And the king became intensely distressed; but, on account of the oaths he had sworn publicly and those reclining at the table as witnesses, he was not willing to refuse her and lose face.
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
OJBAnd having become very sad, the king, on account of his shevuah and on account of the ones reclining at the seudah [with him], was unwilling to refuse her.
TCENTAlthough the king was very sad, because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to reject her.
T4TThe king became very distressed when he heard what she asked for, because he knew John was a very righteous man (OR, because he now knew that he should not have made that promise to her). But he could not refuse what she requested because he had promised that he would give her anything she asked for, and because his guests had heard him promise that.