Isaiah 43:16-21

New International Version

¹⁶This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,^(A)
¹⁷who drew out^(B) the chariots and horses,^(C)
    the army and reinforcements together,^(D)
and they lay^(E) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:^(F)
¹⁸“Forget the former things;^(G)
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹See, I am doing a new thing!^(H)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness^(I)
    and streams in the wasteland.^(J)
²⁰The wild animals^(K) honor me,
    the jackals^(L) and the owls,
because I provide water^(M) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹    the people I formed^(N) for myself^(O)
    that they may proclaim my praise.^(P)

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John 12:1-8

New International Version

Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(A)

12 Six days before the Passover,^(B) Jesus came to Bethany,^(C) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;^(E) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.^(F) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,^(G) objected, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[b]” ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,^(H) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.^(I) ⁸You will always have the poor among you,^[c]^(J) but you will not always have me.”