4 All this happened because of Nineveh. Nineveh is like a prostitute who could never get enough. She wanted more and more. She sold herself to many nations, and she used her magic to make them her slaves.
5 The Lord All-Powerful says, “I am against you, Nineveh. I will pull your dress up over your face. I will let the nations see your naked body. The kingdoms will see your shame.
6 I will throw dirty things on you and treat you in a hateful way. People will look at you and laugh.
7 Everyone who sees you will be shocked. They will say, ‘Nineveh is destroyed. Who will cry for her?’ I know I cannot find anyone to comfort you, Nineveh.”
8 Nineveh, are you better than Thebes on the Nile River? Thebes also had water all around her to protect herself from enemies. She used that water like a wall too.
9 Ethiopia and Egypt made Thebes strong. Libya and the Sudan supported her,
10 but Thebes was defeated. Her people were taken away as prisoners to a foreign country. Soldiers beat her small children to death at every street corner. They threw lots to see who got to keep the important people as slaves. They put chains on all the important men of Thebes.