same subject as Prov. 24:17; No. 22 reminds one slightly of the first clause of Prov. 14:35; No. 23 has the same sentiment as Prov. 18:24: “He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction”; while No. 6 is somewhat similar to Prov. 24:21.
Among the “precepts,” that on guarding the lips recalls to one’s mind Prov. 10:19; 13:3; 14:3; 17:28. Reference is made to the “gain of the fear of God” and it is declared to “beget favor.” Job 28:28 declares “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.”
4. The Precepts of Ptahhotep.
These precepts are attributed to a man who lived in the time of the fifth Egyptian dynasty, about 2650 B. C., and are at least as old as 2000 B. C. The text is very difficult. The examples given below are taken from Breasted’s[579] condensation of the moral precepts which the treatise contains.
1. If thou findest a wise man in his time, a leader of understanding more excellent than thou, bend thy arms and bow thy back.
2. If thou findest a wise man in his time, thy equal, .......... be not silent when he speaks evil. Great is the approval by those who hear, and thy name will be good in the knowledge of the princes.
3. If thou findest a wise man in his time, a poor man and not thy equal, be not overbearing against him when he is unfortunate.
4. If thou art a leader (or administrator) issuing ordinances for the multitude, seek for thee very excellent matter, that thy ordinance may endure without evil therein. Great is righteousness (truth, right, justice), enduring ..........; it has not been disturbed since the time of Osiris.
5. Put no fear (of thee?) among the people .......... What the god commands is that which happens. Therefore live in the midst of quiet. What they (the gods?) give comes of itself.