Last week, we were talking about ‘The Weighing of the Heart’ chapter in The Book of the Dead. This week, we will summarize ‘The Negative Confessions’ chapter considered being the ancient Egyptian commandments.
These are forty two actions the deceased declared that he did not commit, which is why they are sometimes called negative confessions. These negative confessions summarize the value that existed at the time of the Pharaohs. We have selected here the most important part of it as was translated by Dr. Raymond Faulkner:
“I have not done wrong.
I have not robbed.
I have not stolen.
I have not slain people.
I have not reduced measures.
I have not told lies.
I have not stolen food.
I have not caused (anyone) to weep.
I have not transgressed.
I have not robbed a parcel of land.
I have not discussed (secrets).
I have not had intercourse with a married woman.
I have not struck terror.
I have not been (bad tempered).
I have not been neglectful of truthful words.
I have not been violent.
I have not been impatient.
I have not done wrong.
I have not done evil.
I have not waded in the water.
My voice was not loud.
I have not cursed a god.”
The values at the time of the Pharaohs explain why this civilization was a great one. Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawki reflected this meaning in one of his verses: “Nations are living on their values; if the values vanish, the nations suffer.”
