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.”