17 For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
Ipse enim Herodes misit, ac tenuit Joannem, et vinxit eum in carcere propter Herodiadem uxorem Philippi fratris sui, quia duxerat eam.
18 For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Dicebat enim Joannes Herodi : Non licet tibi habere uxorem fratris tui.
19 Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not.
Herodias autem insidiabatur illi : et volebat occidere eum, nec poterat.
20 For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.
Herodes enim metuebat Joannem, sciens eum virum justum et sanctum : et custodiebat eum, et audito eo multa faciebat, et libenter eum audiebat.
21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.
Et cum dies opportunus accidisset, Herodes natalis sui coenam fecit principibus, et tribunis, et primis Galilaeae :
22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
cumque introisset filia ipsius Herodiadis, et saltasset, et placuisset Herodi, simulque recumbentibus, rex ait puellae : Pete a me quod vis, et dabo tibi :
23 And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.
et juravit illi : Quia quidquid petieris dabo tibi, licet dimidium regni mei.
24 Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist.
Quae cum exisset, dixit matri suae : Quid petam? At illa dixit : Caput Joannis Baptistae.
25 And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.
Cumque introisset statim cum festinatione ad regem, petivit dicens : Volo ut protinus des mihi in disco caput Joannis Baptistae.
26 And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:
Et contristatus est rex : propter jusjurandum, et propter simul discumbentes, noluit eam contristare :
27 But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.
sed misso speculatore praecepit afferri caput ejus in disco. Et decollavit eum in carcere,
28 And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.
et attulit caput ejus in disco : et dedit illud puellae, et puella dedit matri suae.
29 Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Quo audito, discipuli ejus venerunt, et tulerunt corpus ejus : et posuerunt illud in monumento.
[20] "And kept him": That is, from the designs of Herodias; and for fear of the people, would not put him to death, though she sought it; and through her daughter she effected her wish.St John reproached Herod with his unlawful union with his brothers' wife. Herodias and her daughter Salome forced Herod to behead St John, the Precurser to the Messiah.
