From eternity I was appointed, ¹  from the beginning, from before the world existed. ² 

“I said, ‘I want to cut them in pieces. ¹  I want to make people forget they ever existed.

We existed from ancient times, ¹  but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects. ² 

¹ who though he existed in the form of God ²  did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

I should have been as though I had never existed; ¹  I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!

This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, ¹  because he existed before me.’

Then ¹  I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, ²  and the sea existed no more.

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.’”

For they deliberately suppress this fact, ¹  that by the word of God ²  heavens existed long ago and an earth ³  was formed out of water and by means of water.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” ¹