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Muhammad Asad   
For, He it is who has made you inherit the earth, and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you. Verily, thy Sustainer is swift in retribution: yet, behold, He is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
He is the One Who has placed you as successors on earth and elevated some of you in rank over others, so He may test you with what He has given you. Surely your Lord is swift in punishment, but He is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Safi Kaskas   
It is He who has made you inherit the earth and has raised some of you in rank above others so that He might test you by means of what He has given to you. Your Lord is swift in punishment, but He is also forgiving and Merciful-to-all.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيم
Transliteration (2021)   
wahuwa alladhī jaʿalakum khalāifa l-arḍi warafaʿa baʿḍakum fawqa baʿḍin darajātin liyabluwakum fī mā ātākum inna rabbaka sarīʿu l-ʿiqābi wa-innahu laghafūrun raḥīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And He (is) the One Who (has) made you successors (of) the earth and raised some of you above others (in) ranks, so that He may test you in what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord (is) swift (in) the punishment, and indeed, He (is) [certainly], Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
For, He it is who has made you inherit the earth, and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you. Verily, thy Sustainer is swift in retribution: yet, behold, He is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace
M. M. Pickthall   
He it is Who hath placed you as viceroys of the earth and hath exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that which He hath given you. Lo! Thy Lord is swift in prosecution, and Lo! He verily is Forgiving, Merciful
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
He is the One Who has placed you as successors on earth and elevated some of you in rank over others, so He may test you with what He has given you. Surely your Lord is swift in punishment, but He is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Safi Kaskas   
It is He who has made you inherit the earth and has raised some of you in rank above others so that He might test you by means of what He has given to you. Your Lord is swift in punishment, but He is also forgiving and Merciful-to-all.
Wahiduddin Khan   
It is He who has made you successors [of others] on the earth and has exalted some of you over the others in degrees of rank, so that He may test you by that which He has given you. Your Lord is swift in punishment; yet surely He is forgiving, and merciful
Shakir   
And He it is Who has made you successors in the land and raised some of you above others by (various) grades, that He might try you by what He has given you; surely your Lord is quick to requite (evil), and He is most surely the Forgiving, the Merciful
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And it is He who made you as viceregents on the earth and exalted some of you above some others in degree that He try you with what He gave you. Truly, thy Lord is Swift in repayment and He, truly, is Forgiving, Compassionate.
T.B.Irving   
"He is the One Who has placed you as overlords on earth and raised some of you higher than others in rank so He may test you by means of what He has given you. Your Lord is Swift in punishment; yet He is Forgiving, Merciful."
Abdul Hye   
And it is He who has made you inheritors of the earth, and exalted some of you over others in ranks so that He may try you in what He has given you. Surely your Lord is swift in retribution, and certainly He is Forgiving, Merciful.”
The Study Quran   
He it is Who appointed you vicegerents upon the earth and raised some of you by degrees above others, that He may try you in that which He has given you. Truly thy Lord is Swift in retribution, and truly He is Forgiving, Merciful
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And He it is Who appointed you settling-successors on earth and He raised some of you over some others in ranks, so that He may test you in what He provided you. Surely your Nourisher-Sustainer is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful
Farook Malik   
He is the One Who has made you the inheritors of the earth and raised some of you in ranks over others so that He may test you in what He has given you. Surely your Lord is swift in retribution; yet He is also very Forgiving, Merciful."
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
It is He who made you successors on the earth, and raised some of you in ranks over others, in order to test you through what He has given you. Your Lord is Quick in retribution, and He is Forgiving and Merciful
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And He is (The One) Who made you succeeding each other (in) the earth, and has raised some of you above others (Literally: above "some" others) in degrees, that He may try you in what He has brought you. Surely your Lord is swift in punishment, and surely He is indeed Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful
Muhammad Sarwar   
On earth, We have made each of your generations the successors of their predecessors; We have made some of you do good deeds of a higher degree than others. He will test you in this way through what He has revealed to you. Your Lord's retribution is swift and He is certainly All-forgiving and All-merciful
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
It is He who made you the vicegerents of the earth and raised some of you in ranks over others, so that He may test you in what He has given you. Surely, your Lord is swift in punishing, and surely He is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
Shabbir Ahmed   
He it is Who has made you inheritors of the earth after other nations. And your ranks are determined by your actions. People and nations must create in them the capacity to live with honor (10:14). The real test is what you do with that which He has given you. Your Lord is Swift in retribution. Yet He is Forgiving, Merciful
Dr. Munir Munshey   
He it is, Who has appointed you His deputy on this earth. He excelled some of you over others in rank (power and authority), so He may put you through a test with what He has granted you. Indeed, your Lord is very swift (and severe) in inflicting punishment, and of course, He is the most Forgiving and the most Merciful
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And it is He Who has made you generations, (and) inheritors replacing each other on the earth,: He has raised you in ranks, some above others: That He may try you by the gifts that He has given to you: Surely, your Lord is quick in punishment: And indeed, He is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And He is the One who made you inheritors on Earth, and He raised some of you over others in grades, to test you with what He had given you. Your Lord is quick to punishment, and He is Forgiving, Merciful
Abdel Haleem   
It is He who made you successors on the earth and raises some of you above others in rank, to test you through what He gives you. [Prophet], your Lord is swift in punishment, yet He is most forgiving and merciful
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And He it is Who hath made you successors in the earth, and hath raised some of you over others in degrees, that he might prove you by that which He hath vouchsafed unto you. Verily thy Lord is swift in chastising, and verily He is Forgiving, Merciful
Ahmed Ali   
It is He who made you trustees on the earth, and exalted some in rank over others in order to try you by what He has given you. Indeed your Lord's retribution is swift, yet He is forgiving and kind
Aisha Bewley   
It is He who appointed you khalifs on the earth and raised some of you above others in rank so He could test you regarding what He has given you. Your Lord is Swift in Retribution; and He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful
Ali Ünal   
He it is Who has appointed you vicegerents over the earth (to improve it and rule over it according to God’s commandments), and has exalted some of you over others in degrees (of intelligence, capacity, and then wealth and status): thus He tries you in what He has granted you. (Always remember that) your Lord is the most swift in retribution (when it is due), and assuredly, He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Compassionate (especially toward those who turn to Him in repentance as His believing servants)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
It is He who has made you successors on the earth, and raised some of you in rank above others so that He may test you in respect to what He has given you. Indeed your Lord is swift in retribution, and indeed He is all-forgiving, all-merciful
Hamid S. Aziz   
He it is who made you Vicegerents (Agents, Successors, Inheritors) of the earth, and raised some of you above others in degree (or rank, virtue, power, wealth, ability etc.), to try you by that which he has given you; Verily, your Lord is swift to punish
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
He is the One who made you successors on the earth, and raised some of you above others in ranks, to test you in what He gave you. Your Master is indeed quick in the punishment, and He is indeed forgiving and merciful
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
It is He Who has made you caretakers and inheritors of the earth. He has raised you in ranks, some above others, that He may try you in the gifts He has given you. And your Lord is quick in punishment, yet He is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Mercifully Redeeming
Musharraf Hussain   
He made you representatives on Earth, raising some of you over others in rank in order to test you with what He has given you. Your Lord is swift to punish but always Forgiving, Kind
Maududi   
For He it is Who has appointed you vicegerent over the earth, and has exalted some of you over others in rank that He may try you in what He has bestowed is upon you. Indeed your Lord is swift in retribution, and He is certainly AllForgiving, All-Compassionate
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And He is the One who made you inheritors on the earth, and He raised some of you over others in grades, to test you with what He had given you. Your Lord is swift to punishment, and He is Forgiving, Merciful.
Mohammad Shafi   
And He it is Who has made you His representatives on earth, and raised some of you above others in ranks so that He may test you in what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in retribution, and He is indeed Forgiving, Merciful

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And He it is Who has made you vicegerent in the earth and has raised one over the other in degrees among you that He may try you in what He has given you. Undoubtedly, your Lord is not late in tormenting, and undoubtedly, He is necessarily Forgiving, Merciful
Rashad Khalifa   
He is the One who made you inheritors of the earth, and He raised some of you above others in rank, in order to test you in accordance with what He has given you. Surely, your Lord is efficient in enforcing retribution, and He is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
It is He who has made you caliphs in the earth and raised some of you in rank above others, so that He might try you in what He has given you. Swift is your Lord in retribution; yet He is Forgiving, Merciful
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And He it is Who has made you successors in the land and exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by what He has given you. Surely thy Lord is Quick in requiting (evil), and He is surely the Forgiving, the Merciful
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
And He is who made/created you the earth's/Planet Earth's successors and replacers/leaders , and He rose some of you above/over some (by) steps/stages/degrees, to test you in what He gave you, that your Lord (is) quick (in) the punishment, and that He (is) forgiving (E), merciful
Bijan Moeinian   
God is the One Who has put you (as His representative) in charge of [and responsible for] the earth. He has put you in different positions of authority to try you [and prove to you whether or not you deserve to be delegated authority.] Know that your Lord's justice is swift; yet He is also Forgiving and Merciful
Faridul Haque   
And it is He who made you caliphs (viceroys) in the earth and ranked some of you high above others, in order that He may test you with what He has bestowed upon you; indeed it does not take time for your Lord to mete out punishment; and indeed, surely, He is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful
Sher Ali   
And HE it is who made you successors of others on the earth and has exalted some of you over others in degrees of rank, that HE may try you by that which HE has given you. Surely, thy Lord is Quick in punishment; and surely, HE is Most Forgiving, Merciful
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And He is the One Who has made you vicegerents in the earth, and exalted some of you over others in ranks, so that He may test you by means of (things) which He has bestowed upon you (as a trust). Surely, your Lord is swift in awarding punishment (to those who deserve it), but He is indeed Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful (towards the aspirants to forgiveness)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And He it is Who has made you successors (of others and rulers) of the land, and He has exalted some of you over the others in degrees (of rank) so that He may try you by that which He has given you. Surely, your Lord is Quick at retribution; and He is all the same, Great Protector, Ever Merciful
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely your Lord is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is OftForgiving, Most Merciful

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
It is He who has appointed you viceroys in the earth, and has raised some of you in rank above others, that He may try you in what He has given you. Surely thy Lord is swift in retribution; and surely He is All-forgiving, All-compassionate
George Sale   
It is He who hath appointed you to succeed your predecessors in the earth, and hath raised some of you above others by various degrees of worldly advantages, that He might prove you by that which He hath bestowed on you. Thy Lord is swift in punishing; and He is also gracious and merciful
Edward Henry Palmer   
He it is who made you vicegerents, and raised some of you above others in degree, to try you by that which he has brought you;- verily, thy Lord is swift to punish, but, verily, He is forgiving and merciful
John Medows Rodwell   
And it is He who hath made you the successors of others on the earth, and hath raised some of you above others by various grades, that he may prove you by his gifts. Verily thy Lord is swift to punish. But He is also Gracious, Merciful
N J Dawood (2014)   
He has given you the earth for your heritage and exalted some of you in rank above others, that He might test you with what He has given you. Swift is your Lord in retribution; yet is He forgiving and compassionate

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
“It is He who has made you representatives, inheritors of Earth. He has raised you in ranks, some above others so that He may test you in the gifts He has given you. Your Lord is quick in punishment, yet He is indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
"He is the One Who has placed you as overlords on earth and raised some of you higher than others in rank so He may test you by means of what He has given you. Your Lord is Swift in punishment; yet He is Forgiving, Merciful."' (II)
Sayyid Qutb   
He it is who has made you inherit the earth and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you. For certain, your Lord is swift in retribution; yet, He is indeed much- forgiving, merciful.
Ahmed Hulusi   
It is HU who appointed you vicegerents upon the earth (the body) and elevated some of you over others in degrees, to try you with (actualize) what He gave to you (the forces of the Names)... Indeed, your Rabb is sariul iqab (the One who enforces the consequences of actions without relenting)! He is the Ghafur, the Rahim.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And He it is Who has made you successors in the earth, and raised some of you above others in grades that He may try you in respect to what He has given you. Verily your Lord is swift in retribution, and indeed He is Forgiving, Merciful
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
He is it Who has inducted you on earth and made one generation inherit the other, and He promoted and exalted, in rank, honour, estimation, development, power, and wealth some above others, and arranged you in grades so as to test your qualities with what He has ordained for you. You had better realize that Allah, your Creator, is swift indeed in putting the law in execution and in effecting just retribution and He is also Ghafurun and Rahimun
Mir Aneesuddin   
And He it is Who made you successors of the earth, and raised the grades of some of you above others that He may test you through that which He has given you. Your Fosterer is certainly Quick in requiting while He is (also) Protectively Forgiving, Merciful.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Mer ciful
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And He (is) the One Who (has) made you successors (of) the earth and raised some of you above others (in) ranks, so that He may test you in what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord (is) swift (in) the punishment, and indeed, He (is) [certainly], Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful