“Build up, build up, prepare the road!^(A)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”^(B)

¹⁰ Pass through, pass through the gates!^(A)
    Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!^(B)
    Remove the stones.
Raise a banner^(C) for the nations.

³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way^(A) for the Lord^[a];
make straight^(B) in the desert
    a highway for our God.^[b](C)

⁸ And a highway^(A) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;^(B)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean^(C) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.

⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’”^[a](A)

¹⁵ Yet my people have forgotten^(A) me;
    they burn incense^(B) to worthless idols,^(C)
which made them stumble^(D) in their ways,
    in the ancient paths.^(E)
They made them walk in byways,
    on roads not built up.^(F)