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Full Moon Healing Prayer to Djehuty

I sing praises to Djehuty the Moon,

prostrate myself before the Merciful One.

I praise You in the sky and honor Your perfection.

Have mercy on Me!

May I see Your mercy without ceasing,

That I might see Your great strength.

You have shown me the darkness I created.

Shine for me so that I might see You,

Because health and life are in Your hands,

And one lives by Your command.

- a stela from Tanis - translation by Tamara Siuda, The Ancient Egyptian Prayerbook, Stargazer Design, 2009. 

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Fragment of a relief depicting the cartouches of king Thutmose III (1479-1425 BC), from Deir el-Bahari. Now in the Luxor Museum.

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For the weary Ka

It is the eve of good tidings. The re-establishment of Ra. My sweet child, Hethert, has brought honey to cool and sooth the brow of men. Sweet succor for the weary soul. Give thought to the industry of those in whom She delights. They create great wealth in sustenance and sweetness that is shared in abundance.  They visit beauty in all places, and revel in the transformation of goodness that sustains and heals. Remember their industry. Remember their brotherhood and cooperation. Know your place, know your vocation. Work greatly to the better. Bring kindness and joy, but also bring strength of purpose, and renewed vigilance. Yet, as She can change, so too can they change and deliver the swift bite of vengeance. Rest now and then in peace, for rest is good. But rest not in sloth or self-love for those things do not recognize your brother's need. Take pride in works done, but give also thought to that which must become labor. For a slack of industry allows the uncreated to fester and grow, and cruelty of all kinds to infest the land, to infest the mind, and to infest the heart. It is the eve of good tidings. The eve of transition. The eve of change. The re-establishment of Ra. Know that the Father lives. Know that He rides the heavens and sets to order all that He sees through His own power and that of His servants. The sun must shine. The sun will shine. May nothing be hidden from the gold of heaven. May the hand of god bring life to you.

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Prayer to Djehuty

Come to me Djehuty, O noble Ibis,

O god who loves Khmun;

O letter-writer of the Ennead,

Great one who dwells in Un!

Come to me and give me counsel,

Make me skillful in your calling;

Better is your calling than all callings,

It makes (men) great.

He who masters it is found fit to hold office,

I have seen many whom you have helped;

They are now among the Thirty,

They are strong and rich through your help.

You are he who offers counsel,

I am a servant of your house.

Let me tell you of your valiant deeds,

Wheresoever I may be;

Then the multitudes will say:

“Great are they, the deeds of Djehuty!”

Then they’ll come and bring their children,

To assign them <to> your calling,

A calling that pleases the lord of strength,

Happy is he who performs it!

from: Papyrus Anastasi V. 9, 2-10, 2

translation by R. A. Caminos

Late Egyptian Miscellanies

London: Brown Egyptological Studies 1, p. 232-233, 1954

and in Ancient Egyptian Literature, v. 3, p. 113

Miriam Lichtheim

Berkely: University of California Press, 1976.

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Lament to Djehuty

O Djehuty!

Where now stands the papyrus grove, What Baboon now greets the Sun, What Man gives Henu to the Moon, What Man lives to speak thy Name?

The pen is still. The ink is dry. I cry to Thee.

My mind knows not Your place in time, My tongue knows not Your speech, My feet know not Your land, My heart knows not Your Truth.

The pen is still. The ink is dry. I cry to Thee.

The Kings of old are taken from their halls, The stones of Khmun no longer sing, The Medu-Netjer speak no more, The very stars have shifted course.

O Djehuty, live again! I cry to Thee.

I hear Your call, I know Your voice, I feel Your thought, I know Your hand, I cry to Thee.

I answer with all that is in me, bridging time, bridging space. Let me stand beside Thee. Teach me. Love me.

My Father, My Breath, My Soul, My Life.

The pen is still. The ink is dry. Fill my heart with Thee.

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from The Book of the Divine Cow

Then the majesty of this god [Ra] said:

Call then Djehuty to me.

And he was brought at once.

Then the majesty of this god said to Djehuty:

Behold, I am here in heaven, in my place.  As I am going to give light and brilliance in the Netherworld, as well as on the island of Baba — be a scribe here, have power over those who are here, those whom we created and those who rebelled.  It is thou who shalt repulse the followers of this Angry One.  Thou shalt be in my place, my vicar.  It will be said of thee: Djehuty the vicar of Re. And I shall make thee send out those who are greater than thee.

And this Ibis of Djehuty came into being.

And I will cause thee to stretch thy arm in the presence of the primeval gods who are greater then thee.  My speech is good if thou actest (so).

And this ibis of Djehuty came into being.

And I will cause thee to encompass the two heavens with thy beauty and with thy light.

And this moon of Djehuty came into being.

And I will let thee go around the Hanebu.

And this Baboon of Djehuty came into being and became the vizier.

Thou shalt be my vicar and while people see thee, their faces shall be open through thee (they will see in the dark) and they will praise god for thee.

Translation by Alexandre Piankoff

Bollingen Series XL/2

New York, 1955

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Djehuty

The bolts have been thrown back, and the doors of heaven are open.

Feel not lonely, for the Lord of Words, the Silver Aten, the great Heart of Ra, walks yet in the two worlds. He is at once close, and far away so that all may seek place and be written into the words of the world.

For whoever seeks after truth shall have knowledge and wisdom as guides. Djehuty judges the earnestness of all actions and encourages the seeds of growth in all men.

When the way is long and the task difficult, the Lord of Now and Forever will know your heart and help you hold fast and strong.

Ask only for the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the heart to feel, and the limbs to walk. Ask Djehuty to know you. He is ever in motion and those by His side may know the rightness of ma’at at work. This is peace. Not the peace of rest, but the peace of hearts together in song. Voices raised together are strength ten-fold.

Give thanks to the Lord of Eight that He may grant you audience. Sing praise to the Guide of Nine that He may see you. He will be with you. Your heart’s companion.