Mark 6:21–29

²¹An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet^ai for his nobles,^aj military commanders,^ak and the leading men of Galilee.^{al 22}When Herodias’s own daughter^D came in and danced,^am she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³He promised her with an^an oath:^ao “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^ap

²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s^aq head,” she said.

²⁵At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s^ar head on a platter^as immediately.” ²⁶Although the king was deeply distressed,^at because of his oaths^au and the guests^A he did not want to refuse^av her. ²⁷The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹When John’s disciples^aw heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^ax