The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
        “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”^[a]

A voice crying out in the wilderness:
    “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.
⁵ Every valley will be filled,
    and every mountain and hill will be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
    and the rough places made smooth.
⁶ All humanity will see God’s salvation.”^[a]

³ a voice shouting in the wilderness:
        “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”^[a]

“I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,
    Make the Lord’s path straight,^[a]
    just as the prophet Isaiah said.”