Real Bible Translation

Favored is testifying around to himself and he has cawed [as a raven],²⁴ he who is saying, "He was this one whom I spoke, The one who is coming backwards to myself, has become in front of myself, because he was first of myself."^24b

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
John testifies for him, and he tried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He coming after me was before me: for he was before me.

LITV Translation:
witnesses concerning Him, and has cried out, saying, This One was He of whom I said, He coming after me has been before me, for He was preceding me.

ESV Translation:
(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

Footnotes

Strong’s #G2896, krazó. To croak. A word used of both the raven and a frog. “post-Homer, croak, of the raven, , Thphr.l.c.; of frogs, “” Ar.Ra. l. c., cf. : generally, scream, shriek, cry.” Cf. .

24b

The Ego Self

The Greek word ἐγώ (ego) appears about 2600 times in the NT. In ancient Greek philosophy and language, the term "ἐγώ" (ego), representing the first-person singular pronoun "I" or "me," is was a fundamental element of ancient Greek philosophy for discussions aroun self-awareness, personal identity, communication and expression, agency, and autonomy.

The Scriptures point to the colony of bees as a the example for building a honeycomb, producing honey, and "guarding" a queen. Under a queen bee, a bee colony exhibits characteristics of a "swarm intelligence" which resembles a collective conscience or "self" awareness.

If there be from the many, one ἐγώ, what would this mean for autonomy and agency? The Writings are pointing squarely to this ἐγώ and the belief into it.