Mark 1:3-5

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

³ A voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord, make His ^[a]beaten tracks straight (level and passable)!^(A)

⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [^[b]obligating] repentance (^[c]a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order ^[d]to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.

⁵ And there kept going out to him [continuously] all the country of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^[e]as they were confessing their sins.