18. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not permitted for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19. So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so.
20. For Herod was afraid of John, because he knew him to be a righteous and holy man and protected him. And when he listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly.
21. And a suitable day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers and military tribunes and the most prominent men of Galilee.
22. And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced and pleased Herod and his dinner guests, the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23. And he swore to her, “Anything whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
24. And she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.”
25. And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”
26. And although he was deeply grieved, the king, because of his oaths and dinner guests, did not want to refuse her.
27. And immediately the king sent an executioner and ordered him to bring his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison.
28. And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.