⁶ But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

^21 (A)Then an opportune day came when Herod ^(B)on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. ²² And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” ²³ He also swore to her, ^(C)“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

⁶ And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him:

²⁰ Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s ^(A)birthday, that he ^(B)made a feast for all his servants; and he ^(C)lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

^19 (A)But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his ^[a]brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

¹⁹ Therefore Herodias ^[a]held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

²⁴ saying: “Teacher, ^(A)Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Belshazzar’s Feast

5 Belshazzar the king ^(A)made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. ² While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels ^(B)which his ^[a]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. ³ Then they brought the gold ^(C)vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank wine, ^(D)and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

¹⁸ Then the king ^(A)made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the ^[a]generosity of a king.