The Instructions of Ankhsheshonq, one of the sages of Ancient Egypt, are found in British Museum, papyrus 10508 and consists of 28 columns where large parts are missing. Its origin is unknown but the handwriting has been dated to the late Ptolemaic period, although it is believed that it could have come from an earlier source. It begins with a long introduction, describing the circumstances of why these instructions were written.

The numbers within parenthesis refer to the lines on the papyrus I should think. The letters within brackets [ ] mean that they are missing from the original text and are filled in afterwards. The lines ---- indicate text missing and not possible to fill in:

"Mistreatment and misery, o great lord Pre!
Imprisonment, mistreatment is what is done to me in return for not having killed a man!
This is what you despise, my great lord Pre! Is this not how Pre is angry with a land?
Oh (21) you people who shall find these potsherds, hear from me how Pre is angry with a land!

(5,x)------
(5,1)[When Pre is angry]with a land he causes-----
82) [When] Pre is angry with a land its rulers neglects the law.
(3) When Pre is angry with a land he makes law cease in it.
(4) When Pre is angry with a land he makes sanctity cease in it.
(5) When Pre is angry with a land he makes justice cease in it.
(6) When Pre is angry with a land he makes value scarce in it.
(7) When Pre is angry with a land he does not let one be trusting in it.
(8) When Pre is angry with a land he does not let one [receive ransom] [in]it.
(9) When Pre is angry with a land he makes great its humble people and humbles its great people.
(10) When Pre is angry with a land he sets the fools over the wise.
(11) When Pre is angry with a land he orders its ruler to mistreat its people.
(12) When Pre is angry with a land he appoints his scribe to rule it.
(13) When Pre is angry with a land he appoints its washerman as chief. of police.

(6,x)-----
(6,1) S(erve your) god, that he may guard you.
(2) Serve your brothers, that you may have good repute.
(3) Serve a wise man, that he may serve you.
(4) Serve him who serves you.
(5) Serve any man, that you may find profit.
(6) Serve your father and mother, that you may go and prosper.
(7) Examine every matter, that you may understand it.
(8) Be gentle and patient, then your heart will be beautiful.
(9) It is in maturity that instrucion succeeds.
(10) Do not rely on the property of another,
saying," I will live on it"; acquire your own.
(11) Do not abuse when you fare well, lest you fare bady.
(12) Do not send a low woman on a business of yours; she will go after her own.
(13) Do not send a wise man in a small matter when a big matter is waiting.
(14) Do not send a fool in a big matter when there is a wise man whom you can send.
(15) Do not send into town when you may find trouble in it.
(16) Do not long for your home when you do an errand.
(17) Do not long for your home to drink beer in it in midday.
(18) Do not pamper your body, lest you become weak.
(19) Do not pamper yourself when you are young, lest you be weak when you are old.
(20) Do not hate a man to his face when you know nothing of him.
(21) Do not fret so long as you own something.
(22) Do not worry so long as you know something.
(23) Do not fret at all.
(24) Do not fret about your occupation.

(7,1)------
(2) Force (your son), do not let your servant force him.
(3) Do not spare your son work when you can make him do it.
(4) Do not instruct a fool, lest he hate you.
(5) Do not instruct him who will not listen to you.
(6) Do not rely on a fool.
(7) Do not rely on the property of an idiot.
(8) Do not hide and then let yourself be found.
(9) Do not hide when you have no food.
(10) He who hides when he has no food is in the place
of one who seeks it.
(11) Do not go away and then come back of your own accord.
(12) Do not run away after you´ve been beaten,
lest your punishment be doubled.
(13) Do not insult your superior.
(14) Do not neglect to serve your god.
(15) Do not neglect to serve your master.
(16) Do not neglect to serve him who can serve you.
(17) Do not neglect to acquire a manservant and a maidservant when you are able to do so.
(18) A servant who is not beaten is full of curses in his heart.
(19) A small man with great wrath makes much stench.
(20) A great man with small wrath gets much praise.
(21) Do not say "young man" to one who is old.
(22) Do not belittle an old man in your heart.
(23) Do not speak hastily, lest you give offense.
(24) Do not say right away what comes out of your heart.

(8,1)----------
(2) Learning and foolishness belong to the people of your town; respect the people of your town.
(3) Do not says "I am learned"; set yourself to become wise.
(4) Do not do a thing that you have not first examined.
(5) Examining makes your good fortune.
(6) If you examine three wise men about a matter it is perfect; the outcome lies with the great god.
(7) Do dwell by your body in your days of well-being.
(8) There is no one who does not die.
(9) Do not withdraw from a scribe who is being taken to the house of detention.
(10) If you withdraw from him they will take him to his house of eternity.
(11) Do not go to court against your superior
when you do not have protection (against) him.
(12) Do not take yourself a woman whose husband is alive,
lest he become your enemy.
(13) In strait times or happy times wealth grows
because of spreading it.
(14) May your fate not be the fate of one who begs and is given.
(15) When you work the land do not pamper your body.
(16) Do not say "Here is my brother´s acre"; look to your own.
(17) The wealth of a town is a lord who does justice.
(18) The wealth of a temple is the priest.
(19) The wealth of a field is the time when it is worked.
(20) The wealth of a treasury is in (being in) a single hand.
(21) The wealth of property is a wise woman.
(22) The wealth of a wise man is his speech.