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Muhammad Asad   
or lest you say, "If a divine writ had been bestowed from on high upon us, we would surely have followed its guidance better than they did." And so, a clear evidence of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer, and guidance, and grace. Who, then, could be more wicked than he who gives the lie to God's messages, and turns away from them in disdain? We shall requite those who turn away from Our messages in disdain with evil suffering for having thus turned away
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Nor can you say, “If only the Scriptures had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.” Now there has come to you from your Lord a clear proof—a guide and mercy. Who then does more wrong than those who deny Allah’s revelations and turn away from them? We will reward those who turn away from Our revelations with a dreadful punishment for turning away.
Safi Kaskas   
or, so that you do not say, "If a Book had been sent down to us, we would have followed its guidance better than they did." Clear evidence, guidance and mercy has come to you from your Lord. Who could be more unjust than someone who rejects God's messages and turns away in contempt? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with the worst of punishment for their having turned away.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَوْ تَقُولُوا لَوْ أَنَّا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتَابُ لَكُنَّا أَهْدَىٰ مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ جَاءَكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَصَدَفَ عَنْهَا سَنَجْزِي الَّذِينَ يَصْدِفُونَ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْدِفُون
Transliteration (2021)   
aw taqūlū law annā unzila ʿalaynā l-kitābu lakunnā ahdā min'hum faqad jāakum bayyinatun min rabbikum wahudan waraḥmatun faman aẓlamu mimman kadhaba biāyāti l-lahi waṣadafa ʿanhā sanajzī alladhīna yaṣdifūna ʿan āyātinā sūa l-ʿadhābi bimā kānū yaṣdifūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
or you say, "If [that] was revealed to us the Book surely we (would) have been better guided than them. So verily has come to you clear proofs from your Lord and a Guidance and a Mercy. Then who (is) more unjust than (he) who denies [with] (the) Verses (of) Allah, and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our Signs (with) an evil punishment because they used to turn away.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
or lest you say, "If a divine writ had been bestowed from on high upon us, we would surely have followed its guidance better than they did." And so, a clear evidence of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer, and guidance, and grace. Who, then, could be more wicked than he who gives the lie to God's messages, and turns away from them in disdain? We shall requite those who turn away from Our messages in disdain with evil suffering for having thus turned away
M. M. Pickthall   
Or lest ye should say: If the Scripture had been revealed unto us, we surely had been better guided than are they. Now hath there come unto you a clear proof from your Lord, a guidance and mercy; and who doeth greater wrong than he who denieth the revelations of Allah, and turneth away from them? We award unto those who turn away from Our revelations an evil doom because of their aversion
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Or lest ye should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they." Now then hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord,- and a guide and a mercy: then who could do more wrong than one who rejecteth Allah's signs, and turneth away therefrom? In good time shall We requite those who turn away from Our signs, with a dreadful penalty, for their turning away
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Nor can you say, “If only the Scriptures had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.” Now there has come to you from your Lord a clear proof—a guide and mercy. Who then does more wrong than those who deny Allah’s revelations and turn away from them? We will reward those who turn away from Our revelations with a dreadful punishment for turning away.
Safi Kaskas   
or, so that you do not say, "If a Book had been sent down to us, we would have followed its guidance better than they did." Clear evidence, guidance and mercy has come to you from your Lord. Who could be more unjust than someone who rejects God's messages and turns away in contempt? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with the worst of punishment for their having turned away.
Wahiduddin Khan   
or you may say, If the Book had been sent down to us, we would surely have followed its guidance better than they did. There has now come to you clear evidence from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who, then, is more unjust than one who rejects the signs of God and turns away from them? We shall requite those who turn away from Our signs with a painful punishment, for their turning away
Shakir   
Or lest you should say: If the Book had been revealed to us, we would certainly have been better guided than they, so indeed there has come to you clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who then is more unjust than he who rejects Allah's communications and turns away from them? We will reward those who turn away from Our communications with an evil chastisement because they turned away
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Or so that you not say: If the Book was caused to descend to us, we would have been better guided than they. Surely, there drew near you clear portents from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy. And who, then, does greater wrong than he who denied the signs of God and drew aside from them. We will give recompense to those who draw aside from Our signs with a dire punishment because they had been drawing aside.
T.B.Irving   
Or you may say: "If the Book had been sent down to us, We would be better guided than they are." Evidence has now come to you from your Lord, as well as guidance and mercy. Who is more in the wrong than someone who rejects God´s signs and even evades them? We will reward those who evade Our signs with the worst torment because they have acted so evasive.
Abdul Hye   
or lest you (pagan Arabs) say: “Surely if the book had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.” Surely clear proof (the Qur’an) has come to you from your Lord, guidance and a Mercy. Who is then more unjust than the one who rejects the Verses of Allah and turns away from them? We shall requite those who turn away from Our Verses with severe punishment for what they used to turn away.
The Study Quran   
Or lest you should say, “If the Book had been sent down upon us, we would surely have been better guided than they.” Now there has come unto you a clear proof from your Lord, a guidance and a mercy. So who does greater wrong than one who denies the signs of God and turns away from them? Soon shall We recompense those who turn away from Our signs with a terrible punishment for their having turned away
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Or lest you may say: “If indeed Al-Kitab is sent to us surely, we would be guided better than they.” So definitely, has come to you Bayyinah from your Nourisher-Sustainer and Hudah and Rahmah. So who is more unjust than that who belied the Ayaat of Allah and stayed away from them? Soon We shall reward those who stray away from Our Ayaat with an evil in punishment, because they had been straying away (from Al-Kitab)
Farook Malik   
or lest you say: "If the Book had been revealed to us, we could have followed its guidance better than them," a veritable sign has now come to you from your Lord as a guidance and mercy. Who then is more unjust than the one who denies the revelations of Allah and turns away from them? Very soon those who turn away from Our revelations will face dreadful punishment for their aversion
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Or lest you say, 'Had the Scripture been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.' Clarification has come to you from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy. Who then does greater wrong than he who gives the lie to God's messages, and turns away from them? We will repay those who turn away from Our messages with the worst kind of punishment, because of their turning away
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Or that you may not say, " (As) for us, if the Book had been sent down upon us, we would indeed have been more rightly-guided than they." Yet a supreme evidence has already come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. So, who is more unjust than he who cries lies to the signs of Allah and turns aside from them? We will soon recompense the ones who turn aside from Our signs with an odious torment for that they used to turn aside (from them)
Muhammad Sarwar   
or proclaim, "Had the Book been revealed to us, we would have followed its guidance better than the (Jews and Christians). Evidence, guidance, and mercy have already come to you from your Lord. Who are more unjust than those who reject God's revelations and turn away from them? We will give an evil recompense to those who turn away from Our revelations and a terrible torment for their disregard (of Our guidance
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Or you would say, .If the Book had been sent down to us, we would have been more adhering to the right path than they are. Now there has come to you a clear sign from your Lord, and a guidance and mercy. So, who is more unjust than the one who gives the lie to the verses of Allah and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with an evil punishment, because of their turning away
Shabbir Ahmed   
Or lest you say, "If a Divine Scripture had come to us, we would be better guided than they. Now has come to you a clear evidence of Truth from your Lord. It is a Beacon and Mercy. Who can be a greater transgressor than the one who denies the Revelations of Allah and turns away from them in disregard? Our Law of Requital will award those who turn away from Our Revelations, an awful suffering for their disregard
Dr. Munir Munshey   
So that you cannot (offer excuses and) say, "Had the book been revealed to us, We would have followed its guidance better than the two earlier groups." The proof from your Lord has now come to you. It is the guidance and mercy! Can anyone be more evil than those who reject and shun Our revelations. Because of their aversion We will soon inflict a treacherous torment upon those who turned away from Our revelations
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Or in case that you should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they (did)." Now then, has come to you a clear (proof, this Quran) from your Lord, and a guide and a mercy: Then who could be more wrong than one who rejects Allah’s Signs, and turns away from it? In good time We shall punish those who turn away from Our Signs (verses), with terrifying penalty, for their turning away
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Or lest you say, "If only the Scripture had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they." So there has [now] come to you a clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than one who denies the verses of Allah and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with the worst of punishment for their having turned away
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Or you Say: "If the Scripture was sent to us we would have been more guided than they!" Clarity has come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who is more wicked than one who denies God's revelations and turns away from them We will punish those who turn away from Our revelations with the pain of retribution for what they turned away
Abdel Haleem   
or ‘If only the Scripture had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.’ Now clear evidence, guidance, and mercy have come to you from your Lord. Who could be more wrong than someone who rejects God’s revelations and turns away from them? We shall repay those who turn away with a painful punishment
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Or lest ye should say. if only the Book had been sent down to us, we should surely have been better guided than they. So now surely there hath come unto you an evidence from Your Lord and a guidance and a mercy. Who then doth greater wrong than he who belieth the signs of Allah and shunneth them? Anon We will requite those who shun Our signs with an evil torment in as much as they were wont to shun them
Ahmed Ali   
Or that: "Had the Book been sent down to us we would surely have been guided better than they." So you have now received from your Lord a clear proof and a guidance and grace. Then who is more wicked than he who denies the signs of God and turns away from them? We shall punish those severely who turn away: A requital indeed for having turned aside
Aisha Bewley   
Nor can you say: ´If the Book had been sent down to us, We would have been better guided than they were.´ For a Clear Sign has come to you from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who could do greater wrong than someone who denies Allah´s Signs and turns away from them? We will repay those who turn away from Our Signs with the worst kind of punishment because they turned away
Ali Ünal   
Or lest you should say, "Had the Book been sent down on us, we would surely have been more rightly guided than they are." Now there has come to you a manifest proof from your Lord, and a guidance, and a mercy. Who, then, is greater in doing wrong than he who denies God’s Revelations and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our Revelations with an evil punishment for turning away
Ali Quli Qara'i   
or [lest] you should say, ‘If the Book had been sent down to us, surely we would have been better-guided than them.’ There has already come to you a manifest proof from your Lord and a guidance and mercy. So who is a greater wrongdoer than him who denies the signs of Allah, and turns away from them? Soon We shall requite those who turn away from Our signs with a terrible punishment because of what they used to evade
Hamid S. Aziz   
Or, lest you should say, "Had we had a Book (Scripture) revealed to us we should surely have been more guided than they;" But now there is come to them a manifest sign from their Lord, and a guidance and a mercy; who then is more unjust (does greater wrong) than he who denies the Signs (revelations) of Allah, and turns away from them? We will reward those who turn from our Signs with a severe punishment because of their turning
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Or you do not say: if the book was sent down to us, we would have certainly been more guided than them. A clear proof and a guide and a mercy has come to you from your Master. So who is more wrong than someone who denies God’s signs and turns away from them? We are going to punish those who turn away from Our signs, a bad punishment for what they were turning away from
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Or lest you should say, “If the Book had only been sent down to us, we would have followed its guidance better than they.” Now there has come to you a clear book from your Lord, and a guide and a mercy. Then who could do more wrong than one who rejects God's signs, and turns away from it? In good time, We will repay those who turn away from Our signs, with a dreadful penalty, for their turning away
Musharraf Hussain   
or you say, “If only the Book had been revealed to us, then we would have been better guided than them.” Now clear evidence has come to you from your Lord, along with guidance and kindness. Who then does greater wrong than the one who denies Allah’s signs and turns away from them? We will award those who turn away from Our signs the worst of punishments because of what they used to do
Maududi   
Nor may you claim that: ´Had the Book been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.´ Surely clear evidence has come to you from your Lord, which is both a guidance and a mercy. Who, then, is more unjust than he who gave the lie to the signs of Allah and turned away from them? And We shall soon requite those who turn away from Our signs with a severe chastisement for having turned away
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Or you say: "If the Book was sent to us we would have been more guided than they!" Clarity has come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who is more wicked than he who denies the revelations of God and turns away from them? We will punish those who turn away from Our revelations with the pain of retribution for what they turned away.
Mohammad Shafi   
Or lest you say, "If only the Book had been sent down to us, we would certainly have been guided better than they." So now, surely, there has come to you a Clarification, Guidance and Mercy from your Lord.Who then is more unjust than he who rejects Allah's Verses/signs, and turns away therefrom? We will repay those who turn away from Our Verses/signs with an evil punishment because of their turning away

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Or lest you should say, If the Book had been sent own to us, then we would have be better guided than they.' So there has come to you a luminous argument from your Lord, and guidance, and a mercy. Who is then more unjust than he who belies the signs of Allah and turns his face from them? Soon We shall punish those with great torment who turns away their faces from Our signs, the recompense of turning away their faces.
Rashad Khalifa   
Nor can you say, "If only a scripture could come down to us, we would be better guided than they." A proven scripture has now come to you from your Lord, and a beacon, and a mercy. Now, who is more evil than one who rejects these proofs from GOD, and disregards them? We will commit those who disregard our proofs to the worst retribution for their heedlessness.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Or (you say), 'Had the Book been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than they. ' Indeed a clear sign has now come to you from your Lord; a guidance and a mercy. And who is more harmful than he who belies the verses of Allah and turns away from them! We shall recompense those who turn away from Our verses with an evil punishment for their turning away
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Or, lest you should say: If the Book had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they. So indeed there has come to you clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who is then more unjust than he who rejects Allah’s messages and turns away from them? We reward those who turn away from Our messages with an evil chastisement because they turned away
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
Or you say: "If (only) that The Book was descended on us, we would have been more guided than them." So an evidence had come to you from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy, so who (is) more unjust/oppressive than who denied/falsified with God's verses/evidences and discouraged/turned away from it? We will reward/reimburse those who discourage/turn away from Our verses/evidences the torture's evil/harm ,because (of) what they were discouraging/turning away
Bijan Moeinian   
You can no longer say, "If the Book had been sent down to us, we would have behaved more righteous than [God respecting] nations before us." Now that the Lord has blessed you (out of His mercy) with a clear beacon, who can be more unjust than the one who denies My Revelations and turns away from them. I will subject those who show such ingratitude to the severest punishment
Faridul Haque   
Or may say that, “If the Book had been sent down to us, we would have been more upon guidance than them”; so the clear proof and guidance and mercy has come to you, from your Lord; so who is more unjust than one who denies the signs of Allah, and turns away from them? We shall soon punish those who turn away from Our signs with a great punishment, the recompense of their turning away
Sher Ali   
Or lest you should say, `Had the Book been sent down to us, we should surely have been better guided than they.' There has now come to you a clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy. Who, then, is more unjust than he who rejects the Signs of ALLAH and turns away from them? WE will requite those who turns away from OUR Signs with an evil punishment because of their turning away
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Or (lest) you should say: ‘Had the Book been sent down to us, we would certainly have been better guided than they are.’ So, now has come to you from your Lord the clear proof and guidance and mercy. Then who can be more unjust than he who treats the Revelations of Allah as lies and evades them? Soon shall We inflict an evil torment upon those who evade Our Revelations because they used to turn away (from the signs of Allah)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Or lest you should say, `Had the Book been revealed to us we would surely have been better guided than they.' Now there has certainly come to you from your Lord (in the form of the Qur'an) a clear evidence, an excellent guidance and a great mercy. Who then, is more unjust than he who cries lies to the revelations of Allah and turns away from them? We will certainly award those who turn away from Our revelations an awful punishment, because of their having turned away
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Or lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: "If only the Book had been sent down to us, we would surely have been better guided than they (Jews and Christians)." So now has come unto you a clear proof (the Quran) from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who then does more wrong than one who rejects the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah and turns away therefrom? We shall requite those who turn away from Our Ayat with an evil torment, because of their turning away (from them). (Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 8, Page 95

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
or lest you say, 'If the Book had been sent down upon us, we had surely been more rightly guided than they.' Yet indeed a clear sign has come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy; and who does greater evil than he who cries lies to God's signs, and turns away from them? We shall surely recompense those who turn away from Our signs with an evil chastisement for their turning away
George Sale   
Or lest ye should say, if a book of divine revelations had been sent down unto us, we would surely have better directed than they. And now hath a manifest declaration come unto you from your Lord, and a direction and mercy: And who is more unjust than he who deviseth lies against the signs of God, and turneth aside from them? We will reward those who turn aside from our signs with a grievous punishment, because they have turned aside
Edward Henry Palmer   
Or, lest ye should say, 'Had we had a book revealed to us we should surely have been more guided than they;' but there is come to them a manifest sign from their Lord, and a guidance and a mercy; who then is more unjust than he who calls God's signs lies, and turns from them? we will reward those who turn from our signs with an evil punishment for that they turned away
John Medows Rodwell   
Or lest ye should say, "If a book had been sent down to us, we had surely followed the guidance better than they." But now hath a clear exposition come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who then is more wicked than he who treateth the signs of God as lies, and turneth aside from them? We will recompense those who turn aside from our signs with an evil punishment, because they have turned aside
N J Dawood (2014)   
or: ‘Had the Book been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.‘ A veritable sign has now come to you from your Lord, a guide and a blessing. And who is more wicked than he who denies God‘s revelations and turns away from them? Those that turn away from Our revelations We shall requite with grievous torment for their turning

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
You cannot say, “If the Book had been sent to us, we would have followed its guidance better than they did.” Now clarification has come to you from your Lord. It is a guide and a mercy. Who could sin greater than one who rejects Allah’s signs and turns away from them? Eventually, We will compensate those who rejected Our signs. We will give them a dreadful punishment because they turned away.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Or you may say: "If the Book had been sent down to us, We would be better guided than they are." Evidence has now come to you from your Lord, as well as guidance and mercy. Who is more in the wrong than someone who rejects God's signs and even evades them? We will reward those who evade Our signs with the worst torment because they have acted so evasive.
Sayyid Qutb   
Or lest you say, “If a Book had been revealed to us, we would surely have followed its guidance better than they did.” Now then a clear evidence of the truth has come to you from your Lord, and guidance, and grace. Who could be more wicked than he who denies God's revelations and turns away from them in disdain? We shall punish those who turn away from Our revelations in disdain with grave suffering for so turning away.
Ahmed Hulusi   
And so that you do not say, “If that Knowledge was revealed to us, we would surely have evaluated the guidance better than them”... Clear proofs, knowledge of the reality and grace have come to your from your Rabb... Who can do more wrong than one who denies the existence of Allah in His signs (the manifestations of His Names) and turns away from them! They will undergo the worst suffering as a result of turning away from Our signs!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Or (lest) you should say : ' If the Book had been sent down to us, we would certainly have been better guided than them.' So indeed there has come to you clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who then is more unjust than him who denies the Signs of Allah, and turns away from them ? Soon We will recompense those who turn away from Our Signs with a terrible punishment for what they used to turn away
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
Or you may say: "Had we received their Book we would have regarded with more reverence and veneration, and in all things we would have conformed our will to Allah's will and we would have regarded His way but the one way of arriving at the truth". Now, there has come to you a convincing evidence of the truth of Our Messenger's mission and with him has come the Quran with illumination and enlightenment and a spirit of truth guiding into all truth and inviting Allah's mercy. Therefore, who is more wicked than he who denies Allah's revelations and signs and counsels deaf to Allah's disclosure of divine knowledge and spiritual enlightenment! Indeed, those who counsel deaf to Our revelations and signs betokening Omnipotence and Authority shall be put to the torment laid upon the damned in requital of closing their hearts, ears and their minds’ eyes to intellectual and spiritual enlightenment
Mir Aneesuddin   
or you should say, "Had the book been sent down to us we would have been better guided than them." So a clear proof has come to you from your Fosterer, with guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than he who denies the signs of Allah and turns away from them. We will reward, those who turn away from Our signs, with an evil punishment because they used to turn away.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Or lest ye should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they." Now then hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord,- and a guide and a mercy: then who could do more wrong than o ne who rejecteth God's signs, and turneth away therefrom? In good time shall We requite those who turn away from Our signs, with a dreadful penalty, for their turning away
OLD Literal Word for Word   
or you say, "If [that] was revealed to us the Book surely we (would) have been better guided than them. So verily has come to you clear proofs from your Lord and a Guidance and a Mercy. Then who (is) more unjust than (he) who denies [with] (the) Verses (of) Allah, and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our Signs (with) an evil punishment because they used to turn away