Said King Ramses III, . . . the Great God, in praising this god, his august father, Amon-Re, king of gods, the primordial, who was at first, the divine god, the self-begetter, who sustains the arm and exalts the etef-crown, maker of what is, creator of what exists, . . .

I was king upon earth, ruler of the living; thou settedst the crown upon my head, as thou didst; I was inducted in peace into the august palace; I sat upon thy throne with joy of heart. Thou it was, who didst establish me upon the throne of my father, as thou didst for Horus on the throne of Osiris. I did not oppress, I did not deprive another of his throne. I did not trangress thy command, which was before me. . . .

Hear ye, that I may inform you of my benefactions which I did while I was king of the people. The land of Egypt was overthrown from without, and every man was (thrown out) of his right; they had no chief mouth for many years formerly until other times. The land of Egypt was in the hands of chiefs and of rulers of towns; one slew his neighbor, great and small. Other times having come after it, with empty years, Yarsu, a certain Syrian, was with them as chief. He set the whole land tributary before him together; he united his companions and plundered their possessions. They made the gods like men, and no offerings were presented in the temples.

But when the gods inclined themselves to peace, to set the land [in] its right according to its accustomed manner, they established their son, who came forth from their limbs, to be Ruler . . . of every land, upon their great throne, (even) Userkhare-Setepnere-Meriamon, . . . Son of Re, Setnakht-Mererre-Meriamon. . . . He set in order the entire land, which had been rebellious; he slew the rebels who were in the land of Egypt; he cleansed the great throne of Egypt; he was Ruler . . . of the Two Lands, on the throne of Atum.

He appointed me to be hereditary prince in the place of Keb. I was the great chief mouth of the lands of Egypt, and commander of the whole land united in one. He went to rest in his horizon, like the gods; there was done for him that which was done for Osiris; he was rowed in his king’s barge upon the river, and rested in his eternal house west of Thebes.

Then my father, Amon-Re, lord of gods, Re-Atum, and Ptah, beautiful of face, crowned me as Lord of the Two Lands on the throne of him who begat me; I received the office of my father with joy; the land rested and rejoiced in possession of peace, being joyful at seeing me as a ruler . . . of the Two Lands, like Horus when he was called to rule the Two Lands on the throne of Osiris. I was crowned with the etef-crown bearing the uraeus; I assumed the double-plumed diadem, like Tatenen. I sat upon the throne of Harakhte. I was clad in the regalia, like Atum.

I made Egypt into many classes, consisting of: butlers of the palace, great princes, numerous infantry, and chariotry, by the hundred-thousand. . . . I planted the whole land with trees and verdure, and I made the people dwell in their shade. I made the woman of Egypt to go [unmolested?]¹ to the place she desired, (for) no stranger nor anyone upon the road molested her. I made the infantry and chariotry to dwell (at home) in my time; the Sherden and Kehek were in their towns, lying the [length] of their backs; they had no fear, (for) there was no enemy from Kusk, (nor) foe from Syria. Their bows and their weapons reposed in their magazines, while they were satisfied and drunk with joy. Their wives were with them, their children at their side; they looked not behind them, (but) their hearts were confident, (for) I was with them as the defense and protection of their limbs. I sustained alive the whole land, whether foreigners, [common] folk, citizens, or people, male or female. I took a man out of his misfortune and I gave to him breath; I rescued him from the oppressor, who was of more account than he. I set each man in his security, in their towns; I sustained alive others in the hall of petition. I equipped the land in the place where it was laid waste. The land was well satisfied in my reign. I did good to the gods, as well as the men, and I had nothing at all belonging to any [other] people.²

¹ [Obscure. Literally, "her ears being extended" (uncovered?).]

²Breasted, J.H.n/an/an/an/a, , 4: 112–113, 198–200, 204–205 (University of Chicago Press. By permission).