Now, in the days of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon, kings of Assyria and Nineveh, there was a man, his name [was] Ahiqar, a wise Jew, writer, scribe, and chief of the magi of the aforementioned kings. He stood constantly in their service without any fault. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, died in the year 679 Before Christ ⟨Note: This [note] is missing in one manuscript⟩, I, Ahiqar, had worked greatly, and I served Esarhaddon, the son of King Sennacherib.

Then the soothsayers, together with all the astronomers, said to me: "A son will be born to you, and he will inherit all your wealth." When they had told me this, I married sixty wives, who were noble and very beautiful, and when I was sixty years old, I had no son. Then I, Ahiqar, went and offered sacrifices to the gods, and burnt spices and incense to them, and said: "Indeed, O gods, give your servant a son so that he may bring me joy, and he shall be my heir when I die, for my wealth that I have gained is great." But the idols answered him nothing, and in confusion and sorrow he returned from the temple of the idols to his house. He began to supplicate and pray with a sad heart before the Lord, saying: "O God of heaven and earth, O Creator of creatures, look and see my tears, accept my prayer, and give me a son

that I may be comforted, and that he may be my heir, and that he may attend my death, close my eyes, and bury me." Then a voice came to him, saying: "Because you have erred, and trusted in the gods, and burnt incense to them, and have not served me, therefore I have left you childless. Let this be enough for you; do not grieve. But behold, Nadan, your sister's son; he shall be a son to you, whom you may teach everything as he grows older." At these words I was again distressed and said: "O Lord, mighty God, if you give me Nadan, my sister's son, as a son, to throw dust on me after my death and close my eyes, will he be my heir or not?" And He did not answer any of these [words]. Then I took Nadan, my sister's son, and he was a son to me who would learn, as soon as he was old enough, all that I would teach him.

And when he was young, I gave him into the hands of wet nurses to raise him well, and he was fed with honey and butter, and he was clothed with garments of byssos and purple, and he grew up on carpets of every kind. And my son Nadan grew up, and I began to teach him the writing of wisdom without rest. The request of King Esarhaddon When the king returned from the place where he had gone, he said to me: "Ahiqar, scribe, wise man, and my confidant, when you grow old and die, who will teach me wisdom?" Ahiqar’s answer to the king Then I answered and said to the king: "My lord king, live forever! I have a son as wise as I am, and he knows my writing." Then the king said to me: "Bring him,

that I may see him, and if he can stand before me, he will stand in your place, and I will release you in peace, so that you may spend your old age [and] all the days of your life in peace." Then I brought Nadan my son to King Esarhaddon and presented him. When the king saw him, he rejoiced in him and said: "Today a horn of salvation has risen for Ahiqar, and he has been comforted by this child." And he said: "May the Lord keep you, my son! As Ahiqar walked before me and before my father Sennacherib, and was rewarded, in the same manner Nadan, his son, shall walk before me, and Ahiqar will now spend his life in rest in his house." Then I, Ahiqar, bowed to the king and said: "My Lord King, live forever! As you know

that I have walked before you and your father, so also be patient with the youth of my son, and may your kindness to me be doubled, O my lord king." Then King Esarhaddon gave him his hand and swore to Ahiqar, concerning Nadan his son, that he would be in great honour as he was, and that he would fill him with good things constantly. Then I, Ahiqar, kissed the footprints of the king, and took Nadan, my son, and returned home, without ceasing to teach him. Until I had filled Nadan with doctrine as with bread and water, I spoke to him these words of wisdom. Parables that Ahiqar taught. ‘Hear, my son, the words and give heed to them. ’

‘and whose fruit is eaten last. 5 My son, be patient like the fig tree, which blossoms last, but whose fruit is eaten first.’ ‘6 My son, lower your eyes and soften your voice, and look down; be reserved and not impudent. For if a loud voice were enough to build a house, the donkey would build two palaces a day. 7 And if the plough were driven by brute strength, the yoke would never be taken off the camel's neck.’ ‘8 My son, it is better to be in company with the wise man than with the foolish man.’ ‘9 My son, pour your wine over the grave of the righteous, and do not drink it with the foolish.’

‘10 My son, flee from the quarrelsome and talkative woman. ’ ‘11 My son, do not run after the beauty of a woman and do not desire her in your heart, for the beauty of a woman is her good sense, her words, and her honour. ’ ‘12 My son, if anyone comes to you with malice, meet him with wisdom. ’ ‘13 My son, the ungodly fall and the righteous rise in their place. ’ ‘14 My son, do not deprive your son of blows, for blows are to the child what manure is to the earth, the halter to the animal, and the bar to the door. ’ ‘15 My son, discipline your son while he is young, and restrain him while he is small, before he becomes stronger than you, so that you will not be ashamed of his vices and covered with disgrace. ’ ‘16 My son, acquire a strong bull and a donkey ’

‘with good hooves, but do not acquire a runaway servant or a thieving maid, lest they cause you to lose all that is yours. ’ ‘17 My son, the words of liars are like fat sparrows, and whoever has a foolish heart eats them. ’ ‘18 My son, do not bring upon yourself the curse of your father and mother, lest you be deprived of the joy of your children. ’ ‘19 My son, do not set out without a sword, for you do not know what enemies may meet you. ’ ‘20 My son, as a tree is adorned by its fruit and a mountain by its trees, so a man is adorned by his wife and children. ’ ‘21 My son, strike the wise man and it will be like a fever in his heart; if you strike the foolish man with many blows, he will not notice. ’

‘’ ‘22 My son, send out the wise, and do not give them many orders; but if you send out the foolish, go yourself and do not send them. ’ ‘23 My son, test your companion with bread and water, then you may leave your goods and possessions in his hands. ’ ‘24 My son, leave the feast first and do not stay to enjoy the perfumes, lest you be harmed. ’ ‘25 My son, he whose hand is full is called wise, and he whose hand is empty is called foolish. ’ ‘26 My son, I have eaten bitter things and swallowed foul things, and I have found nothing more bitter than poverty. ’ ‘27 My son, I have carried lead and rolled iron, and neither has been as heavy for me as a debt. ’ ‘28 ’

‘My son, teach your child hunger and thirst, so that he may rule his house according to what his eye has seen. ’ ‘31 My son, the blind man of the eyes learns his way quickly, follows it and arrives; he is better than the blind man of the heart who abandons the right path. ’ ‘32 My son, a near neighbour prevails over a distant brother; and a good name prevails over beauty, for a good name remains and beauty perishes. ’ ‘33 My son, death is better than life for the man who has no rest; and the sound of groaning prevails over the sound of dancing, over joy and song. ’ ‘34 My son, a bone in your hand is better than a goose in the pot of others. 35 My son, the sheep that is near is better than the bull ’

‘that is far away; better is a sparrow in your hand than a thousand sparrows that fly through the air. 36 My son, the poverty that gathers is better than the wealth that dissipates, and a living fox is better than a dead lion. ’ ‘37 My son, lock up the word in your heart and it will do you good, for if you speak the word, you change your friend. ’ ‘38 My son, let no word go out of your mouth until you have turned it over in your heart, for it is better for a man to stumble in his heart than to stumble with his tongue. ’ ‘39 My son, if you hear a word from a man, drive it four cubits into the earth, so that when you step on it you lose it. ’ ‘40 My son, do not remain among those who quarrel, for from quarrelling comes judgment and from judgment comes death. ’ ‘41 My son, if you see a man who is older than you, stand before him; if he does not repay you, God will repay you. ’ ‘42 My son, keep your tongue from lying and your hand from stealing, and you will be called wise. ’ ‘43 My son, do not get involved in anyone's betrothal: if they gain confusion from it, they will curse you, and if they gain good from it, they will not bless you. ’ ‘44 My son, he who shines in his clothing shines in his speech too, and he who is contemptible in his clothing is contemptible in his speech. ’ ‘45 My son, if you find anything in front of an idol, offer him his share. ’ ‘46 My son, you shall not give yourself to the hand that was full and hungry, and you shall not give yourself to the hand that was hungry ’

‘and is now satisfied. ’ ‘47 My son, stone the dog that abandons its masters and follows you, because it will not stay near you. ’ ‘48 My son, if a man strikes you with many strokes of the stick, let not the foolish man anoint you with good ointments. ’ ‘49 My son, you will not be depraved with a wise man, nor will you be wise with a depraved man. ’ ‘50 My son, if you have shoes on your feet, walk on thorns and make a path for your children. ’ ‘51 My son, if a rich man eats a snake, it is said that he eats it to cure his disease, and if a poor man eats it, it is said that he eats it out of hunger. ’ ‘52 My son, eat your portion and ’

‘do not quarrel with your friends. ’ ‘53 My son, do not eat bread at all with him who has no modesty. ’ ‘54 My son, do not envy the goods of your neighbour and do not rejoice in his evil. ’ ‘55 My son, do not depart from your first friend, lest there be no other to take his place. ’ ‘56 My son, do not go down to the garden of the judges, and do not marry the daughter of a judge. ’ ‘57 My son, visit your friend with good words, speak before the prefect to save him from the lion's mouth. ’ ‘58 My son, do not rejoice over your enemy when he dies. ’ ‘59 My son, when a man stands without (occupying) a place, when the bird flies without wings, when the raven is white as snow and the bitter becomes sweet as honey, then the fool ’

‘may become wise. ’ ‘60 My son, if you are a priest of God, take good care of Him and appear before Him with purity. ’ ‘61 My son, if you lend money to the poor, you have bought him for yourself ’ ‘and his children. ’ ‘62 My son, the man who has no brothers or sons will be despised and scorned by his enemies. 63 He is like a tree by the road: every passer-by takes (something) from it, and the animals and birds tread on its leaves. ’ ‘My son, do not say, 'My master is foolish and I am wise,' but correct him for his faults and you will be loved. ’ ‘64 My son, [do not] count yourself among the wise, lest others do not praise you. ’ ‘65 My son, do not multiply your words before your master, lest you become contemptible in his eyes. ’

‘66 My son, in the day of evil, do not curse God, lest He hear your words and become angry with you. ’ ‘67 My son, when your servants stand before you, do not hate the one nor love the other, for you do not know which of them will remain with you in the end. ’ ‘68 The servant who abandons his first master does not improve his situation. ’ ‘69 My son, pronounce a right judgment and you will lead a peaceful old age. ’ ‘70 My son, let your tongue be sweet and your speech pleasant, for the tail of the dog gives him his bread and his mouth brings him blows. ’ ‘71 My son, do not let your friend step on your foot, lest he step on your neck. ’ ‘72 My son, the man whom God has showered with blessings ’

‘shall also be respected by you. ’ ‘73 My son, do not enter into judgment with a man on his day, and do not resist the river when it floods. ’ ‘74 My son, the human eye is like a fountain of water, and it is not satisfied with riches until it is filled with dust. ’ ‘75 My son, do not stay near quarrelsome people, for after jokes comes quarrel, after quarrel comes strife, and after strife arises murder. ’ So, Ahiqar stopped his words of wisdom which he taught Nadan. Then I, Ahiqar, when I had taught this doctrine to Nadan, my sister's son, thought that he would learn and retain all

this doctrine in his heart, and that he would stand at the king's gate, and that he would be a cause of joy to me and a delight to life. But he did the contrary: he did not listen to my words, and threw them, as it were, to the wind. And he used to say: "Ahiqar, my father, has grown old and has lost his mind.” And Nadan, my son, seized my properties and squandered my possessions, and did not spare my good servants, but struck them before me. He also slew and sold my beasts of burden and my mules. When I saw what he was doing, I answered and said to him: "My son, do not touch my property. It is said in the proverbs: ‘What the hand has not acquired, the eye has not respected.’” And I made these things known to my lord the king, and he commanded: "Let no man come near the property of Ahiqar the scribe while he is alive." Then Ahiqar took Nabuzardan, Nadan’s brother, to raise him in his house. And when Nadan saw that I had taken Nabuzardan and brought him up before me and Esarhaddon were as follows: one addressed

into the house, he was displeased. Nadan envied him, and he had evil thoughts in his mind because of it, and he said: "Ahiqar, my father, has grown old, and his wisdom is gone, and his words have become worthless. Will he not give his property to my brother and remove me from his house?" And Ahiqar heard the words of Nadan, so he thought and spoke to Nadan, saying: "Woe to my wisdom! How useless it has become in you!" When Nadan, my son, heard this, he was very angry, and in his heart he prepared evil against me, and he went to the king's gate to carry out the evil that was in his heart: he wrote wicked letters in the name of Ahiqar, and he went to the king's gate to show them. And two letters which he wrote in my name to the enemy kings of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon were as follows: one addressed to

the king of Persia and Elam, Akhi, the son of Samḥelim, ⟨Note: In another manuscript[, the reading] is: Perorot Akmnis⟩ in which he wrote: "From Ahiqar, scribe and (keeper of) the seal of King Esarhaddon, greetings to you, king of Persia and Elam. When you have received this letter, come out at once and come to Assyria and I will deliver it into your hands without war and without fighting, and you shall take its empire without hindrance." And he sent another letter in my name to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and in it he wrote: "When the letter arrives to you, go out to meet me in the southern plain on the twenty-fifth of the month of August. I will bring you to Nineveh and you shall take the kingdom there without a fight." And he made the letters look like mine and sealed them with my seals and cast them into

one of the king's chambers. Then he wrote yet another letter in the name of the king to me: "From Esarhaddon to Ahiqar, my lord's scribe, greetings. When you have received this letter, assemble the whole army at the mountain of Sohar and go from there to the Eagles’ plain on the twenty-fifth of the month Āb, and when you see me approaching you, arrange the troops in front of me as if you were preparing for war, because messengers from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, have come to me so that they may know what power I have, and what my strength is." When Nadan, my son, gave one of the letters to the king as if he had found it, he took it and read it before my lord King Esarhaddon.

And when the king heard it, he was very angry with Ahiqar the scribe, and he said: "O God, what fault have I committed against Ahiqar that he should want to treat me in this way!" Then Nadan answered and said to the king: "Do not be angry or grieved, my lord the king. Let us go now and go out to the Eagles’ plain as it is written in this letter; by this we shall know the truth of these things, and whatever you command shall take place." When the king commanded that they prepare to go up to the plain to see the truth of this matter, then Nadan, my son, arose with my lord King Esarhaddon, and they came to me, found me and my army with me in the Eagles’ plain. And when I saw him coming to me, I set my army in array before him as for war, according to the letter

which Nadan my son had sent me. When the king saw such deceit, his face was saddened and he turned back, on the advice of my son Nadan, who said to him: "My lord king, go to your dwelling in peace; I will take Ahiqar bound with bonds and chains and deliver him into your hands because he has committed evil against you." When Nadan left the king, he came to me and said: "By your God, my father, I swear to you, King Esarhaddon has praised and exalted you greatly for what you have done, because you have fulfilled the order of his letter. Now he has sent me to you so that we may go to him alone. Send the troops away so that each one may go to his own house." So, I sent the troops away and came with Nadan to the king and greeted him. And when he saw me, he said to me: "You have come, Ahiqar,

my scribe, who governs my house and my kingdom, you whom I loved! I tell you, go home, and do not appear before me anymore. Now you have turned your love into hatred, and have become one of my enemies." Then he drew and gave me the letters which Nadan, my son, had written in my name and signed with my seal. When I had read them, I was appalled and remained trembling with fear, my tongue tied, and when I wanted to speak any of the wise words, I could not. Then my son Nadan cried out against me and said: "Go away from before the king, O foolish old man, O wretch, give your hands to the bonds and your feet to the ropes." Then the king turned his face away from me with unutterable anger and he commanded the executioner, named

Nabusemakh, and he said: "Arise, take Ahiqar, and go and slay him, and carry his head a hundred cubits from his body." Then I, Ahiqar, worshipped the king and said to him: "Live, O my lord the king, forever! Since you have willed my death, let your will be done, for I have no fault, to my knowledge, but I ask my lord the king that I may be put to death at the door of my house, and that my body may be given to my servants to bury me." Then the king said to the executioner: "Go, as Ahiqar said, do it quickly." Then we all went out from before the king, and I sent word to my wife Eshfagni to come

to meet me with a thousand maidens [dressed] in beautiful and sumptuous garments to lament and weep over me before I die. And I told my aforementioned wife, Eshfagni, to return home and prepare food and drink on tables of all kinds, and to put all the king's servants and the executioners into her care with good and old wine. Then Eshfagni, my wife, who had great and prudent knowledge, did as I commanded her. When they had eaten and drunk and were drunk, they fell asleep in their places. Then I, Ahiqar, said to the executioner: "Lift up your gaze to God, the Creator of heaven and earth,

and remember the bread we ate together. I know that I have no fault and no sin, but Nadan has set a trap for me and deceived me. Do not share in his sin and kill me unjustly. Remember and keep in mind the day when Sennacherib, the father of this king, was angry with you and commanded that you be killed, and when I knew that you had no fault, I hid you and did not kill you until the king’s anger was appeased and he remembered you kindly; he commanded, and I brought you before him; he treated you well and gave many gifts.

Now hide me and repay me for what I did for you. Behold, I have a guilty servant, he is in prison, and his name is Medyapar. He deserves death for his wickedness: bring him out now, clothe him with my garments, and hand him over to the men who are with you; they are drunk, and will kill him, and not know whom they have slain. Scatter his head a hundred cubits from his body, and give his body to them to be buried, and the rumor shall spread through Assyria and Nineveh that Ahiqar has been killed." Then the executioner and Eshfagni, my wife, made me a hidden place under the earth fourteen cubits long and

seven cubits wide under the threshold of the door; they brought me and hid me there and placed bread and water beside me, and left me, and went and said to the king: "Ahiqar is dead according to your command." And when the news of it spread through Assyria and Nineveh, they wept over me and said: "Alas for you, Ahiqar, the skillful scribe who knew hidden things, who shall arise like you?" Then King Esarhaddon called Nadan and said to him: "Go, hold a funeral for your father Ahiqar according to custom." But Nadan went to the house and did not hold a funeral. Instead, he gathered evil and lustful men, and they began to eat, drink, dance and sing. And Nadan began to take my maids and strip them of their clothes,

and he demanded evil things from them; even my wife, who had raised him as her son, he did not respect, but wanted to uncover her and sleep with her. I, Ahiqar, from under the earth, heard the cries of the people of my household suffering before Nadan, my son. And I began to pray before God and beg Him for them. And God heard my lamentations from the depths of the earth, and a few days later He sent Nabusemakh to me, and he comforted me, recognized me, and gave me bread and water. When he asked to leave, I persuaded him to pray to God to deliver me from this place. And he prayed and said, "O merciful and praiseworthy God, remember

Ahiqar, who hopes in You, and deliver him from this prison." When Pharaoh heard that Ahiqar the wise was killed, he rejoiced with great joy and wrote a letter and sent it, saying: "From Pharaoh king of Egypt to Esarhaddon king of Assyria and Nineveh, greetings and peace. Know, O king, that I desire to build myself a fortress between heaven and earth, and therefore I want you to send me from near you an architect who will build it for me as I desire and who will know how to build it and answer any question. If you can find such a man, I will send you the tribute of Egypt and all its regions for three years, and if you do not find

such a man, send with our messenger who is near you the three-year tribute of Assyria and Nineveh. When this letter came and was read before King Esarhaddon, he called together all the nobles, the wise men, the philosophers, the soothsayers, and the astrologers and said to them: "Which of you can

go and answer King Pharaoh?" They answered and said to King Esarhaddon: "Truly, our lord the king knows that these questions and arguments were meant for the wise Ahiqar. Look for the one who holds his place, call him and question him." Then the king called Nadan and handed him this letter. And Nadan answered and said to Esarhaddon: "My lord king, Pharaoh is greatly mistaken! Who can build between heaven and earth? Not even the gods can! Perhaps it is a scribe's mistake!" And when the king heard the words of Nadan, he grieved greatly, left his seat, sat on the ashes, and said: "Woe is me! Ahiqar the wise, who knew the hidden things; I will give half my kingdom to the one who tells me.” Then Nabusemakh heard the king’s words, came before him, bowed and said: "Lord king, live forever! Behold, Ahiqar is alive and hidden under the earth.

Do not weep. Command, and we will bring him before you!" At these words, the king immediately left the ashes and returned to the throne, and he ordered Ahiqar to be brought from the place where he was. Nabusemakh went, brought him out from under the earth, and led him before the king. After they had both bowed, King Esarhaddon looked at Ahiqar and saw that his face was changed and that his whole body was weak. When the king saw him in this state, he was overcome with grief, wept, and said: "Ahiqar, I have no blame or sin against you, but it is Nadan, your son, who has harmed you by fraud." And Ahiqar answered and said: "My lord the king, now that I see you, let us leave all that is past,

since God has favored me with the sight of your fair face." The king answered and said: "Blessed be the God of Ahiqar, who has delivered him from these snares. Go, O Ahiqar, to the bath, shave, wash, and return to your house. Eat and drink for forty days until you are strong, then come to me." And Ahiqar returned and did as the king had said. And after twenty days Ahiqar returned to King Esarhaddon and bowed before him. Then the king took out the letter of the king of Egypt and showed it to him. And Ahiqar took the letter from the king’s hand, read it, and understood all that was in it. And he said to the king: "Do not worry or grieve, my lord. I will go

into Egypt and answer Pharaoh. I will explain all his requests and I will bring the tribute of Egypt for three years, and I will confound all your enemies with the help of God, O my lord the king." When the king heard the words of Ahiqar, he rejoiced, and his heart was filled with joy and gladness, and he gave many gifts to Ahiqar and his wife. As for the executioner Nabusemakh, he raised his rank above others and exalted him greatly. The next day I, Ahiqar, wrote a letter to Eshfagni, my wife, and said to her: "When this letter arrives, order the hunters to take two eaglets from us, and prepare ropes

of hemp, two thousand cubits long. Order the carpenters to make two large boxes, and give Nabulhal and Tabshalem to the nurses to raise them. Make the eagles eat a sheep every day so that they grow, and every day have the children ride on the backs of the eagles while they are small and light. Tie ropes to the eagles’ feet [and make the eagles fly] in the air, and let the children ride on their backs while they are small, so that they grow accustomed to carrying them. And when they fly, teach the children to shout on the backs of the eagles when they rise in the air: 'Bring us mortar, lime, and stones, which the builders and workers need, for they want to build a fortress in the air.' Then bring the little ones [eaglets]

down to the ground, put them in the box, and send me an answer to inform me about the outcome of this matter." And Eshfagni, my wife, was very wise and did all that I had ordered and informed me. After some days I, Ahiqar, said to the king: "I am going to Egypt, for the time has come to go there." Then he gave orders, and I took a large company with me. And when we had advanced a day’s journey and reached an open place in the plain, I brought the eagles out of the cages, tied the ropes to their feet, and set the children to ride on their backs, and they flew through the air so that they could not be seen. Then the children began to shout

on the backs of the eagles in the air: "Bring the lime, mortar and stones, for the builders and workers are idle, and they want to build a fortress in the high sky.” Then we drew them up and let them down. When the Assyrians heard this, they rejoiced with great joy. Entry of Ahiqar before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. When I, Ahiqar, entered Egypt with my troops, I went to King Pharaoh, and the king’s servant informed him, saying: "Behold, the man whom you asked of the king of Assyria is coming; what is your command?" And Pharaoh gave orders and provided a place for me and my troops. Then Pharaoh commanded, and I went in before him and bowed before him. Then he said:

"What is your name?” I said: "Abiqam is the name of your servant, an ant among the ants of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and Nineveh." When Pharaoh heard this, he was angry with me and said: "Am I so small before your master that he sends me an ant to give me an answer? Now go, O Abiqam, to your house, and tomorrow return to me." And I went away. And Pharaoh commanded his lords to put on clothes of byssus the next day and come before him. The king also put on red-purple and sat on his throne with all his servants and lords around him. Then he sent for me to come before him and said: "O Abiqam, first question: what am I like and what are my troops like?" I said to him: "Surely, Lord, you resemble the idol Bel,

and your servants resemble its deacons." Then he said to me: "Go now, O Abiqam, and come tomorrow.” And the king commanded his lords to put on white garments of thread and gather before him. The king also put on the same, sat on his throne with his lords standing before him, and ordered me to be brought in. He said to me: "O Abiqam, whom do I resemble and whom do my lords resemble?” I said to him: "You resemble the sun and your lords resemble its rays." He said: "Go to your dwelling and tomorrow come back to me." And the king commanded his lords to dress themselves in yellow silk, and the king also dressed himself the same way. He sat on

his throne, gave the order, and I was brought in to him. And he said to me: "Abiqam, whom do I now resemble, and whom do my great ones resemble?" I said to him: "You resemble the moon and your great ones the stars." He said to me: "Go to your dwelling and come back tomorrow." Then he commanded his servants to put on various kinds of clothing, and that the veils of the palace should be red. The king put on purple and sat on his throne. He gave the command, and I was introduced before him. And he said to me: "Abiqam, whom do I resemble, and whom do my great ones resemble?" I said to him: "You resemble the month of Nisan and your lords resemble its fruits." And when the king heard this, he rejoiced greatly and said to me: “O Abiqam,

I say to you this time: if you understand all that you have compared me to, then tell me—what is your lord king Esarhaddon and his lords like?" Then I said to him: "God forbid that I should speak the name of my lord the king while you are sitting on your throne. But rise to your feet, and I will tell you what my lord, the king of Assyria, is like." Then Pharaoh rose from his seat, and I spoke to him: "My lord Esarhaddon resembles the power of the wind, and his lords the lightning. When he wills, the wind blows, the rain falls, and the mud is formed. He also commands, and thunder roars and lightning flashes. He destroys the statue of Bel and scatters his deacons. He prevents the sun

from shining and its rays from being seen; he commands the moon not to rise and the stars not to appear. He commands the north, and it brings wind and thunder, rain and hail, and the flowers with all the fruits of Nisan are destroyed and fall." When King Pharaoh heard this, he was greatly astonished and became angry. And he said: "Tell me truly, what is your name, O man?" Then I said to him: "I am Ahiqar the scribe." Then the king said to me: "We have heard that Ahiqar was killed. What does this mean?" I said to him: "It is the kindness of the merciful God that has saved me from the deceit and oppression of evil and

crafty men. They lied against me before my lord the king, and he ordered my death, but my Lord saved me from death; blessed is everyone who trusts in Him." And King Pharaoh answered and said to me: "Go, O Ahiqar, to your house and tomorrow return to me and tell me a word which I have not heard, and which has not been heard by the great ones of Egypt." I went to my house and wondered to myself what word they might never have heard. Then I, Ahiqar, took a letter and wrote as follows: "From Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and Nineveh, greetings. Know, my dear brother, that brothers need brothers

and kings need kings. Behold, at this moment I lack resources, my treasures and savings are exhausted. I ask Your Brotherhood to lend me nine hundred talents of gold, and in a short time I will return your gold to you without delay." I rolled up the letter and went to King Pharaoh. When he said to me: "Ahiqar, do you bring me the answer I asked you for?" I said to him: "Yes, Lord," and I took out the letter and put it in his hands. And when he gave it to his lords, they were amazed and astonished, and said: "Truly this has never been heard of

in Egypt.” Then I said to them: "Egypt in this case must pay this debt to Assyria and Nineveh." So the Egyptians took it upon themselves to pay the above debt. Then King Pharaoh said to me: "Ahiqar, I ask you to build me a fortress between heaven and earth, and let its height be two thousand cubits." And I answered and said: "I will build you, O Lord, such a fortress as you command, but the stones, lime, and mortar shall be [provided] by you, and the builders and workmen by me." And Pharaoh answered and said: "So it shall be.” And immediately I took the eagles out of their boxes and made the children ride on their backs

and tied the boys to their feet, and the eagles flew with the children, who cried out: "Bring us the lime and the mortar and the stones, for King Pharaoh's builders and workers remain idle and want to build for King Pharaoh a fortress between heaven and earth." Again they shouted and said: "Mix and give us wine to drink, O Egyptians." When Pharaoh and his giants saw this, they were greatly astonished, and Ahiqar took a stick and struck Pharaoh's great ones so that they would give stones, lime, and mortar to the builders. And when the blows made them suffer, they fled to their houses. Then Pharaoh said: "Ahiqar,

what are you doing? Are you mad? Who can bring them what they ask for from such a height in the sky?” Then I said to him: "If my Lord Esarhaddon were here, he would build two fortresses in one day." Then Pharaoh said to me: "Stop building now and go to your dwelling, and tomorrow come to me at once." And I went as he commanded me, and I came again to him, and he said to me: "Ahiqar, what is the story of the horse of your master Esarhaddon? He neighs in Assyria, and our mares hear him from here and miscarry." Then I went out and took a cat from

a garden and struck it before Pharaoh until it cried and mewed. And King Pharaoh called me and said, "Why are you hitting that cat?" Then I said to King Pharaoh: “This cat has caused me great harm, my Lord, for I had a rooster with a remarkable voice and it announced the hours of the night, and my Lord Esarhaddon had given it to me as a present. That night the cat went to Assyria and ate my rooster. Then Pharaoh said to me: "Ahiqar, I now see in you a sign of madness; how could it be possible

that a cat should go from Egypt to Assyria in one night, since there are more than three hundred and sixty parasangs between them, eat your rooster there, and return here?" Then I said: "My Lord King Pharaoh, and how can the horse neigh there and the mares miscarry here?" Then the king said: "Your answer is good, but explain to me this parable: A builder built a pillar with eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-three bricks, and its shadow is on three hundred and sixty-five stones. And he planted above it

twelve cedar trees and fixed to each cedar thirty branches, and to each branch two shoots of dates, one white and the other black." Then I said to King Pharaoh: "The herdsmen of Assyria and Nineveh know this: The builder is God who built the year, and it is the pillar. He set the hours of the year at eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, and he fixed the days of the year at three hundred and sixty-five. The twelve cedars are the twelve months of the year, each cedar has thirty branches, that is, thirty days, and on each branch there are two

shoots, one white and one black, which are day and night." Pharaoh said to me again: "Ahiqar, spin me two ropes [made] of the sand of the sea." I said to him: "My Lord, command that they bring me from your treasury such a rope, so that I may make one like it." The king said to me: "Ahiqar, if you do not make me the rope, I will not give you the tribute of Egypt." Then I went behind the house and made two holes in the wall, and the sun came through these holes, and I laid sand from the sea in the holes and it began to twist like a cable. I said to the king: "Command your servants to take the

cables." Then King Pharaoh said: "Ahiqar, we have a millstone of a very remarkable kind; one of them is broken, and I want you to mend it for us." And Pharaoh's servants set it before me. Then I saw another stone, smaller and broken, and I took a piece of it and put it before Pharaoh and said to him: "Know, my Lord, that I am here now as a foreigner and I have not brought with me the tools of the carvers. Command the skilled craftsmen of the city to make me a needle from this stone and I will sew it for you as soon as possible." Then Pharaoh and his lords

admired Ahiqar the wise, and they praised him and said: "Blessed be the Lord who has given you such wisdom and insight, O Ahiqar." Ahiqar leaves Egypt and returns near Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and Nineveh. When Pharaoh and his lords saw that they had been overcome by Ahiqar the scribe, and that he had explained and solved all their parables and objections, and that they had no argument left against him, then Pharaoh gave him goods and the three-year tribute of all the land of Egypt, and he offered again the nine hundred talents of gold

of the letter which he had written. And he filled all my servants and my troops with countless gifts, and allowed Ahiqar to return to Assyria with his troops. And I kissed the knees of King Pharaoh and returned to Assyria with great success. I returned to King Esarhaddon with great honour and with my head held high, and he rejoiced greatly at the sight of me; he made me sit at his right hand, and he said to me: "Ahiqar, my scribe, ask me whatever you wish and desire." Then I said to him: “My Lord King, live forever! All that you give me will be for Nabusemakh the executioner, because thanks to

his wisdom I am still alive, O Lord King Esarhaddon." When the king of Assyria began to question me about all that I had done before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and I had told him each of these things, he listened and was [full] of admiration. Then I handed over to him all that Pharaoh, the king, had given me, and afterwards I worshipped King Esarhaddon and said: "I pray for your peace and health, may the Lord give it to you always; I desire nothing of my master's possessions, but give me Nadan, my son, that I may command him by your command and by your word." Then King Esarhaddon

commanded, and they delivered Nadan, my sister's son, to me, bound, and I brought him home. I began by scourging him severely. I struck him one thousand and seventy blows on his back, a thousand on his shoulder, a thousand on his belly, a thousand on his backside, and a thousand on his feet, and every day I struck him. When he wanted to rest, I made him lie on the dung so that he would breathe its stench, and I gave him bread and water in measured portions for food. And I delivered him into the hands of Nabulhal and Tabshalem, young men who would guard him, and I said to them: "Write down all the words that I say to Nadan, the wretch, whom I have so honoured

and loved, and he did not understand it, but desired my death and to cause me to lose my life." Then I said to Nadan, my sister's son: ‘"My son, it is said in Proverbs: He who does not hear with his ear, let him hear from behind his head."’ ‘1 And Nadan answered me and said: “Why are you angry with me, O Ahiqar? It is said in the book, 'You shall not return evil for evil.’ 2 Ahiqar said: “My son, I honoured you and raised you up, I placed you before the seat of the empire and you threw me off my seat and desired my death, but God saved me when I was oppressed, because God drives out the proud and cares for the broken-hearted."’

‘3 My son, you have been like the scorpion that strikes its sting on a rock and it does not notice, and it strikes on a needle and the needle says to the scorpion: Behold, my sting is harder than yours.’ ‘4 My son, you have been like the man who takes’ ‘stones to throw at God, and his stones fail to reach, and he takes upon himself a great sin.’ ‘5 My son, you have been like the goat that stood up against the dyers' plants to eat them. The madder said to the goat: "Why do you eat me, since your skin will be dyed with me?” The goat said to him: "During my life I eat leaves from you, and when I die my skin is tanned with your branches.”’ ‘6 My son, you have been to me like the man who saw’

‘his neighbour shivering with cold and took water and poured it on his head.’ ‘7 My son, know that if the tail of a pig were to grow seven cubits long, it would not take the place of a horse, not even if its hair became soft.’ ‘8 My son, I said that you would be my substitute, that you would take my place and inherit my teaching and all my goods, but you have not received my teaching, you have not heard my words, you have not considered God, and He has not heard your voice.’ ‘9 My son, you have been to me like a lion meeting a donkey in the morning, and the lion said to the donkey: "Peace be upon you.” And the donkey said:’

‘"Peace be upon you.” And the donkey said: “May your peace be with him who did not bind me in the evening, and may God grant that I have not seen your face.”’ ‘10 My son, you have been to me like the trap that is on the dunghill. The sparrow said: "What are you doing here, O trap?" The trap said: "I pray to the high God.” The sparrow said: “What is this that you lean on?” The snare said: “This is my staff on which I lean in prayer.” The sparrow said: “What is that in your mouth?” The snare said: “It is food and water for those who come near me.” The sparrow said: “Then I also may come near and eat.” The trap said: “Come near.” And the sparrow came near to eat, and the trap caught him by the neck. Then the sparrow spoke’

‘and said to the trap: “If this is your fasting and prayer to God, He will not accept them, nor will God agree with you to give you blessings.”’ ‘11 My son, you have been to me like the weevil in the wheat, which is useless; God destroys much by it.’ ‘12 My son, you have been to me like the dog who, because of the cold, enters a house to get warm, and when he is warm, he starts to bark at the inhabitants of the house.’ ‘13 My son, you have been to me like the pig who went with the grown-ups to the bath to wash himself. When he was washed and got out of the bath, he found’

‘mud and rolled in it.’ ‘14 My son, the dog that is not fed by its hunt will become food for the wolves. 15 My son, the hand that does not work and is not useful will be cut off. 16 My son, the eye that watches idly will be plucked out.’ ‘17 My son, I have shown you the face of the king, I have brought you to great honour and raised you up, and instead of good you have done me evil. To him who does evil with you, what will you repay?’ ‘18 My son, you have been to me like a cat to whom it was said: "Give up stealing, and the king will make you a golden necklace.” He said: “I will not give up the craft’

‘of my father and mother.”’ ‘19 My son, I fed you with all good food, and you did not satisfy me with any bread, and I was hidden and buried, and you drank wine and desired, in your wickedness, the women who raised you.’ ‘20 My son, I raised you up like a beautiful cedar and you brought me down to the pit by the weight (lit.: great number) of your wickedness.’ ‘21 My son, I hoped that I had built a strong tower where I could hide from my enemies, but the Lord has torn me from it, for I sought good things from you and you gave me evil things. Therefore I will gouge out your eyes, cut out your tongue and take your head with the sword."’

‘21 And Nadan answered and said to Ahiqar: “Far be it from you to receive evil from me, but rather good things. Do with me according to your kindness, and forgive me all that I have done and said before, because I have angered God with my sins, and He always welcomes those who repent and have sinned. Therefore accept me to tend your beasts of burden, feed your swine and remove your dung, and I will be called an evil man and you a good man."’ ‘22 Ahiqar said to him again: “My son Nadan, the youth of the eagle prevails over the youth of the impure raven."’ ‘23 My son, they said to the wolf: "Keep away from the vicinity of the flock of sheep, lest its dung come upon you.”’

‘The wolf said: "I will not go away, for the droppings of the sheep are medicine for my eyes.” 24 The wolf was brought to the scribe, my son, so that he might instruct him. The master said to him: “Say A, B.” And the wolf answered: “Sheep and kid in my belly.”’ ‘25 My son, since the time I taught you, I have told you that God is a just ruler and an upright judge. To those who do well, He returns good; to those who do ill, He returns evil, and He places on their heads the torment that is in Gehenna. As between me and you there is only God as judge, He will return to you what you deserve.”’ ‘My son, in you is fulfilled the word which says: He whom you have begotten, call him your son, and he whom you have raised, call him your servant. 26 My son,’

‘this too is true: If he is your sister's son, strike him against the wall and throw him to the ground. It is God who knows the hidden things and renders to each one according to his works, whether good or bad. He will give you what you deserve. As for me, I say no more to you.”’ 27 When Nadan, the fool, heard these words, he immediately swelled up and became like a bloated wineskin and perished, and his ribs broke and he died, as it is said in Proverbs: To him that does good, the Lord will render good, and evil shall also be repaid with evil.

End

Manuscript of the philosopher Ahiqar.