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Muhammad Asad   
Said he: "O my Sustainer! Prison is more desirable to me than [compliance with] what these women invite me to: for, unless Thou turn away their guile from me, I might yet yield to their allure and become one of those who are unaware [of right and wrong]."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Joseph prayed, “My Lord! I would rather be in jail than do what they invite me to. And if You do not turn their cunning away from me, I might yield to them and fall into ignorance.”
Safi Kaskas   
He said, “Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what these women are inviting me to do. If you do not protect me from their treachery, I might yield to their allure and so become one of the ignorant.”

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجۡنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَیَّ مِمَّا یَدۡعُونَنِیۤ إِلَیۡهِۖ وَإِلَّا تَصۡرِفۡ عَنِّی كَیۡدَهُنَّ أَصۡبُ إِلَیۡهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِینَ ۝٣٣
Transliteration (2021)   
qāla rabbi l-sij'nu aḥabbu ilayya mimmā yadʿūnanī ilayhi wa-illā taṣrif ʿannī kaydahunna aṣbu ilayhinna wa-akun mina l-jāhilīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
He said, "My Lord, the prison (is) dearer to me than what they invite me to it. And unless You turn away from me their plot I might incline towards them and [I] be of the ignorant."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Said he: "O my Sustainer! Prison is more desirable to me than [compliance with] what these women invite me to: for, unless Thou turn away their guile from me, I might yet yield to their allure and become one of those who are unaware [of right and wrong]."
M. M. Pickthall   
He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me, and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Joseph prayed, “My Lord! I would rather be in jail than do what they invite me to. And if You do not turn their cunning away from me, I might yield to them and fall into ignorance.”
Safi Kaskas   
He said, “Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what these women are inviting me to do. If you do not protect me from their treachery, I might yield to their allure and so become one of the ignorant.”
Wahiduddin Khan   
Joseph said, O my Lord! I would prefer prison to what these women are inviting me to do. And if You do not avert their guile from me, I may yield to them and so become one of the ignorant
Shakir   
He said: My Lord! the prison house is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if Thou turn not away their device from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
He said: O my Lord! Prison is more beloved to me than what they call me to. Unless Thou hast turned away their (f) cunning from me, I will yearn towards them (f) and I will be among the ones who are ignorant.
T.B.Irving   
He said: "My Lord, jail is more precious to me than what they are inviting me to do. Unless You ward off their tricks from me, I´ll fall for them and act as if I do not know a thing."
Abdul Hye   
He (Joseph) said: "O my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to it. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I may feel inclined towards them and be one of the ignorant.”
The Study Quran   
He said, “My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they call me. If Thou dost not turn their scheming away from me, I shall incline toward them and be among the ignorant.
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
He prayed, “My Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what they urge me towards. Unless You divert their plot from me, I might incline toward them and become one of the ignorant.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
He said, 'My Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what they call me to. Unless You turn their scheming away from me, I may yield to them, and become one of the ignorant.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
(Yusuf) said: “My Nourisher-Sustainer! The prison is more to my lihead of state than that to which they invite me. And if You do not turn away their (criminal) plot from me I will get inclined towards these ladies and (if a sin is committed) I become of those who are ignorant (of Al-Kitab)
M. Farook Malik   
Joseph said: "O my Lord! I would rather go to prison than that to which they invite me; and unless You ward off their cunning snare from me, I may, in my youthful folly, feel inclined towards them and become one of the ignorant."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
He said, "Lord! Prison is more beloved to me than what they call me to; and in case You do not turn about from me their plotting, I would court them, and I would be of the ignorant."
Muhammad Sarwar   
Joseph said, "Lord, prison is dearer to me than that which women want me to do. Unless You protect me from their guile, I shall be attracted to them in my ignorance"
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
He (Yusuf) said, .My Lord, the prison is dearer to me than what these women invite me to do. If You do not turn their guile away from me, I shall get inclined towards them and shall be among the ignorant
Shabbir Ahmed   
Joseph said, "O My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than these women's schemes. If you did not help me fend off their design, I am afraid of their intimidation, and of behaving like the unguided."
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Yusuf prayed, "Oh Lord, They are inviting me towards the shameful act, but I prefer the life of prison over it. Please Lord! If You do not turn their wicked wiles away from me, I might succumb to them! If so, I would be among the ignorant wicked ones."
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
He said: "O my Lord (Allah)! The prison is more to my liking than to what they invite me: Unless You (Almighty Allah) turn away their plot from me, I may (in my youth) feel inclined towards them and be of those people who do not know (ignorant)."
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
He said: "My Lord, prison is better to me than what they are inviting me to do. And if You do not turn their scheming away from me, I will fall for them and be of the ignorant."
Abdel Haleem   
Joseph said, ‘My Lord! I would prefer prison to what these women are calling me to do. If You do not protect me from their treachery, I shall yield to them and do wrong,’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
He said: my Lord: prison is dearer to me than that to which these women call me; and if Thou avertest not their guile from me should incline toward them and become of the Ignorant
Ahmed Ali   
(Joseph) prayed: "O Lord, dearer is prison than what they invite me to. Unless You turn their guiles away from me I shall succumb to their charms and thus become a pagan."
Aisha Bewley   
He said, ´My Lord, the prison is preferable to me than what they call on me to do. Unless You turn their guile away from me, it may well be that I will fall for them and so become a man of ignorance.´
Ali Ünal   
He (imploring God) said: "My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they bid me to. If You do not avert their guile from me, I might incline towards them and become one of the ignorant (those who succumb to such temptations)."
Ali Quli Qara'i   
He said, ‘My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than to what they invite me. If You do not turn away their schemes from me, then I will incline towards them and become one of the senseless.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
Said he, "O My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and unless you turn from me their wiles I shall incline unto them and shall be among the foolish."
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
He said: “My Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to it, and if you do not turn their plot away from me, I may lean toward them, and I would be one of the ignorant ones.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
He said, “O my Lord, the prison is more to my liking than that which they invite me. Unless You turn away their temptation from me, I should feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant.
Musharraf Hussain   
“My Lord,” said Yusuf, “I prefer prison to what they tell me to do. If You hadn’t deflected their cunning scheme from me, I would have yielded to them and acted unwisely.”
Maududi   
Joseph said: "My Lord! I prefer imprisonment to what they ask me to do. And if You do not avert from me the guile of these women, I will succumb to their attraction and lapse into ignorance."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
He said: "My Lord, prison is better to me than what they are inviting me to do. And if You do not turn their plans away from me, I will fall for them and be of the ignorant."
Mohammad Shafi   
He said, "My Lord! I would prefer to go to jail rather than do what they invite me to. And unless You make their scheme against me ineffective, I will be tempted towards them and behave as one ignorant."

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Yusuf said, 'O my Lord, prison is dearer to me than the work to which she calls me. And if you shall not turn their guile from me, then I shall incline towards them and will be ignorant.
Rashad Khalifa   
He said, "My Lord, the prison is better than giving in to them. Unless You divert their scheming from me, I may desire them and behave like the ignorant ones."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
He supplicated: 'Lord, prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me. Yet if You do not shield me from their guile I shall yield to them and be one of the ignorant.
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
He said: My Lord, the prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me. And if Thou turn not away their device from me, I shall yearn towards them and be of the ignorant
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
He said: "My Lord, the prison/jail (is) more likable to me from what they call me to it, and unless you divert from me their conspiring I incline to (give up) to them (F), and I be from the lowly/ignorant ."
Bijan Moeinian   
Joseph said: “My Lord, I prefer imprisonment to what they are pushing me to. If You do not save me from their plot, I may fall into their trap and behave like any other ignorant person.”
Faridul Haque   
He said, "O my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than the deed they invite me to; and if You do not repel their deceit away from me, I may incline towards them and be unwise."
Sher Ali   
Thereupon Joseph prayed: `O my Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to do; and unless thou turn away their guile from me I shall be inclined towards them and be of the ignorant.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
(By now the elite Egyptian women too had agreed to Zulaykha’s viewpoint. Hearing them,) Yusuf (Joseph) submitted: ‘O my Lord! The prison is far dearer to me than what these women are inviting me to. And if You do not turn away their craft from me, I shall incline towards their (words) and shall become of the unwise.
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(Hearing this) he (- Joseph) said, `My Lord, the prison is more to my liking than that to which they call me to, and unless you turn away their guile from me I might yield to their allurement and be of those devoid of knowledge.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
He said:"O my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorants."

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
He said, 'My Lord, prison is dearer to me than that they call me to; yet if Thou turnest not from me their guile, then I shall yearn towards them, and so become one of the ignorant.
George Sale   
Joseph said, O Lord, a prison is more eligible unto me than the crime to which they invite me; but unless thou turn aside their snares from me, I shall youthfully incline unto them, and I shall become one of the foolish
Edward Henry Palmer   
Said he, 'My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and unless Thou turn from me their craftiness I shall feel a passion for them and shall be among the ignorant!
John Medows Rodwell   
He said, "O my Lord! I prefer the prison to compliance with their bidding: but unless thou turn away their snares from me, I shall play the youth with them, and become one of the unwise."
N J Dawood (2014)   
Lord,‘ said Joseph, ‘sooner would I go to prison than give in to their advances. Shield me from their cunning, or I shall yield to them and lapse into folly.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
He said, “O my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they are inviting me. For unless You turn away from me their scheme, I may become enamoured with them and will be of those who are ignorant [about Allah’s boundaries].”
Munir Mezyed   
He said: ‘O’ my Lord, prison is more favorable to me than that to which they invite me. Unless you turn their machination away from me, I may fall into their temptation and be of the ignorant.’
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
He said: my Lord, prison is dearer to me to what they call me to, and if You do not divert their plot from me, I will give in to them and be of the ignorant.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
(Joseph) said, “O my Lord, I would prefer prison to that to which (these women) invite me. If You do not get me away from their plans, I may give in to them and become like the ignorant.”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
He said, “My Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they call me to, and unless You turn their plotting away from me, I might yield to them and become one of the ignorant.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
He said: "My Lord, jail is more precious to me than what they are inviting me to do. Unless You ward off their tricks from me, I'll fall for them and act as if I do not know a thing."
Samy Mahdy   
He said, “My Lord, the prison is lover to me from what they call me to it. And unless You divert from me their plot, I would crave for them, and be among the ignorant ones.”
Sayyid Qutb   
[Joseph] said: 'My Lord, I would sooner be put in prison than comply with what they are inviting me to do. Unless You turn away their guile from me, I may yield to them and lapse into folly.'
Ahmed Hulusi   
(Joseph) said, “My Rabb... Prison is more pleasant to me than that to which they invite me... If You do not protect me from their guile, I will incline toward them and be among the ignorant.”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
He said: 'My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if You turn not their guile from me, I may incline towards them and become of the ignorant ones'.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
"O Allah, my Creator," Said Yusuf, "l would rather be imprisoned than submit to their evil desire; and unless O Allah, You keep their intrigues away from me, I may succumb to their temptation and be one of these wrongful of actions."
Mir Aneesuddin   
He said, “My Fosterer ! the prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me and if You do not turn away their plot from me, I may incline towards them and become one of the ignorant.”
The Wise Quran   
He said, 'My Lord! Prison is more loved to me than what they call me to; and except You turn away their plot from me, I will incline to them and be among the ignorant.'

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."
OLD Literal Word for Word   
He said, "My Lord, the prison (is) dearer to me than what they invite me to it. And unless You turn away from me their plot I might incline towards them and [I] be of the ignorant.
OLD Transliteration   
Qala rabbi alssijnu ahabbu ilayya mimma yadAAoonanee ilayhi wa-illa tasrif AAannee kaydahunna asbu ilayhinna waakun mina aljahileena