The Anointing at Bethany

³ While^(A) he was in Bethany^(B) at the house of Simon the leper,^[a](C) as he was reclining at the table,^(D) a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.^{(E) 4} But some were expressing indignation to one another: ‘Why has this perfume been wasted? ⁵ For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii^[b](F) and given to the poor.’^(G) And they began to scold her.

⁶ Jesus replied, ‘Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing^(H) for me. ⁷ You always have the poor^(I) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.^{(J) 8} She has done what she could; she has anointed my body^(K) in advance for burial.^{(L) 9} Truly I tell you,^(M) wherever the gospel^(N) is proclaimed in the whole world,^(O) what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(A) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(B) 2} So^(C) they gave a dinner for him there; Martha^(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about half a litre of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii^[b](G) and given to the poor? ’ ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, ‘Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.^{(I) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(J) but you do not always have me.’