John ¹  testified ²  about him and shouted out, ³  “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, ⁴  because he existed before me.’”

So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea, ¹  and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle. ² 

They do not jostle one another; ¹  each of them marches straight ahead. ²  They burst through ³  the city defenses ⁴  and do not break ranks.

Goliath ¹  stood and called to Israel’s troops, ²  “Why do you come out to prepare for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose ³  for yourselves a man so he may come down ⁴  to me!

Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, “Bring her outside the temple to the guards. ¹  Put the sword to anyone who follows her.” The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord’s temple. ² 

All these men were warriors who were ready to march. ¹  They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; ²  all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. ³ 

for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, ¹  whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up ¹  to public contempt. ² 

They ¹  stripped him and put a scarlet robe ²  around him,

and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave ¹  of all.

Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people ¹  because of these words.

and he was designated ¹  by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. ² 

For here is the testimony about him: ¹  “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” ² 

Then he fell asleep again and had a second dream: There were seven heads of grain growing ¹  on one stalk, healthy ²  and good.

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.

All of the entrances ¹  were rectangular in shape ²  and they were arranged in sets of three. ³ 

From ¹  the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them. ² 

From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty. ¹ 

It ranks first among the works of God, ¹  the One who made it has furnished it with a sword. ² 

So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.