Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame
M. M. Pickthall
Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
But whoever manages to stealthily eavesdrop is ˹instantly˺ pursued by a piercing flare.
Safi Kaskas
except for him who snatches a glimpse [of such knowledge], He will be pursued by a piercing flame. [:
Wahiduddin Khan
But if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he shall be pursued by a piercing flame
Shakir
Except him who snatches off but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
but for him who snatched a fragment, then, a piercing flame pursued him.
T.B.Irving
except for someone who tries to eavesdrop so that a blazing meteor follows him.
Abdul Hye
Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.
The Study Quran
save one who snatches a fragment as a piercing flame pursues him
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
Except for one who snatches a snatch; he is pursued by a piercing flame.
Talal Itani (2012)
Except for him who snatches a fragment—he gets pursued by a piercing projectile
Dr. Kamal Omar
except one who snatched away something snatched stealthily — then a flaming fire of piercing brightness pursued and chased him
Eavesdroppers are persuaded by a flaming fire of piercing brightness
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
Except him who snatches a snatching (away); then a piercing flaming (meteor) follows him up
Muhammad Sarwar
Some of them who stealthily steal words from the heavens are pursued by a glistening flame
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
however, if one snatches a little bit, he is pursued by a bright flame
Shabbir Ahmed
Even if a thing of their conjecture comes to pass, they are pursued by a Flame of Brightness. (The Divine Revelation exposes the claimants to the 'occult sciences' (18:22), (26:210-212), (52:38), (67:5), (72: 8-9))
Dr. Munir Munshey
If one (of the Shaitans) succeeds in snatching away a fragment (of knowledge), a piercing flame follows him (in hot pursuit)
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Except such who may snatch something by stealing: And they are being followed by a flaming Fire of stabbing brightness
Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
Any of them who snatches something away, he is pursued by a piercing flame
Abdel Haleem
if any [of them] stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
Except him who snatcheth away a word by stealth, and him then pursueth a glowing flame
Ahmed Ali
Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame
Aisha Bewley
except for him who snatches a snippet and then is pursued by a piercing flame.
Ali Ünal
Excepting one who snatches something by stealth, and is pursued (and destroyed) by a piercing shooting-star
Ali Quli Qara'i
except him who snatches a snatch, whereat there pursues him a piercing flame
Hamid S. Aziz
Except him who snatches a fragment by stealth, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
except someone who snatches (and overhears) the snatch (the word), then a piercing shooting flame follows him.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
Except those that snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness
Musharraf Hussain
The snatcher of information is chased by a fiery comet
Maududi
And if any is able to snatch a fragment, he is pursued by a piercing flame
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
Any of them who snatches a part, he is pursued by a piercing flame.
Mohammad Shafi
In the exceptional case of a devil snatching away any secret, a piercing flame trails him
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
But he who carries away by swooping once or twice then are at once followed by a bright burning flame.
If any of them ventures to charge the outer limits, he gets struck with a fierce projectile.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
except such as snatches a fragment, and he is pursued by a piercing flame
Maulana Muhammad Ali
Except him who snatches away but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
Except who snatched the one snatch, so a light from a fire source/a star lit/ignited/penetrating followed him
Bijan Moeinian
If one of them dares to escape the lower universe, a flashing projectile will be charged against him
Faridul Haque
Except one who sometimes steals a part, so a blazing flame goes after him
Sher Ali
But if any of them snatches away something by stealth, he is pursued by a piecing flame
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
But that (satan) who snatches away (something from angels), a burning brand follows it in chase
Amatul Rahman Omar
Yet if anyone of them snatches away but once (to find out something), he is pursued by a bright shining flame
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
Except the one who snatches a little fragment and then a piercing blaze follows him.
Munir Mezyed
But whoever manages to stealthily snatch a word (from the heavens) is pursued by a piercing flame.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
Except for one who tries to do so by stealth, then a bright shooting star pursues him.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
Some may snatch something [of divine value], but they are pursued by a comet of piercing brightness.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
except for one who snatched a fragment and was then pursued by a piercing meteor.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
except for someone who tries to eavesdrop so that a blazing meteor follows him.
Samy Mahdy
Except one who hijacked the hijacked (word) so he is followed by a piercing meteor.
Sayyid Qutb
If any of them stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame.
Ahmed Hulusi
Except if one snatches a word, a blazing flame shall pursue him.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
Except him who snatches a fragment, and he is pursued by a piercing flame.
And he who ventures upon catching whatever comes to his hearing of the secrets or future events is pursued by a piercing flame which does not miss
Mir Aneesuddin
except him who snatches a snatching, then a piercing flame* follows him. * Meteorite which sometimes make a hole in the earth.