7. They are all as hot as an oven.They consume their judges ⌊like a fire⌋.All their kings die in battle, and none of them calls to me.
8. “Ephraim mixes with other nations.Ephraim, you are like a half-baked loaf of bread.
9. Foreigners are using up your strength, but you don’t realize it.You have become a gray-haired, old man, but you don’t realize it.
10. Israel, your arrogance testifies against you,but even after all this, you don’t turn to the Lord your Godor look to him for help.
11. Ephraim, you are like a silly, senseless dove.You call for Egypt and run to Assyria for help.
12. When you go, I will spread my net over you.I will snatch you out of the air like a bird.I will punish you for all the evil things you have done.
13. “How horrible it will be for these people.They have run away from me.They must be destroyed because they’ve rebelled against me.I want to reclaim them, but they tell lies about me.
14. They don’t pray to me sincerely,even though they cry in their bedsand make cuts on their bodieswhile praying for grain and new wine.They have turned against me.
15. I trained them and made them strong.Yet, they plan evil against me.
16. They don’t return to the Most High.They are like a defective bow.Their officials will die in battlebecause they curse.The people in Egypt will ridicule them for this.