Hymn to Ra when he riseth (From the Papyrns of Qenna, Plate 4)

Vignette : Qenna and his wife standing with hands raised in adoration .

Text : (t) A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH IN THE EASTERN PART OF HEAVEN . Behold Osiris, Qenna the merchant, triumphant, (2) who saith :-

"Homage to thee, O thou who risest in Nu, and who at thy manifestation dost make the world bright with light ; the whole company of gods sing hymns of praise unto thee after thou hast come forth . (3) The divine Merti r who minister unto thee cherish thee as King of the North and South, thou beautiful and beloved Man-child . When thou risest, men and women live. (4) The nations rejoice in thee, and the Souls of Annu (Heliopolis) sing unto thee songs of joy . (5) The souls of the cities of Pe and Nekhen exalt thee, the apes of dawn adore thee, and (6) all beasts and cattle praise thee with one accord . The goddess Seba overthroweth thine enemies, therefore rejoice thou within (7) thy boat ; thy mariners are content thereat . Thou hast attained unto the Atet boat, and thy heart swelleth with joy . O lord of the gods, when thou didst create (8) them they ascribed unto thee praises . The azure goddess Nut doth compass thee on every side, and the god Nu (g) floodeth thee with his rays of light . O cast thou thy light upon me and let me see thy beauties, me the Osiris (to) Qenna the merchant, victorious, and when thou goest forth over the earth I will sing praises unto thy fair face . Thou risest in heaven's horizon, (11) and [thy] disk is adored [when] it resteth upon the mountain to give life unto the world . Saith Qenna the merchant, victorious : (12) "Thou risest, thou risest, and thou comest forth from the god Nu . Thou dost renew thy youth and thou dost set thyself in the place where thou "wart yesterday . O divine youth who hast created thyself, (13) I am not able [to describe] thee . Thou hast come with thy diadems, and thou hast made heaven and earth bright with thy rays of "pure emerald light . (14) The land of Punt is stablished [to give] "the perfumes which thou smellest with thy nostrils . Thou risest, "O marvellous Being,' (15) in heaven, the two serpent-goddesses "Merti are stablished upon thy brow, and thou art the giver of "laws, O lord of the world and of the inhabitants thereof ; (16) all "the gods and Qenna the merchant, victorious, adore thee ."


The SourceThe Book of the Dead, the Chapters of Coming Forth by Day
Translated into English by E. A. Wallis Budge, Litt.D., D.Lit
London, 1898.

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