12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

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Mary Anoints Jesus

12 (A)Therefore, six days before (B)the Passover, Jesus came to (C)Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a dinner there, and (D)Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. (E)Mary then took a [a]pound of very expensive (F)perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But (G)Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to [b]betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred [c]denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he (H)kept the money box, he used to [d]steal from (I)what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it [e]for (J)the day of My burial. (K)For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 I.e., a Roman pound, about 12 oz. or 340 gm
  2. John 12:4 Or hand Him over
  3. John 12:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  4. John 12:6 Lit pilfer
  5. John 12:7 Or in view of