¹⁴ But thanks be to God,^(A) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma^(B) of the knowledge^(C) of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(D) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^{(E) 16} To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^(F) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^(G)

³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus,^(A) the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.^[a]

¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.^(A) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts^(B) of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

²³ “Take the following fine spices:^(A) 500 shekels^[a] of liquid myrrh,^(B) half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,^(C) 250 shekels^[b] of fragrant calamus,^{(D) 24} 500 shekels^(E) of cassia^(F)—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin^[c] of olive oil.

² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(A) the pioneer^(B) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(C) scorning its shame,^(D) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^(E)

² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there^(A) to prepare a place for you?