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Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Luke 3:4

As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: "Someone is shouting in the desert: ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus Continued;   John;   Prophecy;   Quotations and Allusions;   Scofield Reference Index - Repentance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Awakenings and Religious Reforms;   Awakenings, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Crookedness;   John the Baptist;   Salvation;   Seeing;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Genealogy;   Mary;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   John the baptist;   Luke, gospel of;   Prophecy, prophet;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God;   John the Baptist;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Isaiah, the Book of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gospels;   Luke, the Gospel According to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Desert;   Luke, Gospel of;   Ordinances;   Wilderness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John the Baptist;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Asceticism (2);   Attributes of Christ;   Benedictus;   Book (2);   Cry;   John the Baptist;   Scripture (2);   Septuagint;   Wilderness (2);   Writing;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Path;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
King James Version (1611)
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the Prophet, saying, The voyce of one crying in the wildernesse, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
King James Version
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
English Standard Version
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
New American Standard Bible
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!
New Century Version
As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: "This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him.
Amplified Bible
as it is written and forever remains written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
Legacy Standard Bible
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,‘Make ready the way of the Lord,Make His paths straight.
Berean Standard Bible
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for Him.
Contemporary English Version
Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.
Complete Jewish Bible
It was just as had been written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Yesha‘yahu, " The voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert prepare the way for Adonai ! Make straight paths for him!
Darby Translation
as it is written in [the] book of [the] words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is like the words written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: "There is someone shouting in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
As it is written in the booke of the sayings of Esaias the Prophet, which saith, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes is, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.
George Lamsa Translation
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, who said, The voice which calls in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make the paths of our God straight in the plain.
Lexham English Bible
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!
Literal Translation
as it has been written in the scroll of the Words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
American Standard Version
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
Bible in Basic English
As it says in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.
Hebrew Names Version
As it is written in the book of the words of Yesha`yahu the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.
International Standard Version
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; John 1:23;">[xr] "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!
Etheridge Translation
As it is written in the book of the words of Eshaia the prophet, who said, The voice which crieth in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, And make straight in the plain the highways for our Aloha.
Murdock Translation
As it is written in the book of the discourses of Isaiah the prophet, who said: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; and make straight paths in the plain for our God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As it is writte in ye booke of the wordes of Esaias the prophete, saying: The voyce of a cryer in wyldernesse, prepare ye the way of ye Lorde, make his pathes strayght.
English Revised Version
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
World English Bible
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Weymouth's New Testament
as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying aloud! `In the Desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As it is wrytun in the book of the wordis of Isaye, the prophete, The voice of a crier in desert, Make ye redi the weie of the Lord, make ye hise pathis riyt.
Update Bible Version
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
Webster's Bible Translation
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
New English Translation
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight .
New King James Version
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.
New Living Translation
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord 's coming! Clear the road for him!
New Life Bible
The early preacher Isaiah wrote these words: "His voice calls out in the desert. ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!
New Revised Standard
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
as it is written in the book of the discourses of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one crying aloud! In the desert, prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight, be making his paths;
Douay-Rheims Bible
As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Revised Standard Version
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
at it is written in the boke of the sayinges of Esaias ye Prophet which sayeth: The voyce of a cryar in wyldernes prepare the waye of the Lorde make hys pathes strayght.
Young's Literal Translation
as it hath been written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, `A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As it is wrytte in ye boke of ye sayenges of Esaye the prophet, which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in the wyldernes: prepare the waye of the LORDE, and make his pathes straight.
Mace New Testament (1729)
as it is written in the book of the prophecies of Esaias , "the voice of one crying in the desart, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths clear.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Isaiah the prophet was talkin' about John when he said, "There's a fellow shouting from the desert, 'Clear the narrow trail. Get it ready for the Lord. Bust brush straight toward him.

Contextual Overview

1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, 2 and Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching, "Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins." 4 As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: "Someone is shouting in the desert: ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel! 5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain leveled off. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth. 6 The whole human race will see God's salvation!'" 7 Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. "You snakes!" he said to them. "Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! 9 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire." 10 The people asked him, "What are we to do, then?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

The voice: Isaiah 40:3-5, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, John 1:23

Prepare: Luke 1:16, Luke 1:17, Luke 1:76-79, Isaiah 57:14, Isaiah 62:10, Malachi 4:6, John 1:7, John 1:26-36, John 3:28-36

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:2 - to Isaiah Psalms 27:11 - a plain path Song of Solomon 2:8 - the mountains Isaiah 43:19 - I will even Isaiah 49:11 - General Jeremiah 31:9 - in a Zechariah 14:10 - the land Luke 10:1 - whither Luke 14:17 - his John 1:31 - therefore Acts 8:28 - Esaias Acts 18:25 - instructed

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
The Lord God asked the woman, "Why did you do this?" She replied, "The snake tricked me into eating it."
Deuteronomy 29:19
Make sure that there is no one here today who hears these solemn demands and yet convinces himself that all will be well with him, even if he stubbornly goes his own way. That would destroy all of you, good and evil alike.
2 Kings 1:4
Tell the king that the Lord says, ‘You will not recover from your injuries; you will die!'" Elijah did as the Lord commanded,
2 Kings 1:6
They answered, "We were met by a man who told us to come back and tell you that the Lord says to you, ‘Why are you sending messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no god in Israel? You will not recover from your injuries; you will die!'"
2 Kings 1:16
and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you sent messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron—as if there were no god in Israel to consult—you will not get well; you will die!'"
2 Kings 8:10
Elisha answered, "The Lord has revealed to me that he will die; but go to him and tell him that he will recover."
Psalms 10:11
The wicked say to themselves, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!"
2 Corinthians 2:11
in order to keep Satan from getting the upper hand over us; for we know what his plans are.
2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies.
1 Timothy 2:14
And it was not Adam who was deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and broke God's law.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet,.... Isaiah 40:3

saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight; Isaiah 40:3- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the baptism of John - see the notes at Matthew 3:0.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 3:4. Prepare ye the way — It was customary for the Hindoo kings, when on journeys, to send a certain class of the people two or three days before them, to command the inhabitants to clear the ways. A very necessary precaution where there are no public roads. - WARD.


 
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