3 Listen! Someone is calling out* in the wilderness:+ “Clear up the way* of Jehovah,+ YOU people! MAKE the highway for our God through* the desert plain straight.*+

3 This, in fact, is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet+ in these words: “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare+ the way of Jehovah,* YOU people! Make his roads straight.’”

17 Also, he will go before him with E·liʹjah’s*+ spirit and power, to turn back the hearts+ of fathers to children and the disobedient ones to the practical wisdom of righteous ones, to get ready for Jehovah*+ a prepared people.”+

76 But as for you, young child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go in advance before Jehovah* to make his ways ready,+

27 This is he concerning whom it is written, ‘Look! I am sending forth my messenger before your face,+ who will prepare your way ahead of you.’+

28 YOU yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ,+ but, I have been sent forth in advance of that one.+