²⁵ He asked for water, and she gave him milk;^(A)
    in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.

³ I say of the holy people^(A) who are in the land,^(B)
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

³ The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.^(A)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.^(B)

⁵ Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble^(A) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.

¹⁸ King of Assyria, your shepherds^[a] slumber;^(A)
    your nobles lie down to rest.^(B)
Your people are scattered^(C) on the mountains
    with no one to gather them.