7:9a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

9a
Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice.

9b
Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.

Both lines describe the weakened condition of the nation of Israel and their lack of awareness of it. The first line gives a literal description of what has weakened Israel. The second line describes its weakness with a metaphor.

7:9a

Foreigners consume his strength: This clause refers to the harmful and weakening effect that other nations had on Israel. For example, the king of Assyria reduced Israel’s strength by capturing cities, sending people into exile, and requiring the payment of large amounts of money (2 Kings 15:19–31).

consume his strength: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “consumed/eaten his strength.” In this context, it means to weaken Israel or reduce Israel’s strength as a country.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Foreigners are using up your strength (God’s Word)
-or-
Other nations made them weak

but: The statement that follows contrasts with the previous statement. Many versions introduce the contrast with a word such as but. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a contrast with the previous statement.

he does not notice: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “he knows not.” In this context, it indicates that the people of Israel fail to perceive or recognize that they have become weak. It may also imply that they are not willing to admit it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they don’t even know it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he is unaware (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he has taken no notice (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

7:9b

his hair is streaked with gray: This statement is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the nation of Israel is compared to a man with gray hair.

Here are some ways in which they are similar:

(a) Both are nearing the end of their lifetime.

(b) Both are weak.

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor along with the following clause:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

even his hair is turning grey but he is unconscious of it. (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The people of Israel are like a man whose hair is grey.

• Change the metaphor into a simile and make explicit one or more of the similarities. For example:

Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Their days are numbered, but they don’t even know it. (Good News Translation)

but he does not know: In Hebrew, these words are the same as the words “he does not notice” in 7:9a.

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