Matthew 14:3-12

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

³ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,^{[a] 4} because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Though Herod^[b] wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. ⁶ But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod ⁷ so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” ⁹ The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; ¹⁰ he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. ¹² His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.