Teachning of Amenemhat I, section 2

The Teaching of King Amenemhat I
Transliteration

(2)
sAq tw r smdt r.f tmt xpr
tmmt rdi ib m-sA Hr.s
m tkn im.sn m waw.kwi
m mH ib.k m sn m rx xnms
m sxprw n.k aqw nn km iry

Section 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Translation

(2)
GATHER YOURSELF AGAINST DEPENDANTS - NOTHING COMES OF IT
Anyone puts their heart in the direction of their fear.
Never approach them alone.
Trust none as brother. Make no friend.
Create no intimates - it is worthless

Commentary to the translation. Detailed points

(2)
Dependants
The word is used for staff in a restricted group of surviving Middle Kingdom documents.

Make no friend
The phrase may echo the widespread use of the phrase 'one known to the king' in the early Middle Kingdom, redeployed as an official title in late Middle Kingdom administration.

Intimates
The word literally means 'those with access': late Middle Kingdom administrative and religious titles include instances of the qualification 'with access'. Authoritative access is a key issue in administrative and political control: here the king seems to aim for total control, a lack of any privileged access - the unattainable security of which any ruler must dream.