Job 18:11-12

11 ^aTerrors frighten him on every side,
and chase him at his heels.
12His strength is famished,
and calamity is ^bready for his stumbling.

Psalms 73:19

19How they are destroyed ^cin a moment,
swept away utterly by ^dterrors!

Matthew 14:1-12

The Death of John the Baptist

1 ^eAt that time ^fHerod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2and he said to his servants, ^g“This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3For ^hHerod had seized John and bound him and ⁱput him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ▼

▼Some manuscripts his brother’s wife

4because John had been saying to him, ^k“It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5And though he wanted to put him to death, ^lhe feared the people, because they held him to be ^ma prophet. 6But when Herod’s ⁿbirthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12And ^ohis disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Mark 6:14-28

The Death of John the Baptist

14 ^pKing Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ ▼

▼Greek his

name had become known. Some ▼

▼Some manuscripts He

said, ^s“John the Baptist ▼

▼Greek baptizer; also verse 24

has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 ^uBut others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is ^va prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 ^wFor it was Herod who had sent and seized John and ^xbound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 ^yFor John had been saying to Herod, ^z“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for Herod ^aafeared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he ^abheard him gladly.

21But an opportunity came when Herod ^acon his birthday ^adgave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, ^aeup to half of my kingdom.” 24And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s ▼

▼Greek his

head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.