Mark 6:21–28

²¹And a holiday being come, when Herod, on his birthday, made a supper to his grandees, and to the chiliarchs, and the chief men of Galilee; ²²and the daughter of the same Herodias having come in, and danced, pleased Herod and those that were with him at table; and the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt and I will give it thee. ²³And he swore to her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask me I will give thee, to half of my kingdom. ²⁴And she went out, and said to her mother, What should I ask? And she said, The head of John the baptist. ²⁵And immediately going in with haste to the king, she asked saying, I desire that thou give me directly upon a dish the head of John the baptist. ²⁶And the king, while made very sorry, on account of the oaths and those lying at table with him would not break his word with her. ²⁷And immediately the king, having sent one of the guard, ordered his head to be brought. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸and brought his head upon a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.