Mark 6:19-41

¹⁹And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not;

²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.

²¹And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee;

²²and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

²³And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

²⁴And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer.

²⁵And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

²⁶And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.

²⁷And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

²⁸and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.

²⁹And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

³⁰And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.

³¹And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

³²And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart.

³³And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them.

³⁴And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

³⁵And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, The place is desert, and the day is now far spent;

³⁶send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.

³⁷But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat?

³⁸And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

³⁹And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass.

⁴⁰And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

⁴¹And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.