The following translations are some of those which I published in the
"Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology" in order to show that
the Assyrians had a firm belief in the immortality of the soul: a fact
which was previously unknown.
I have added specimens of their penitential psalms, and some notices of
their numerous superstitions, such as the exorcism of evil spirits, the
use of magic knots and talismans, the belief in inherited or imputed sins,
and in the great degree of holiness which they attributed to the number
_Seven_. In some of these respects we may evidently see how great an
influence was exercised on the mind and belief of the Jews by their long
residence at Babylon.