And in the same spirit the author of "The Burthen of Nineveh" declares that city to be "full of lies and robbery"-- or, more correctly, full of lying and violence.
Falsehood and treachery are commonly regarded as the vices of the weak, who are driven to defend themselves against superior strength by the weapon of cunning; but they are perhaps quite as often employed by the strong as furnishing short cuts to success, and even where the moral standard is low, as being in themselves creditable.

It certainly was not necessity which made the Assyrians covenant-breakers; it seems to have been in part the wantonness of power--because they "despised the cities and regarded no man;" perhaps it was in part also their imperfect moral perception, which may have failed to draw the proper distinction between craft and cleverness.
Another unpleasant feature in the Assyrian character--but one at which we can feel no surprise--was their pride.

This is the quality which draws forth the sternest denunciations of Scripture, and is expressly declared to have called down the Divine judgments upon the race.

Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah alike dwell upon it.

It pervades the inscriptions.