1 And he came back to Capernaum and there one day cometh to him one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name.
2 And he besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death. Come and lay thy hands on her that she may be healed and may live.
3 And Jesus went with him; and many people followed him.
4 And when he cometh to the house of Jairus, he seeth the relatives of the girl weeping and wailing greatly.
5 And her father, when he saw this, also started to weep and wail.
6 But Jesus told him, The damsel is not dead but sleepeth.
7 And he was in the chamber where she lay; and the power of the Lord to heal came upon him and he saith unto her, By God’s leave, I say unto thee, Arise.
8 And the damsel arose and walked: for she was of the age of twelve years.
9 And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
10 And he charged them that something should be given her to eat.1
11 And it came to pass that when these things were happening, Herodias plotted to have John the Baptist killed.
12 For she hated John because that he would not fear anyone but God and reproached her for her adultery.
13 And when Herod’s birthday came, he made a big feast to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.
14 And when his guests were eating and drinking, Herodias sent her daughter Salome that she may dance before them and please them.
15 And Herod, being exceedingly pleased by Salome, promised with an oath to give whatsoever she would ask.
16 And Salome ran to her mother, saying, What shall I ask?
17 And Herodias said, The head of John the Baptist in a charger.
18 Now when the king heard what Salome wanted, he was sorry for his oath because he did not want to kill John; for the multitude counted him as a prophet, and he feared them.
19 Nevertheless, for the oath’s sake, and them that sat with him at meat, he would not reject her.
20 And so the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison.
21 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
22 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.2
23 Thus was John persecuted and killed for righteousness sake, for he preferred to suffer than bow before the power of wicked men.
24 So peace be upon John the day he was born and the day he was killed without a just cause, and the day he will be raised to life again.
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