^{17 Ref} For Herod himself, having sent forth, did lay hold on John, and bound him in the prison, because of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he married her,

^{18 Ref} for John said to Herod -- `It is not lawful to thee to have the wife of thy brother;'

^{19 Ref} and Herodias was having a quarrel with him, and was willing to kill him, and was not able,

^{20 Ref} for Herod was fearing John, knowing him a man righteous and holy, and was keeping watch over him, and having heard him, was doing many things, and hearing him gladly.

^{21 Ref} And a seasonable day having come, when Herod on his birthday was making a supper to his great men, and to the chiefs of thousands, and to the first men of Galilee,

^{22 Ref} and the daughter of that Herodias having come in, and having danced, and having pleased Herod and those reclining (at meat) with him, the king said to the damsel, `Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give to thee,'

^{23 Ref} and he sware to her -- `Whatever thou mayest ask me, I will give to thee -- unto the half of my kingdom.'

^{24 Ref} And she, having gone forth, said to her mother, `What shall I ask for myself?' and she said, `The head of John the Baptist;'

^{25 Ref} and having come in immediately with haste unto the king, she asked, saying, `I will that thou mayest give me presently, upon a plate, the head of John the Baptist.'

^{26 Ref} And the king -- made very sorrowful -- because of the oaths and of those reclining (at meat) with him, would not put her away,

^{27 Ref} and immediately the king having sent a guardsman, did command his head to be brought,