John 3:23-32

²³Now John was then giving baptism at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were given baptism.

²⁴For at this time John had not been put into prison.

²⁵Then a question came up between John's disciples and a Jew about washing.

²⁶And they went to John and said to him, Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the man to whom you gave witness, is now giving baptism, and everyone is going to him.

²⁷And this was John's answer: A man is unable to have anything if it is not given to him from heaven.

²⁸You yourselves give witness that I said, I am not the Christ. What I said was, I am sent before the Christ.

²⁹He who has the bride is the husband: but the husband's friend, whose place is by his side and whose ears are open to him, is full of joy because of the husband's voice: such is my joy, and it is complete.

³⁰He has to become greater while I become less.

³¹He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all.

³²He gives witness of what he has seen and of what has come to his ears; and no man takes his witness as true.