ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LITERATURE

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LITERATURE

Nurse in the womb. Giver of breath, To nourish all that he made. When he comes from the womb to breathe, On the day of his birth, You open wide his mouth, You supply his needs. When the chick in the egg speaks in the shell, You give him breath within to sustain him; When you have made him complete. To break out from the egg, He comes out from the egg, To announce his completion, Walking on his legs he comes from it.

How many are your deeds. Though hidden from sight, o Sole God beside whom there is none! You made the earth as you wished, you alone, All peoples, herds. and flocks; All upon earth that walk on legs. All on high that fly on wings. The lands of Khor and Kush. The land of Egypt. You set every man in his place. You supply their needs; Everyone has his food, His lifetime is counted. Their tongues differ in speech, Their characters likewise; Their skins are distinct, For you distinguished the peoples.4

You made Hapy in dat,5 You bring him when you will, To nourish the people, For you made them for yourself. Lord of all who toils for them, Lord of all lands who shines for them, Aten of daytime, great in glory! All distant lands, you make them live, You made a heavenly Hapy descend for them;

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