Tune: England\'s Lane
(\'For the beauty of the earth\')
Mark 14 v.3-9
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Jesus, He in Bethany
At house of Simon was, see
Sharing a meal, then did come
A woman, entered the home
Had box of precious ointment
Broke the box and it was rent
Poured it upon Jesus\' head
Some were indignant instead
Said, Why waste of ointment made?
Could o\'er ten months wages paid*
To sell it, to help the poor
Would not this be useful sure?
Jesus said, Let her now be
See has wrought good work on me
For you have the poor with you
Always, any time may do
Good to them, but me \'tis true
Have not always here with you
She has done what she could do
Has come beforehand, here view
To anoint my body now
For burial, it be how
She shows her love, thankfulness
All people shall hence her bless
For truly I to you say
What deed she has done this day
Shall be spoken of her, shared
How she my body prepared
Where\'er gospel shall be preached
Memory of her ne\'er impeached
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* A penny was one days wage, They said \'Could not this ointment
have been sold for over 300 pence (over 10 months wages)
and the money given to the poor?\'