You could use a macro like:
Sub Demo()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim i As Long, j As Long, Rng As Range
Set Rng = Selection.Range
On Error GoTo ErrExit
i = CLng(InputBox("What is the starting #?"))
On Error GoTo 0
With Selection.Range
With .Find
.ClearFormatting
.Replacement.ClearFormatting
.Text = "\v "
.Replacement.Text = ""
.Forward = True
.Wrap = wdFindStop
.Format = False
.MatchCase = False
.MatchWholeWord = False
.MatchWildcards = False
.MatchSoundsLike = False
.MatchAllWordForms = False
.Execute
End With
Do While .Find.Found
If .InRange(Rng) Then
.InsertAfter j + i
j = j + 1
.Collapse wdCollapseEnd
.Find.Execute
Else
Exit Do
End If
Loop
End With
ErrExit:
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
MsgBox j & " verse references updated."
End Sub