21 Finally Herodias got her chance. It was on Herod's birthday, when he gave a feast for all the top government officials, the military chiefs, and the leading citizens of Galilee.
22 The daughter of Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and his guests. So the king said to the girl, “What would you like to have? I will give you anything you want.”
23 With many vows he said to her, “I swear that I will give you anything you ask for, even as much as half my kingdom!”
24 So the girl went out and asked her mother, “What shall I ask for?”“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 The girl hurried back at once to the king and demanded, “I want you to give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a plate!”
26 This made the king very sad, but he could not refuse her because of the vows he had made in front of all his guests.
27 So he sent off a guard at once with orders to bring John's head. The guard left, went to the prison, and cut John's head off;