²¹An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. ²²His daughter, that is, Herodias’ daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³He swore an oath to her: “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”

²⁴So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

²⁵So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once.”

²⁶The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. ²⁷Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John’s head. The guard cut off John’s head in prison. ²⁸Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

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