ፍትሐ ነገሥት (Law of the Kings — Legal Code of the Ethiopian Empire)

from the beginning of the Lord, he separates
for the soul, they overcome
it, those who increase, and those
of custom which is fitting for the time
which is [at] variance, and he joins
with the heart this word.
It happens from the word of the
creation. And the discarding of the word, it happens
from the desire [of the] very holy.
It is fitting for the one who speaks with
the ear [to] FO, so that he may set straight
from that which was learned in the
[interpretation]. Complete the introduction, and all
that is first happens 1.
And 2 chapters regarding the priesthood
and the holy law and all
is for God.

Chapter one, regarding the Church
and regarding all
that is fitting for it.

The second: Regarding the books of the Old
and New [Testament]. The third: Regarding the baptism of Christianity
and those who enter into the faith.
The fourth: Regarding the Patriarchs.
The fifth: Regarding the Bishops.
The sixth: Regarding the Priests.
The seventh: Regarding the Deacons.
The eighth: Regarding those who remain in

the steadfastness of the Church.
The tenth: Regarding all the priests.
The eleventh: Regarding the monks and nuns.
The twelfth: Regarding the teaching and the commandments of God.
The fourteenth: Regarding the Liturgy.
The thirteenth: Regarding the Eucharist.
The fifteenth: Regarding prayer.
The sixteenth: Regarding fasting.
The seventeenth: Regarding alms.
The eighteenth: Regarding the one who is appointed for the portion of alms.
The nineteenth: Regarding the tithes and the offerings.
The twentieth: Regarding those who dwell in the monasteries.
The twenty-first: Regarding the martyrs and the believers and the people of [courage].
The twenty-second: Regarding the sick.
The twenty-third: Regarding the dead.
The first part is completed.
**The second part: Regarding the
works of the worldly, which are the works
of the flesh, and the works are for
the [person]. 1:
They are regarding humanity and [what]
it is, as the offerings and the
[gifts] and the [houses] and the [laws] in
[their] time, the keepers and the works
of their own ordinances. Behold, I preceded [with]
their treasury in the chapters. I have gathered
them for the people so that they may

do in [goodness] with his wife
and his child, and his workers, and his
works, in the national [custom], as
they agreed and settled, and they are
1 law, which is regarding
the [matters]. And their number is 24
chapters for the completion of the [look].

Chapter 23: Regarding the
food and clothing and gifts
and works. 24: Regarding the
life of [the] possession which
a person sets, and his children in 25:
Regarding the [division] of the keepers.
26: Regarding wealth. 27:
Regarding loan and accounting
and holding and [sustenance] in 28:
Regarding the keeping of possession
and that which resembles it. 29: Regarding
work. 30: Regarding the community. 31: Regarding
works and the wealthy and the commanders of
the work. 32: Regarding the [apprentice],
as he embraced the [apprentice] in all
his work. 33: Regarding
selling and buying and their [exchange].
34: Regarding the sharing
of possession and that which resembles
this work. 35: Regarding
slaves and bondswomen. 36: Regarding
the [taking] of a house, and it [is]