(A)While He was in (B)Bethany at the home of Simon [a]the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very (C)expensive perfume of pure [b]nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred [c]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. For you always have (D)the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; (E)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, (F)wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 I.e., a nickname; the man no doubt was cured
  2. Mark 14:3 An aromatic oil extracted from an East Indian plant
  3. Mark 14:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer

The Anointing at Bethany

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.(A) But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.(B) She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.(C) Truly I tell you, wherever the good news[b] is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

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Footnotes

  1. 14.3 Or the skin-diseased
  2. 14.9 Or gospel