Chapter One. In the days of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon kings of Assyria and Nineveh, there was a man named Ahiqar the Wise, scribe and counsellor of the [above] mentioned kings. He remained constantly in their service without fault. When Sennacherib King of Assyria, died in the year six hundred and seventy-nine before Christ Ahiqar spoke to himself and said thus: “I, Ahiqar, have grown old and I have ales served Esarhaddon son of Sennacherib.” Then the magicians and all the astrologers said to me: “You will have a son who will inherit all your wealth.”

When they said this to me, I married sixty women and built sixty large and fine rooms for them. Having reached sixty years without sons, then I Ahiqar, went to offer sacrifices to the gods. I burnt incense before them and said to them: “O gods, give me a son in whom I may rejoice by him and who, when I die, may be my heir, because the possessions I owned are many.” But the idols did not answer him at all and he went home

from the temple’ confused and grieved. He began to implore and pray before God with a contrite heart, saying: “God of the heavens and of the earth, Creator of [all] creatures! Behold and see my tears and my supplication. Give me a son, that I may rejoice through him that he may be my heir, that he may be present at my death to close my eyes and bury me.” Then a voice came, saying to him: “Since you erred, trusting in idols, and burned incense before them, but you did not trust in me, for this reason, I left you without a son, but let this suffice and grieve not. for behold, Nadan, your sister’s son, will be

a son for you. When he grows up you will be able to teach him everything.” So, when I heard these things I grew sad again and said: “O Lord, mighty God! If you give Nadan, son of my sister, to me as a son that he may [throw] earth over me after my death and close my eyes, will he be my heir or not?” But He did not answer any of these words. Then I took Nadan, my sister’s son. He became to me a son, whom I raised that he may receive whatever I taught him. And because he was a child, I entrusted him into the hands of nurses to raise him,

being fed on honey and butter, growing up on carpets of all kinds, and dressed in robes of silk and purple. My son Nadan grew up and I began to teach him the Book of Wisdom without ceasing. King Esarhaddon's question: When the king returned from whence he had been, he said to me: “O Ahiqar, scribe, wise man, and keeper of my secrets, 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 and King, may you live for ever!

I have a son, who is wise as I am and who also knows my writings.” Then the king said to me: “Bring him that [ may see him, if it is possible for him to stay in my presence, [then] he will stay by my side. As for you I will leave you in peace that you may spend your old age every day of your life in peace.” Afterwards, I brought Nadan, my son, into the presence of King Esarhaddon, I brought him before him, and when the king saw him, he was pleased with him and said to him: “Today the horn of salvation is raised for Ahiqar.” And he said: “The Lord protects you, my son.

As Ahiqar had ministered before me and before my father Sennacherib and was rewarded, in the same way Nadan his son [shall stand] before me and now Ahiqar will spend a life of rest in his own home.” Then I, Ahiqar, paid homage to the king, testified, and said: “My Lord and King, may you live forever! As you know, I walked before you and before your father. May you too be patient with my son’s youth, so that your favour towards me may be seen double, O my Lord the King.” Then King Esarhaddon

took oaths and swore to Ahiqar concerning his son Nadan that he would be at his side [in the place] of honour as he would reward him continuously with good things. Thereafter, I, Ahiqar, kissed the soles of the king’s feet, took my son Nadan with me, and went home [and began] without ceasing to impart teachings to my son, until I filled Nadan with instruction like bread and water. The proverbs which Ahiqar taught Nadan, his sister’s son: ‘1) Hear, son, my words, pay attention to them, and may they be in your heart. Do not tell people about my advice,’

‘It might become as coal in your mouth and cauterize it, and you will blame your tongue and lament before God.’ ‘2) Nadan, my son, do not tr.say everything you think and do not reveal everything you see.’ ‘3) My son, do not break a sealed knot and do not seal one that is broken.’ ‘4) My son, let not advice that is not yours escape from your lips. 4a) If you raise your eyes and see an attractive woman, do not desire [her], for if you give her all that you possess, you will get no advantage’ [546b] [547b] [548b] [553b] [554b] [555b] ‘40) My son, he who is tidy in his dress is also smart in his words, and he who is disorderly in his dress, so is he in his speech.’ ‘41) My son, do not meddle in anyone’s marriage. If it turns out badly they will curse you; [if it goes well] they will bless you.’ ‘42) My son, throw stones at a dog that leaves his master and follows you, because it will not stay at your side either.’ ‘43) My son, let the wise man beat you with many sticks but let not the fool rub pleasant’

‘oils on you. ’ ‘43a) My son, do not act wickedly toward the wise and do not be wise with the wicked.’ ‘44) My son, if you have shoes on your feet, tread on the thistles and make a path for your children.’ ‘45) My son, if the son of the wealthy eats a snake they tr.say: “He ate it to cure his illness.” If the son of the poor eats it, they tr.say: “He ate it because he was hungry.”’ ‘46) My son, eat your share with your mate and do not complain.’ ‘47) My son, do not eat bread with someone who is not modest,’ ‘48) My son, do not envy the good fortune of your friend and do not rejoice in his misfortunes.’

‘49) My son, do not leave your first friend, because probably no one will take his place.’ ‘50) My son, do not go into the garden of lawyers and do not ask the hand of their daughters.’ ‘51) Order your dear one with nice words and speak before the governor to snatch him from the lion’s mouth.’ ‘52) My son, do not rejoice in your heart when your enemy dies.’ ‘53) My son, if a man stands in no space, the bird flies without wings, the hawk turns white as snow, and bitterness becomes sweet as honey, then it is possible for the fool to become a wise man.’ ‘54) My son, if you are a high-priest of God,’

‘be more firm than cautious and come into His presence with purity. ’ ‘55) My son, if you loan money to a poor man, you buy him and his children for yourself.’ ‘56) My son, a man without brothers and children [is] ill-treated and abandoned before his enemies. He is like a tree by the roadside. Whoever passes picks [its fruit] and the beasts and the birds make its leaves fall.’ ‘57) My son, do not tr.say in your heart: “My lord is a fool and I am wise,” but ward him off with oaths and have pity on him.’

‘58) My son, do not number yourself among the wise when others did not praise you.’ ‘59) My son, do not speak too much before your master, so that you do not appear contemptible in his eyes.’ ‘60) My son, do not curse God in days of misfortune, for He might hear your words and be angry with you.’ ‘61) My son, when your servants stand before you, do not hate one and favour another, because you do not know who among them will be at your side in the end.’ ‘62) My son, a servant who leaves his first master his work never reaches success.’

‘63) My son, make just judgement and you will ensure a peaceful old age.’ ‘64) My son, render your tongue sweet and your words pleasant, for the dog’s tail gets him bread but his mouth gets him beatings.’ ‘65) My child, do not let your mate tread on your foot or else he treads on your neck as well.’ ‘66) My son, do good to the man of God and you will also be honoured.’ ‘67) My son, do not quarrel with a man in his day [of power] and do not set yourself against the flowing of a river.’ ‘68) My son, a man’s eye is like’

‘a spring which is not satisfied until it is full of dust. ’ ‘69) My son, do not entertain those who quarrel, because from laughter comes quarrelling, from quarrelling fighting, and from fighting murder.’ Here Ahiqar ended the words of wisdom that he taught to Nadan his sister’s son. Then I, Ahiqar, after imparting these teachings to Nadan, my sister’s son, thought that he would keep all these teachings in his heart, that he would stay in the king’s gate and that, thanks to him, | would enjoy sweet rest and a pleasant life. But he did just the opposite and did not listen

to my words, but dispersed them into the wind. He returned and said: “My father Ahiqar grew old and his mind insane.” My son Nadan went after my wealth and all that I had earned, wasting it unsparingly. He tormented my hardworking servants in front of me and killed and sold my cattle and my mules as well. When I realized such deeds of his, I said to him: “My son, do not come near my wealth [again]! For it is said in the proverbs: Let the eye not spare the hand that has not gained [anything].” Then I reported these things to my Lord the King, who ordered: “Let no one approach the wealth [563b] of the scribe Ahiqar as long as he lives.” Thereafter, Ahiqar took Nebozardan Nadan's brother, to raise him in his house. So when Nadan saw that I had taken Nebozardan and established him in my presence in the house, evil rose in his eyes, Nadan became jealous and conceived in his mind evil things. For this reason he said thus: “My father Ahiqar grew old, his wisdom has diminished, and his words turned confused. Perhaps he will leave his wealth to my brother and banish me from his house.” Ahiqar, on hearing Nadan's words, reflected and thus said to Nadan: “What a pity for my wisdom to turn tasteless to you!”

When my son Nadan heard this he was grew very angry and harboured evil in his heart against me. He went to the king’s court to fulfil in deed the evil of his heart. Thus he wrote malignant letters in my name'’ and went to the king’s gate to show the two letters he had written to kings who were enemies of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon. He wrote in my name, one letter to the king of Persia and Elam Akish son of Samhalim Here is its content:'? “From Ahiqar the scribe peace be to you, O king of Persia and Elam! When you receive this letter, march out quickly

and come to Assyria. I will consign it into your hands without battle and without sword and you will dominate the kingdom without hindrance.” Then he wrote another letter [as if] from me to the Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Here is its content: “When this letter reaches you, march out to meet me on the peak beyond the plain'* on the twenty-fifth day of the month of August. And I will let you into Nineveh and you will enter the kingdom without fighting.” He [produced] these letters to look like my own letters and sealed them with my seal and threw them into one of the king’s rooms. Afterward, he wrote again another letter to me

the king’s name: “From Esarhaddon to Ahiqar, scribe of my lordship, peace! When you get this letter, gather all the troops at [Mount Sahu] and from there head for the [peak of Neshre,] on the twenty-fifth day of the month of August. When you see I am coming near you in battle, marshal the army against me, as a man who is ready to fight, for messengers have come to me from Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to know [the size] of my army and how my troops are.” Then my son Nadan gave one of the letters to the king as if he had just seen it,

he took it and read it before my Lord, King Esarhaddon When [the king] heard it, he was furious with the scribe Ahiqar and spoke thus: “O God, what wrong have I done so that Ahiqar was drawn to do this to me?” Then Nadan answered and said to the king: “My Lord the King, do not be annoyed and do not be distressed. Come, let us go out now to climb the [peak of Neshre.] as it is written in this letter. There you will know the truth of these matters and whatever you command will be done.” When the king ordered that they should go and climb the peak to see if this thing was true,

then my son Nadan went with my Lord, King Esarhaddon and they came to find me and the army that was with me on the [peak of Neshre.] When I saw he was coming towards me, I marshalled the army against him as if to fight, relying on that letter that my son Nadan had sent me. Then the king, seeing I did thus, put on a sombre face and turned back on the advice of my son Nadan who said to him: “My Lord the King, return to your palace and stay calm. I will take Ahiqar prisoner in fetters and chains and I will deliver him

into your hands, since he has perpetrated these things against you.” After leaving the king, Nadan came to me and said: “My father, I swear to your God that for this thing you have done King Esarhaddon has greatly praised you and exalted you because you obeyed the orders of his letter. Now he sent me to you that we may both appear in his presence alone. Discharge the troops so that everyone goes to his house.” Thereafter, I let the army go and went with Nadan before the king and greeted him. On seeing me he said to me: “So you have come, Ahiqar, my scribe and governor of my kingdom,

you who were [so] dear to me. I tell you: go home and never come before me again, now that you have changed your love to hate and became among my enemies.” Then he took and gave me those letters that Nadan had written in my name, as if I had written myself, and sealed with my seal. When I read them I was amazed, trembling and fearful, and my tongue was tied; when I tried to say a word from the words of wisdom I could not. Then Nadan shouted at me and said: “Give an answer! Leave the king’s presence,

fool and ill-fated old man! Bring your hands for the fetters and your feet for the chains!” After which the king turned his face from me with indescribable anger. He ordered the executioner whose name was Nabusemakh saying to him: “I command you to take Ahiqar, go and kill him, throw his head a hundred cubits from his body.” Then I, Ahiqar, paid homage to the king and said to him: “My Lord the King, may you live forever! As you wanted my death, your order be [executed], but because I have no guilt as far as I know, (thus) I beg the King my Lord that I may be killed at the gate of my house

that my corpse be given to my servants so that they may bury me.” Then the king said to the executioner: “Go at once and do as Ahiqar, had said.” Then we all left the king’s presence and I sent a letter to my wife Eshfagni to come out to meet me with a thousand young ladies in elegant and beautiful clothes to mourn and weep over me before my death. And [I also described] to my aforementioned wife to go home and prepare food and drink of various kinds on the table and to pour fine old wine with her own hands for all the king’s servants and hangmen. Then my wife

Eshfagni, very wise and able, did as I ordered her. After they ate and drank, they got drunk and fell asleep in their spots. Then I, Ahiqar, said to the hangman: “Turn your eyes toward God, the creator of the heavens, and remember the bread and water that we ate together! And I know I have committed no wrong or sin. It is Nadan who set this trap and betrayed me. So do not associate yourself with my sin, do not kill me oppressively, remember and call to your mind the day that Sennacherib father of this king, was angry with you and ordered me to kill you. When I realized that you were

guiltless, I hid you and did not kill you, until the king’s anger was placated and he remembered your merits and ordered me to bring you before him. He treated you well and rewarded you with great gifts. Now hide me and repay me for what I did for you. Behold, I have in prison a guilty slave whose name is Medyapar who deserves to die for his evil deeds. Release him now and let him put on my clothes. Take out those drunken men who are with you and let them kill him in such a way that they will not suspect whom they are murdering, throw his head a hundred cubits from his body, and give his corpse that they may bury him.”

The announcement flew in Assyria and Nineveh that Ahiqar was killed. Then the hangman and my wife Eshfagni arranged for me a hidden place underground, fourteen cubits long and seven wide, under the threshold of the door. They let me in and hid me inside it; they brought me bread and water. They left me and went away and informed the king: “Ahiqar is killed as you ordered.” When the news spread through Assyria and Nineveh they wept for me and said: “We lament you, Ahiqar, able scribe, expert in hidden matters. Who will dare be like you?” Then King Esarhaddon called Nadan

and said to him: “Go and do mourning over your father Ahiqar just like the custom of the whole world.” Nadan left to go home, but did not do any mourning; on the contrary, he gathered wicked and prodigal people and began to eat, drink, dance, and sing. Nadan started to grab my servant maids, stripped them, and sought to do evil things with them. He did not even respect my wife, who brought him up as if he were her son, and sought to strip her naked and sleep with her. I, Ahiqar, could hear from under the ground the screams of my family caused by my son Nadan and I began to pray with supplication before God and beg mercy on their behalf.

He heard my laments from the bottom of the ground and a few days later sent Nabusemakh to comfort me in my heart. He brought me bread and water. When he sought to leave I begged him to pray to God to save me from this place. He prayed and said: “Merciful and blessed God, remember Ahiqar whose hope is in you, and deliver him from this prison.” When Pharaoh heard that Ahiqar the wise was killed, he rejoiced greatly and wrote a letter which he sent, saying: “From Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, to Esarhaddon, King of Assyria and Nineveh,

peace and tranquillity! O King, let it be known that I wish to build for myself a fortress between heaven and earth. I wish that you send me from your side an architect who will build it as I like and who is able to answer every question. If you are able to send me such a man I will send you three-years’ taxes of Egypt and all its regions, but if you are unable to find such a man send with our messenger who is there with you taxes for three years from Assyria and Nineveh.” When King Esarhaddon read this letter, he gathered

all his nobles, wise men, philosophers, wizards and astrologers and said to them: “Who among you can answer Pharaoh the King?” They replied to King Esarhaddon, saying: “Let our Lord the King know the truth that Ahiqar the wise [would alone solve] such questions and problems. But see now who is nominated in his place, call and ask him.” Then the king called Nadan and gave him the letter. Nadan replied to Esarhaddon saying: “My Lord the King, concerning the request of Pharaoh the king, who can construct a building between heaven and earth?

Not even the gods can! Perhaps it is an error of the scribe!” On hearing Nadan's words, the king grew very sad, came down from his throne and sat in the midst of ashes, saying: “What a pity, Ahiqar the wise man and expert in hidden matters! Alas! He who is to bring me the good news by telling me that Ahiqar is [still] alive, I will give to that bearer of good tidings half of my kingdom!” Then Nabusemakh, [upon] hearing the king’s words, drew near and bowed down to him, saying: “My Lord the King, may you live forever! Behold Ahiqar is still alive and is hiding underground.

Do not weep. Order him to come to you.” When the king heard this, he got up at once from the midst of ashes, went up onto the throne again and ordered that Ahiqar be brought out of his place. Nabusemakh went and brought him from underground to stand before the king. They both bowed down before King Esarhaddon, who looked upon Ahiqar and saw that his personal appearance had changed and that his whole body was in disorder, having lost his colour. The king was sorry for him, wept and said: “O Ahiqar! I did not commit either fault or sin [against you]. It was your son Nadan who harmed you in deception!” Ahiqar replied, saying:

“My Lord the King, now that I see you [again] let all that has passed be forgotten, because God has made me worthy of seeing your attractive face.” The king replied and said: “May the God of Ahiqar be blessed and glorified for He delivered him from this oppression. Ahiqar, go to the bathing house, shave and take a bath, and go home, eat and drink for forty days’ until you grow fit again and then come to me.” Ahiqar went and did according to the king’s order. After twenty days, he returned to King Esarhaddon and bowed down before him to the ground.

Then the king brought out the letter of the king of Egypt, and showed it to Ahiqar; he took it from the king’s hands, read it, and understood all that it contained. Ahiqar said to the king: “My Lord the King, do not be concerned. I will go to Egypt to answer Pharaoh and interpret all his questions; I will bring back the taxes for three years from Egypt. I will humble all your enemies with the help of God, my Lord the King.” When the king heard Ahiqar's words he rejoiced and his heart was filled with joy. Then he gave Ahiqar and his wife great gifts,

nd promoted the hangman Nabusemakh to a much higher rank, and honoured him with great praise. The day after, I, Ahiqar wrote a letter to my wife Eshfagni and thus said to her: “When you receive this letter in your hands, order the hunters to catch two eaglets for us; make ready two great cages for them, prepare hemp ropes two thousand cubits long and entrust Nabulhal and Tabshalem to the wet nurses to breast-feed them. Feed the eaglets a lamb to eat every day that they grow well, and while the children are small and light put them on the eaglets’ backs every day

tie the ropes to the eaglets’ feet [while they are flying] in the air, and see that the children ride on their backs while they are small so as to learn to carry them. Teach the children to shout these words while riding on the eaglets’ backs up in the air: “Bring mortar, and plaster, and stones, for us the idle builders; they want to build a castle in the air.” After this, pull the eaglets down to earth again, and shut them in the cages. Send me a word that I may know the progress of this matter.” My wife Eshfagni, who possessed great wisdom, did all

I had ordered her to do, and she sent word to me. After a few days, I, Ahiqar, told [the king] that I would go to Egypt because the time had come for me to go. So I gave orders and took a great army with me. After marching for a day, we stopped in a wide space in the plain. Then I let the eaglets out of their cages, tied their feet with the ropes, put the children on their backs and they flew through the air until they were out of sight. Then the children began to shout from the eaglets’ backs in the sky: “Bring us plaster, mortar, and stones, because the masons

and workers have no work and they want to build a castle high in the sky.” Then [ pulled [on the ropes] and [the eagles] came down. When [the army] heard this, they rejoiced greatly. Ahiqar's entrance before Pharaoh, King of Egypt: When I, Ahiqar, entered Egypt with my soldiers, | went to the king Pharaoh, and his servants informed him: “Behold, the man you wanted from the king of Assyria has arrived. What do you order now?” Then Pharaoh ordered that they should give us—I and my soldiers—lodging; there-after Pharaoh ordered me to go in,

and I paid him homage. Then he asked me: “What is your name?” And I replied: “Abiqam is the name of your servant, one of the ants of Esarhaddon, King of Assyria and Nineveh.” Upon hearing this, Pharaoh was angry with me and said: “Am I so much despised by your lord that he sends an ant to answer me? Now go to your lodging, Abiqam, and come to me tomorrow.” The next day, Pharaoh ordered all his dignitaries to put on clothes of red silk and to go to him. The king also dressed in purple (and) red and took his seat on the throne, surrounded by all his servants

and dignitaries. Then he ordered them to bring me into his presence and said to me: “O Abiqam, who do I look like, and who do my troops resemble?” I said to him: “My Lord, you look like the image of Bel and your servants his dignitaries.” Then he said to me: “O Abiqam, go now and come back here tomorrow.” The king ordered his men to put on clothes of white thread and to show up at his presence. The king also dressed [in this way] and sat on his throne while his dignitaries placed themselves before him. He ordered me to come before him and said to me: “O Abiqam, who do I look like, and who do my dignitaries resemble?” I said to him:

“You [resemble] the sun and your dignitaries are its rays.” Then he said: “[Go] to your lodging and tomorrow come to me.” The king ordered his dignitaries to put on clothes of shining silk, and the king also dressed up in the same way. He sat on the throne and ordered me to go before him. He said to me: “O Abiqam, who do I look like now, and who do my dignitaries look like?” I answered: “You are the moon and your dignitaries are the stars.” He said to me: “Go to your lodging and tomorrow come to me.” The king ordered his dignitaries to put on patchy clothes and [to place] red curtains in the palace. The king dressed up

in purple and sat on his throne. He ordered me to come before him and said: “O Abiqam, who do I look like, and who do my dignitaries resemble?” I said: “You look like the month of April and your dignitaries like its camomile flowers.” On hearing this, the king felt great joy and said to me: “O Abiqam, this time I will ask you, if you know everything you have compared me with. Your lord, King Esarhaddon who does he resemble and his dignitaries who do they look like?” Then I said to him: “Far be it from me to mention the name of my Lord the King while you are seated on the throne. Stand up and then I will tell you who

my Lord, the King of Assyria, is like.” Then Pharaoh stood up from the throne, and I said to him: “My lord Esarhaddon is like the lord of the winds and his dignitaries like thunderbolts. When he wishes, the wind blows and the rain falls making mud; he orders the thunders to burst and the thunderbolts to fall; he destroys the statue of Bel and disperses his servants; he prevents the sun from shining and its rays from being seen; he keeps the moon from showing itself with the stars; he orders the mountainous region to give forth wind and thunder; rain and hail fall

and the flowers and all the roses of the month of April are destroyed and will fall.” On hearing these things, Pharaoh the king marvelled greatly, got angry and said: “O man, tell me what is your real name?” Then I replied: “I am Ahiqar, the scribe.” Then the king said to me: “We heard that Ahiqar, was killed, how can this be?” I replied to him again: “Praise be to the merciful Lord who saved me from injustice and dismissed evil men and betrayers. Since they told my lord false things about me, and he ordered me to be killed,

my God delivered me from death. Blessed be whoever believes in Him.” Then Pharaoh replied and said to me: “Go home, Ahiqar; return to me tomorrow and bring me some news that has never been heard either by me or by any of the nobles of Egypt.” I went home and started to think about what news [Pharaoh] had ever heard. Then I, Ahiqar, took a sheet and thus wrote: “From Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to Esarhaddon, King of Assyria and Nineveh, peace! You know, my dear brother that [sometimes] brothers need brothers and kings [need] kings. Behold, [since] at this

time I need money to spend and my treasures have run out, I ask your brotherhood to lend me nine hundred talents of gold. In a short time, I will return your gold without delay.” I sealed the letter and went to King Pharaoh, who then said to me: “O Ahiqar, did you bring me an answer about the news that has been asked?” Then I said: “Yes, my Lord.” I took out the letter and delivered it into his hand. When he read it before his dignitaries, they were astonished and exclaimed: “In truth, such news was never heard in Egypt!”

Then I said to him: “Thus Egypt is in debt and has to repay this debt to Assyria and Nineveh.” Then the Egyptians admitted that they had to pay the mentioned debt. Then King Pharaoh said to me: “O Ahiqar, I want you to build me a castle between heaven and earth, two thousand cubits tall.” I replied, saying: “O Lord, I will build you a castle such as you order, but you must [provide] stones, plaster, and mortar, while I will [provide] builders and workers” Pharaoh said: “So be it.” I at once let

the eagles out of the cages and put the children on their backs. I tied the ropes to their feet and the eagles flew while the children shouted, saying: “Bring us plaster, mortar and stones because Pharaoh’s craftsmen and workers are idle and they want to build a castle between heaven and earth for Pharaoh!” They also cried, saying: “Pour wine and give it to us to drink, O Egyptians!” When the Pharaoh and his dignitaries saw this, they were greatly astonished. Then Ahiqar took a stick and struck the Pharaoh’s dignitaries so that they may bring up for the builders stones

and plaster. Afflicted by the blows, these fled to their homes. Then Pharaoh said: “O Ahiqar! What have you done? Are you possessed? Who can bring what they are asking for into that high sky?” Then I said to him: “If my Lord, King Esarhaddon, were here he would have built two castles in one day!” Then he said to me: “Stop building now, go home, and come to me tomorrow.” Then I went [home] as he ordered me and then went back to him. He (=Pharaoh) said to me: “O Ahiqar, how about the affair of your Lord Esarhaddon’s stallions

that neigh in Assyria while our mares here hear their cries and abort?” Thereafter, I went out and caught a fox in a garden and began to torment it before Pharaoh until I made it cry out and groan. King Pharaoh called me and said: “Why are you tormenting this fox?” Then I said to Pharaoh, the king: “This fox has harmed me greatly, my Lord, for I had a rooster with a wonderful voice which told me the hours of the night and was given as a gift to me by my Lord Esarhaddon.

In this night the fox went to Assyria and ate my rooster.” Then Pharaoh said to me: “O Ahiqar, I see sign of madness in you. How could a fox go from Egypt to Assyria in a single night, eat your rooster, and come back here as more than three hundred and sixty parasangs lie between them?” Then I said: “My Lord the King, it is just as my lord’s horses neigh there and your mares abort here.” Then the king said: “Your reply is very good,

solve this riddle for me: a builder put up a column, constructing it with eight thousand seven hundred sixty-three bricks, and covering it with three hundred and sixty five stones. On the top he planted twelve cedar trees, on every cedar he stuck thirty branches and on each branch two bunches of dates, one white and another black.” Then I replied to Pharaoh the King: “[Even] the herdsman of cattle of Assyria and Nineveh know this riddle! The builder is God, who created the year which is the column. He gave

the year eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-three hours, and made the days of the year three hundred and sixty five. The twelve cedars are the twelve months of the year. Every cedar has thirty branches, that is thirty days, and every branch has two bunches, one white and one black, which are the day and the night”. Thereafter, Pharaoh said to me: “O Ahiqar, twine two ropes of sea-sand for me.” I said: “Order, my Lord, to bring me two ropes from your stores so that I may make such a rope.” The king said to me:“O Ahiqar, if

you do not make the ropes for me, I will not give you the tribute of Egypt.” Then I went behind the house and made two holes in the wall, through which the sun penetrated into the holes. ] dropped the sea-sand which [seemed] to twist like a rope. I said to the king: “Order your servants to take the ropes!” Then Pharaoh said: “Ahiqar, behold, we have a millstone that works prodigiously well, but one of its [stones] is broken, and I wish you to mend it for us.” Pharaoh’s servants rolled it before me. Then I saw another stone much smaller than that one, also broken.

took it up and carried it before Pharaoh, saying to him: “You know, my Lord the King, that I am a foreigner and I have not brought my mending tools with me. Order your friends, the shoemakers who are in your city, to cut off a slice of this stone and I will sew it up at once.” Then Pharaoh and his dignitaries marvelled at the wise man Ahiqar, praised him and said: “Blessed be the Lord, who gave you wisdom and skill, Ahiqar!” Ahiqar’s departure from Egypt. and his return to Esarhaddon King of Assyria and Nineveh:

he saw that he had been defeated by the scribe Ahiqar, who explained and solved all his riddles and obstacles and [no longer] had any excuse, Pharaoh delivered the money and taxes for three years from all the land of Egypt, and he also gave him the nine hundred gold talents mentioned in the letter. He gave innumerable gifts to all my servants and my troops. Thereafter, he gave Ahiqar permission to go to his country with his army. I kissed the king’s knees and returned to Assyria in great victory. I came before King Esarhaddon with honour

and my head high, and he rejoiced greatly when he saw me. He made me sit on his right and he said to me: “O Ahiqar, my scribe, ask me for anything you like and desire!” I said to him: “May the King my Lord live forever! Everything you wish to give me, give it rather to the hangman Nabusemakh, because am living this life thanks to his wisdom, my Lord the King.” Then the King of Assyria And I told him every single thing while he listened with amazement. Then I delivered

All that Pharaoh had given me, and finally I paid homage to King Esarhaddon and said: “Now I ask the Lord for you that He may ever grant you peace and prosperity. I do not wish anything from the possession of my Lord, but surrender to me my son Nadan, so that I may judge him according to your order and instruction.” Then the king ordered and they delivered to me my sister’s son Nadan, who was bound in fetters. I took him home, I began to punish him with great severity and gave him a thousand blows on his back, a thousand on his shoulders, a thousand on his belly,

thousand on his buttocks, and a thousand on his legs. Every day I beat him likewise, and when he begged for respite, I threw him into the latrine so that he could breathe its stench. I gave him enough bread and water to keep him alive. I delivered him into the hands of young Nabulhal and Tabshalem to watch him and told them: “Write down what I say to that wretched one whom I honoured and loved. He did not understand but wished my death and the end of my life.” Then Ahiqar said to Nadan, his sister’s son thus: ‘1) My son, it is said in the Proverbs:’

‘“Who he does not listen with his ears is made to listen behind his neck.” ’ ‘2) Nadan replied saying to me: “Why are you angry with me, Ahiqar? It is said in the scriptures: ‘Do not return evil with evil.’ ” Then Ahiqar said: My son, I honoured you, I fed you and I brought you before the royal throne, and you made me lose my post and wished my death. But God has saved me from oppression, for God, praise to Him, humbles the proud and heals the broken-hearted.’ ‘3) My son, you became like the scorpion that plunged its sting into the stone but did not [even] feel it.’

‘Then it stung a needle, and it said to the scorpion: “Behold, my sting is stronger than yours!’ ‘4) My son, you became to me as one who gathers stones to throw at God, but stones do not reach Him; thus he gets a great sin.’ ‘5) My son, you became to me like a goat standing over a twig of madder to eat from it. The madder said to the goat: “Why are you eating from me? Your skin gets tanned by me!” The goat replied: “I will eat you while I live and [then] I will tan my skin with the blood of your roots!”’ ‘6) My son, you became a person’

‘who sees [someone] trembling with cold, but he takes water and pours it on his head. ’ ‘7) My son, you should know that [even] if the pig’s tail were seven cubits long, it would not take the place of the horse, not even if its bristles turn soft as silk.’ ‘8) My son, I said you would replace me, inherit my position, and acquire my teachings and all my deeds. But you did not accept my teaching, nor did you listen to my words, nor did you gain anything from God who also did not listen to your voice.’ ‘9) My son, to me you became like the lion’

‘who met a donkey at midday time. The lion said to the donkey: “May your coming be in peace!” The donkey replied: “May your greeting go to him who tied me up [last] night; otherwise I would not see your face.”’ ‘10) My son, you became to me as the trap placed on a manure heap; a sparrow said to it: “What are you doing here?” It replied: “I am praying to God Almighty.” Then the sparrow asked again: “And what is this stuff you are placed on?” The trap replied: “It is the stick on which I lean when J pray.” The sparrow asked: “What have you got in your mouth?” The trap said: “It is’

‘the food and drink for those who come near me.” The sparrow said: “So I will come near and eat too!” The trap said: “Come near!” The sparrow went up to eat and the trap caught it by its neck. Then the sparrow retorted to the trap: “If this is your bread for the hungry, may God not accept your alms; if this is your fasting and prayer to God, may God not accept either your fasting or your prayer and may He grant you no good!” ’ ‘11) My son, you became to me like a wheat’

‘louse, which brings no profit and causes damage.’ ‘12) My son, you became to me like a dog that goes into a house to get warm from the cold and when it gets warm starts to bark at the people of the house.’ ‘13) My son, you became to me like the pig that went to wash up in the baths with noble people, and after he washed up and left the baths, he saw mud and wallowed in it.’ ‘14) My son, the dog that does not eat its prey, this becomes food for the wolves. 15) My son, the hand that does not work and produce will be cut off. 16) My son, the eye’

‘that looks on a bawdy thing will be plucked out. ’ ‘17) My son, I showed you the king’s face and raised you to great honour, but you rewarded me with evil instead of good. How then will you reward him who does evil to you?’ ‘18) My son, you were to me like the cat which was told: “Stop stealing and the king will give you a gold collar!” It said: “I will not give up the art of my father and mother.”’ ‘19) My son, I fed you every excellent food but you’

‘did not feed me with even simple bread. [While] I was hidden and invisible, you gave yourself to drinking; moreover, you sought to fornicate with my women who brought you up. ’ ‘20) My son, I brought you up as a splendid cedar and you humbled me and made me fall in the dust with all your pitfalls.’ ‘21) My son, I thought I had built for myself a strong tower in which I could protect myself from my enemies, and that the Lord would save me from them. [But] while I wished you well, you repaid me with evil. Now I want to sew up your eyes, cut out your tongue, and take off your head with the sword.’

‘Then Nadan replied to Ahiqar, saying: “[God] forbid you do evil instead of good! Act with me according to your goodness and forgive me all what you hitherto spoke about, since I have made God my enemy by my sins, yet He always accepts the oath of penitents [on the condition that] they sin no more. Accept me too, and I will be the servant of your horses, the caretaker of your swine-herd, and the sweeper of your dirt. I shall be called the wicked man and you the good man!”’ ‘Then Ahiqar said to him: 22) “My son Nadan, the old age of an eagle’

‘is better than the youth of a stinking crow.” ’ ‘23) My son, it was said to a wolf: “Keep away from the presence of the sheep, lest their dung fall on you.” The wolf said: “I will not go away, because the sheep’s dung is medicine for my eyes.” 24) My son, they took a wolf before a scribe so as to learn. The teacher said to it: “Say Aleph, Beth” and the wolf answered, saying: “Lamb, kid in my belly.”’ ‘25) My son, when I taught you I said to you that God is a just sovereign and an upright judge. Those who do good He repays with good and those who do evil’

‘He repays with evil, and their punishment is the torment of burning hell. Since between me and you there is no judge but God, He will repay you as you are.” ’ ‘26) My son, you have confirmed the proverb which is often recited: “Him whom you have begotten, call him your son and him whom you have brought up call him your slave.” 27) My son, you confirm this too: “[But] if he is your sister’s son, strike him against the wall and throw him on the ground.” God who knows hidden things and repays every man according to his deeds, good or bad, will repay you as you deserve. For this reason, I will abstain from saying’

‘anything to you.’ When the fool Nadan heard these words, he swelled up immediately, just like a swollen skin-leather, and died and every part of him ended. As is said in the proverbs, he who does good, the Lord rewards him with good; likewise, the evil one is rewarded according to his evil. The story of Ahiqar is ended.