21 Finally the opportune time came.
On his birthday Herod gave a banquet
for his high officials and military commanders
and the leading men of Galilee.
22 When the daughter of Herodias
came in and danced,
she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl,
The king said to the girl,
“Ask me for anything you want,
and I’ll give it to you.”
23 And he promised her with an oath,
“Whatever you ask I will give you,
up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother,
24 She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,”
“The head of John the Baptist,”
she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request:
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request:
“I want you to give me right now
the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed,
26 The king was greatly distressed,
but because of his oaths and his dinner guests,
he did not want to refuse her.
27 So he immediately sent an executioner
with orders to bring John’s head.
The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
28 and brought back his head on a platter.
He presented it to the girl,
and she gave it to her mother.
