Yesaya 40:8

40:8 The grass dries up,

the flowers wither,

but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” ¹ 

Yesaya 40:26

40:26 Look up at the sky! ² 

Who created all these heavenly lights? ³ 

He is the one who leads out their ranks; ⁴ 

he calls them all by name.

Because of his absolute power and awesome strength,

not one of them is missing.

[40:8]  ¹ tn Heb “but the word of our God stands forever.” In this context the divine “word” specifically refers to his decreed promise assuring Jerusalem that her suffering is over and his glorious return imminent (vv. 1-5).

[40:26]  ² tn Heb “Lift on high your eyes and see.”

[40:26]  ³ tn The words “heavenly lights” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the following lines.

[40:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “the one who brings out by number their host.” The stars are here likened to a huge army that the Lord leads out. Perhaps the next line pictures God calling roll. If so, the final line may be indicating that none of them dares “go AWOL.” (“AWOL” is a military acronym for “absent without leave.”)