3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah! Make his roads straight.’”+ 4 John the Baptizer was in the wilderness, preaching baptism in symbol of repentance for forgiveness of sins.+

3 So he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching baptism in symbol of repentance for forgiveness of sins,+ 4 just as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah! Make his roads straight.+ 5 Every valley must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled; the crooked ways must become straight, and the rough ways smooth; 6 and all flesh* will see the salvation of God.’”*+