Written at least 2,000 years before the Ten Commandments of Moses, the 42 Principles of Ma’at are one of Africa’s, and the world’s, oldest sources of moral and spiritual instruction. Ma’at, the Ancient Egyptian divine Principle of Truth, Justice, and Righteousness, is the foundation of natural and social order and unity. 42 Principles of MA’AT The COMMANDMENTS Of ANCIENT EGYPT 1. I have not done iniquity. 2. I have not robbed with violence. 3. I have not stolen. 4. I have done no murder; I have done no harm. 5. I have not defrauded offerings. 6. I have not diminished obligations. 7. I have not plundered the neteru. 8. I have not spoken lies. 9. I have not uttered evil words. 10. I have not caused pain. 11. I have not committed fornication. 12. I have not caused shedding of tears. 13. I have not dealt deceitfully. 14. I have not transgressed. 15. I have not acted guilefully. 16. I have not laid waste the ploughed land. 17. I have not been an eavesdropper. 18. I have not set my lips in motion (against any man). 19. I have not been angry and wrathful except for a just cause. 20. I have not defiled the wife of any man. 21. I have not been a man of anger. 22. I have not polluted myself. 23. I have not caused terror. 24. I have not burned with rage. 25. I have not stopped my ears against the words of Right and Truth. (Ma-at) 26. I have not worked grief. 27. I have not acted with insolence. 28. I have not stirred up strife. 29. I have not judged hastily. 30. I have not sought for distinctions. 31. I have not multiplied words exceedingly. 32. I have not done neither harm nor ill. 33. I have not cursed the Great Elder. (i.e. violation of laws) 34. I have not fouled the water. 35. I have not spoken scornfully. 36. I have never cursed the neteru. 37. I have not stolen. 38. I have not defrauded the offerings of the neteru. 39. I have not plundered the offerings of the blessed dead. 40. I have not filched the food of the infant. 41. I have not sinned against the neter of my native town. 42. I have not slaughtered with evil intent the cattle of the neter. Ancient Africans developed a humane system of thought and conduct which has been recorded in volumes of African wisdom literature, such as, these declarations from the Book of Coming Forth By Day (also called The Book of the Dead), The Teachings of Ptah-Hotep, the writings of Ani, Amenemope, Merikare, and others. 2.bp.blogspot/_cpRXT6ZSHTw/TUR3lma0cvI/AAAAAAAAAkU/JOAIawK5iCA/s1600/isis-maat01.jpg
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:34:51 +0000
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