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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

Luke 3:4

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.

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.
Good News Translation
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!
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.

Contextual Overview

1Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world for about fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea, and Herod ruled around the Sea of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, ran things around Iturea and Traconitis. Abilene was run by a guy named, Lysanias. 2Annas and Caiaphas were the high preachers of the Jews. It was during this time that God came down and spoke to Zechariah's boy, John. 3John did what God told him to and went along the Jordan Draw telling people, "Turn your lives back to God and be dunked in water for the forgiveness of your sorry ways." 4Isaiah 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. 5The draws will be filled and the mountains made flat. Those winding trails will be made straight, and the rough roads become like glass. 6Then there won't be no doubt about how God is going to save us.'" 7Folks from everywhere came to be dunked by John, but he wasn't all lovey-dovey when he said to them, "Y'all are a bunch of snakes in the grass! Who was it that warned you to hightail it out of here before the judgment comes? 8You say that you've turned from your wicked ways? Well, the proof is in the puddin'. And don't start tellin' me that you're one of Abraham's kids and that's all you have to be. Shoot, God could turn a dog turd into one of Abraham's kids if he wanted to. That don't give you a pass no more. 9There's an axe ready to be swung at any cowboy who don't let his actions speak louder than his words. And if a tree is cut down, it won't be used to build a home, but to stoke the fires of hell." 10John was sure enough givin' 'em the what for and they shouted, "Then what should we do?"

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

2 Corinthians 2:11
When we don't forgive folks, that leaves the door ajar for the devil to sneak through. And that old serpent don't need much of an opening to create pure chaos.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I think y'all are anything but pure. Y'all have passed yourselves around like a bad cold. Your loyalty to the brand has been corrupted. Y'all have been seduced like Eve was in the beginning.
1 Timothy 2:14
Eve was deceived by Satan, but even though Adam knew better, she convinced him to follow. The result is the sorry world we live in.

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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