²⁷ It is ^(A)He who comes after me, the ^(B)thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

³⁰ This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘^(A)After me comes a Man who ^[a]has a higher rank than I, ^(B)for He existed before me.’

³⁴ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is ^(A)the Son of God.”

²⁷ John answered and said, “^(A)A man can receive nothing unless it ^(B)has been given him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves ^[a]are my witnesses that I said, ‘^(C)I am not the ^[b]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ ²⁹ He who has the bride is ^(D)the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this ^(E)joy of mine has been made full. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.