³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way^(G) for the Lord^[a];
make straight^(H) in the desert
    a highway for our God.^[b](I)
4 Every valley shall be raised up,^(J)
    every mountain and hill^(K) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,^(L)
    the rugged places a plain.
⁵ And the glory^(M) of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.^(N)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”^(O)

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,^(P)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(Q) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(R) of the Lord blows^(S) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(T) fall,
    but the word^(U) of our God endures^(V) forever.^(W)”

⁹ You who bring good news^(X) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c](Y)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”^(Z)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(AA) with power,^(AB)
    and he rules^(AC) with a mighty arm.^(AD)
See, his reward^(AE) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(AF)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms^(AG)
and carries them close to his heart;^(AH)
    he gently leads^(AI) those that have young.^(AJ)

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice^(E) you,
    do not give in^(F) to them.^(G)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait^(H) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow^(I) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;^(J)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot^(K)”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot^(L) on their paths;^(M)
16 for their feet rush into evil,^(N)
    they are swift to shed blood.^(O)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait^(P) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!^(Q)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.^(R)

²² “How long will you who are simple^(T) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate^(U) knowledge?
²³ Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
²⁴ But since you refuse^(V) to listen when I call^(W)
    and no one pays attention^(X) when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh^(Y) when disaster^(Z) strikes you;
    I will mock^(AA) when calamity overtakes you^(AB)—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster^(AC) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;^(AD)
    they will look for me but will not find me,^(AE)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.^(AF)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,^(AG)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.^(AH)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;^(AI)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety^(AJ)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”^(AK)