Mark 14:7

5 It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.

8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

9 And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
KJV
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
WEB
For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.
ASV
For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always.
DARBY
for ye have the poor always with you, and whenever ye would ye can do them good; but me ye have not always.
BLB
For the poor you⁺ always have with you, and you⁺ are able to do them good whenever you⁺ desire; but not always do you⁺ have Me.
ÅB
For de fattige har dere alltid hos dere, og når dere vil, kan dere gjøre vel mot dem; men meg har dere ikke alltid.
OTB
Dere har alltid de fattige hos dere, og dere kan hjelpe dem når dere vil. Men meg har dere ikke alltid.
B1930
For de fattige har I alltid hos eder, og når I vil, kan I gjøre vel mot dem; men mig har I ikke alltid.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 15:11

    For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 26:11

    The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.

    Read in context
  • James 2:14–16

    What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

    Read in context
  • 1 John 3:16–19

    By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

    Read in context
  • John 16:5

    Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

    Read in context
  • John 13:33

    Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

    Read in context
  • Matthew 25:35–45

    For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,

    Read in context
  • Acts 3:21

    Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

    Read in context