Before Israel's prophets, before Greece's philosophers, Egyptian sages were already setting down their counsel on how to live well. The Instructions of Hardjedef and Kagemni - composed some four thousand years ago and copied for centuries by schoolboys learning to be scribes - are among the oldest surviving wisdom texts in the world. In clear, present-day English, this edition lets a father and a vizier speak again: prepare for the house of death while you savor the sweetness of life; govern your belly, your tongue, and your pride; sit modestly among the great; and raise children who know how to listen. Faithful to the meaning and spirit of the original fragments and their fuller remains, the volume includes an introduction, a glossary, and notes that place the teachings in their ancient world. A short, grounding read for anyone seeking perspective on mortality, self-restraint, and the quiet art of living with dignity. Part of The World Scriptures Library.