Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.^(A)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised^(B) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,^(C) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(D) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;^{(E) 6} as for zeal,^(F) persecuting the church;^(G) as for righteousness based on the law,^(H) faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(I) for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(J) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^{(K) 9} and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(L) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(M) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^{(N) 10} I want to know^(O) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(P) becoming like him in his death,^{(Q) 11} and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(R) from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(S) but I press on to take hold^(T) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^{(U) 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(V) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(W) toward the goal to win the prize^(X) for which God has called^(Y) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then 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.

⁴ But 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]” ⁶ He 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) 8} You will always have the poor among you,^[c](J) but you will not always have me.”