7:8 Ephraim has mixed itself like flour 1 among the nations;
Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side. 2
7:9 Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, 3
but he does not recognize it!
His head is filled with gray hair,
but he does not realize it!
7:10 The arrogance of Israel testifies against him,
yet they refuse to return to the Lord their God!
In spite of all this they refuse to seek him!
7:11 Ephraim has been like a dove,
easily deceived and lacking discernment.
They called to Egypt for help;
they turned to Assyria for protection.
7:12 I will throw my bird net over them while they are flying,
I will bring them down like birds in the sky;
I will discipline them when I hear them flocking together.
1 tn The words “like flour” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied by the imagery.
2 tn Heb “a cake of bread not turned.” This metaphor compares Ephraim to a ruined cake of bread that was not turned over in time to avoid being scorched and burned (see BDB 728 s.v. עֻגָה). Cf. NLT “as worthless as a half-baked cake.”
3 tn Heb “foreigners consume his strength”; NRSV “devour (sap NIV) his strength.”