Chapter 38

38.21

surah 38 - verse 21

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Has the tiding of the dispute come to thee? When they scaled the Sanctuary,
Maududi	Has the story of the litigants reached you -- of those who entered his private chambers by climbing over the wall?
Pickthall	And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber;
Sahih	And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -
Yusuf Ali	Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber;

38.22

surah 38 - verse 22

translator's name	verse
Arberry	when they entered upon David, and he took fright at them; and they said, 'Fear not; two disputants we are -- one of us has injured the other; so judge between us justly, and transgress not, and guide us to the right path.'
Maududi	As they came upon David -- and he was frightened of them -- they said: “Be not afraid. We are just two litigants: one of us has committed excess against the other. So judge rightly between us, and be not unjust; and guide us to the Right Way.
Pickthall	How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.
Sahih	When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.
Yusuf Ali	When they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them, they said: "Fear not: we are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other: Decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path..

38.23

surah 38 - verse 23

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'Behold, this my brother has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe. So he said, "Give her into my charge"; and he overcame me in the argument.'
Maududi	Behold, this is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one ewe.” And yet he said: “Give her into my charge,” and he got the better of me in argument.
Pickthall	Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.
Sahih	Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."
Yusuf Ali	"This man is my brother: He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one: Yet he says, 'commit her to my care,' and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech."

38.24

surah 38 - verse 24

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Said he, 'Assuredly he has wronged thee in asking for thy ewe in addition to his sheep; and indeed many intermixers do injury one against the other, save those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness -- and how few they are!' And David thought that We had only tried him; therefore he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down, bowing, and he repented.
Maududi	David said: “He has certainly wronged you in seeking to add your ewe to his ewes; and indeed many who live together commit excesses, one to the other, except those that believe and act righteously; and they are but few.” (While so saying) David realized that it is We Who have put him to test; therefore, he sought the forgiveness of his Lord, and fell down, bowing and penitently turning (to Him).
Pickthall	(David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented.
Sahih	[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].
Yusuf Ali	(David) said: "He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?"... and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance).

38.25

surah 38 - verse 25

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Accordingly We forgave him that, and he has a near place in Our presence and a fair resort.
Maududi	Thereupon We forgave him his shortcoming and indeed (an exalted position of) nearness awaits him, and an excellent resort.
Pickthall	So We forgave him that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey's end.
Sahih	So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.
Yusuf Ali	So We forgave him this (lapse): he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful place of (Final) Return.

38.26

surah 38 - verse 26

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'David, behold, We have appointed thee a viceroy in the earth; therefore judge between men justly, and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Surely those who go astray from the way of God -- there awaits them a terrible chastisement, for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning.'
Maududi	(We said to him): “O David, We have appointed you vicegerent on earth. Therefore, rule among people with justice and do not follow (your) desire lest it should lead you astray from Allah's Path. Allah's severe chastisement awaits those who stray away from Allah's Path, for they had forgotten the Day of Reckoning.
Pickthall	(And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
Sahih	[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.
Yusuf Ali	O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice): Nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from the Path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget the Day of Account.

38.27

surah 38 - verse 27

translator's name	verse
Arberry	We have not created the heavens and earth, and what between them is, for vanity; such is the thought of the unbelievers, wherefore woe unto the unbelievers because of the Fire!
Maududi	We did not create this heaven and earth and all that lies between them in vain. That is the fancy of those who denied the Truth. So woe from the Fire to all who deny the Truth.
Pickthall	And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. And woe unto those who disbelieve, from the Fire!
Sahih	And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.
Yusuf Ali	Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! that were the thought of Unbelievers! but woe to the Unbelievers because of the Fire (of Hell)!

38.28

surah 38 - verse 28

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Or shall We make those who believe and do righteous deeds as the workers of corruption in the earth, or shall We make the godfearing as the transgressors?
Maududi	Shall We then treat alike those that believe and act righteously and those that create mischief on earth? Or treat alike the God-fearing and the wicked?
Pickthall	Shall We treat those who believe and do good works as those who spread corruption in the earth; or shall We treat the pious as the wicked?
Sahih	Or should we treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allah like the wicked?
Yusuf Ali	Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?

38.29

surah 38 - verse 29

translator's name	verse
Arberry	A Book We have sent down to thee, Blessed, that men possessed of minds may ponder its signs and so remember.
Maududi	This is the Blessed Book that We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), that people with understanding may reflect over its verses and those with understanding derive a lesson.
Pickthall	(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect.
Sahih	[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
Yusuf Ali	(Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.

38.30

surah 38 - verse 30

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And We gave unto David Solomon; how excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent.
Maududi	We bestowed upon David (an illustrious son), Solomon. How excellent a servant (of Ours he was)! Indeed he constantly turned to Us in devotion.
Pickthall	And We bestowed on David, Solomon. How excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).
Sahih	And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].
Yusuf Ali	To David We gave Solomon (for a son),- How excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!

38.31

surah 38 - verse 31

translator's name	verse
Arberry	When in the evening were presented to him the standing steeds,
Maududi	And when one evening well-trained and running horses of noble breed were brought to him
Pickthall	When there were shown to him at eventide lightfooted coursers
Sahih	[Mention] when there were exhibited before him in the afternoon the poised [standing] racehorses.
Yusuf Ali	Behold, there were brought before him, at eventide coursers of the highest breeding, and swift of foot;

38.32

surah 38 - verse 32

translator's name	verse
Arberry	he said, 'Lo, I have loved the love of good things better than the remembrance of my Lord, until the sun was bidden behind the veil.
Maududi	he said: “Lo! I have come to love this wealth on account of the remembrance of my Lord.” And when the horses disappeared,
Pickthall	And he said: Lo! I have preferred the good things (of the world) to the remembrance of my Lord; till they were taken out of sight behind the curtain.
Sahih	And he said, "Indeed, I gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until the sun disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."
Yusuf Ali	And he said, "Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the glory of my Lord,"- until (the sun) was hidden in the veil (of night):

38.33

surah 38 - verse 33

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Return them to me!' And he began to stroke their shanks and necks.
Maududi	(he ordered): “Bring these horses back to me,” and then he began to gently stroke their shanks and necks.
Pickthall	(Then he said): Bring them back to me, and fell to slashing (with his sword their) legs and necks.
Sahih	[He said], "Return them to me," and set about striking [their] legs and necks.
Yusuf Ali	"Bring them back to me." then began he to pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks.

38.34

surah 38 - verse 34

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Certainly We tried Solomon, and We cast upon his throne a mere body; then he repented.
Maududi	Surely We put Solomon to the test and cast upon his throne a mere body. Thereupon he penitently turned (to Us).
Pickthall	And verily We tried Solomon, and set upon his throne a (mere) body. Then did he repent.
Sahih	And We certainly tried Solomon and placed on his throne a body; then he returned.
Yusuf Ali	And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne a body (without life); but he did turn (to Us in true devotion):

38.35

surah 38 - verse 35

translator's name	verse
Arberry	He said, 'My Lord, forgive me, and give me a kingdom such as may not befall anyone after me; surely Thou art the All-giver.'
Maududi	He said: “My Lord, forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom such as none other after me will deserve. Surely You are the Bounteous Giver.”
Pickthall	He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.
Sahih	He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower."
Yusuf Ali	He said, "O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another after me: for Thou art the Grantor of Bounties (without measure).

38.36

surah 38 - verse 36

translator's name	verse
Arberry	So We subjected to him the wind, that ran at his commandment, softly, wherever he might light on,
Maududi	We subjected the wind to him, so that it blew gently at his bidding, wherever he directed it,
Pickthall	So We made the wind subservient unto him, setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended.
Sahih	So We subjected to him the wind blowing by his command, gently, wherever he directed,
Yusuf Ali	Then We subjected the wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, Whithersoever he willed,-

38.37

surah 38 - verse 37

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and the Satans, every builder and diver
Maududi	and We also subjected the devils to him -- all kinds of builders and divers;
Pickthall	And the unruly, every builder and diver (made We subservient),
Sahih	And [also] the devils [of jinn] - every builder and diver
Yusuf Ali	As also the evil ones, (including) every kind of builder and diver,-

38.38

surah 38 - verse 38

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and others also, coupled in fetters:
Maududi	and others that were bound with chains.
Pickthall	And others linked together in chains,
Sahih	And others bound together in shackles.
Yusuf Ali	As also others bound together in fetters.

38.39

surah 38 - verse 39

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'This is Our gift; bestow or withhold without reckoning.'
Maududi	“This is Our bestowal. So give or withhold as you wish without account.”
Pickthall	(Saying): This is Our gift, so bestow thou, or withhold, without reckoning.
Sahih	[We said], "This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."
Yusuf Ali	"Such are Our Bounties: whether thou bestow them (on others) or withhold them, no account will be asked."

38.40

surah 38 - verse 40

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And he had a near place in Our presence and a fair resort.
Maududi	Indeed an exalted position of nearness awaits him and an excellent resort.
Pickthall	And lo! he hath favour with Us, and a happy journey's end.
Sahih	And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.
Yusuf Ali	And he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful Place of (Final) Return.