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Muhammad Asad   
[And We said:] “O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and, thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!”
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹We instructed him:˺ “O David! We have surely made you an authority in the land, so judge between people with truth. And do not follow ˹your˺ desires or they will lead you astray from Allah’s Way. Surely those who go astray from Allah’s Way will suffer a severe punishment for neglecting the Day of Reckoning.”
Safi Kaskas   
[We said], "David, We have made you a steward over this land, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] whim, as it will lead you away from the way of God." Those who wander away from His path will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
یَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَـٰكَ خَلِیفَةࣰ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱحۡكُم بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَیُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ یَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ شَدِیدُۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ یَوۡمَ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ۝٢٦
Transliteration (2021)   
yādāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fī l-arḍi fa-uḥ'kum bayna l-nāsi bil-ḥaqi walā tattabiʿi l-hawā fayuḍillaka ʿan sabīli l-lahi inna alladhīna yaḍillūna ʿan sabīli l-lahi lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun bimā nasū yawma l-ḥisāb
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
"O Dawood! Indeed, We [We] have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between [the] men in truth and (do) not follow the desire, for it will lead you astray from (the) way (of) Allah. Indeed, those who go astray from (the) way (of) Allah, for them (is) a punishment severe because they forgot (the) Day (of) Account."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[And We said:] “O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and, thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!”
M. M. 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
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
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
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹We instructed him:˺ “O David! We have surely made you an authority in the land, so judge between people with truth. And do not follow ˹your˺ desires or they will lead you astray from Allah’s Way. Surely those who go astray from Allah’s Way will suffer a severe punishment for neglecting the Day of Reckoning.”
Safi Kaskas   
[We said], "David, We have made you a steward over this land, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] whim, as it will lead you away from the way of God." Those who wander away from His path will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.
Wahiduddin Khan   
We said, David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God's path: those who wander from His path will have a severe punishment, because they ignore the Day of Reckoning
Shakir   
o Dawood! surely We have made you a ruler in the land; so judge between men with justice and do not follow desire, lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah; (as for) those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
O David! Truly, We made thee a viceregent on the earth so give judgment duly among humanity and follow not your desire for it will cause thee to go astray from the way of God. Truly, those who go astray from the way of God, for them there is a severe punishment because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
T.B.Irving   
David, We have placed you as an overlord on earth, so judge among men correctly and do not follow any whims which will lead you away from God´s path. Those who stray from God´s path will have severe torment because they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning!
Abdul Hye   
(Allah said): “O David! Surely! We have placed you as a vicegerent on the earth, so judge between people with justice and don’t follow your desire, for it will mislead you from the Way of Allah. Surely! Those who wander astray from the Way of Allah, they shall have a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
The Study Quran   
O David! Truly We have appointed thee as a vicegerent upon the earth; so judge among the people with truth and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Truly those who stray from the way of God, theirs shall be a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
“O David, We made you a successor on earth, so judge between people with justice, and don’t follow desire, lest it diverts you from God’s path. Those who stray from God’s path will face a severe punishment for forgetting the Day of Account.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
'O David, We made you a ruler in the land, so judge between the people with justice, and do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from God's path. Those who stray from God's path will have a painful punishment, for having ignored the Day of Account.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
O Daud! Verily, We have placed you as a Khalifa (caliph) on the earth, so judge between mankind in full justice and follow not vain desire because that leads you astray against the Path of Allah. Surely, those who wander away from the Path of Allah, for them is a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning
M. Farook Malik   
We said: "O David! We have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so rule among the people with justice and do not follow your own desires lest they mislead you from the Way of Allah. As for those who go astray from the Way of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because of forgetting the Day of Reckoning
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
O Dawud, surely We have made you a succeeding (Literally: Caliph) (Messenger) in the earth, so judge among mankind with the truth, and do not ever follow prejudice that it may make you err from the way of Allah. Surely the ones who err from the way of Allah will have a strict torment for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Muhammad Sarwar   
We told him. "David, We have appointed you as Our deputy on earth so judge among the people with truth. Do not follow (worldly) desires lest you go astray from the way of God. Those who go astray from the way of God will suffer severe torment for forgetting the Day of Reckoning
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
O Dawud, We have made you a vicegerent on earth, so judge between people with truth, and do not follow the selfish desire, lest it should lead you astray from Allah‘s path. Surely those who go astray from Allah‘s path will have a severe punishment, because they had forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Shabbir Ahmed   
(We said to him), "O David! We have made you a ruler in the earth, therefore, establish the System of justice and equity for people. Never let your judgment be swayed by personal whims causing you to deviate from the Path of Allah. For those who wander from the Path of Allah, is a strict retribution for having forgotten the Day of Account."
Dr. Munir Munshey   
(We said), "Oh Da´ood, We have certainly appointed you Our deputy in the land. Therefore, settle the disputes between people with justice. Do not be swayed by your whims and wishes. Else, you will stray from the path of Allah. Indeed, there is a severe punishment for those who stray from the path of Allah _ because they forget the day of reckoning
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Oh Dawood (David)! Verily, We truly made you a successor and leader on earth: So you judge between men in truth (and justice): And do not follow the (idle) desires (of your heart), for they will take you away from the Path of Allah: Verily, those who go away from the Path of Allah, (there) is a painful penalty, because they forget the Day of Reckoning (and Account)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
[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
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
O David, We have made you a successor on Earth. Therefore, you shall judge among the people with truth, and do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from the path of God. Indeed, those who stray off the path of God will have a severe retribution for forgetting the Day of Reckoning
Abdel Haleem   
‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
O Da-ud! verily We have appointed thee a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between mankind with truth, and follow not desire, lest it cause thee to err from the path of Allah. Verily those who err from the path of Allah - Unto them shall be a severe torment, for they forgat the Day of Reckoning
Ahmed Ali   
"O David, We have made you trustee on the earth. So judge between men equitably, and do not follow your lust lest it should lead you astray from the way of God. Surely for those who go astray from the way of God, is severe punishment, for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Aisha Bewley   
´Dawud! We have made you a khalif on the earth, so judge between people with truth and do not follow your own desires, letting them misguide you from the Way of Allah. Those who are misguided from the Way of Allah will receive a harsh punishment because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.´
Ali Ünal   
"O David! We have appointed you a vicegerent in the land (to rule according to Our commandments); so judge among people with the truth and do not follow personal inclination, lest it leads you astray from the path of God. Surely, those who wander astray from God’s path – for them there is a severe punishment because they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Ali Quli Qara'i   
‘O David! Indeed We have made you a vicegerent on the earth. So judge between people with justice, and do not follow desire, or it will lead you astray from the way of Allah. Indeed those who stray from the way of Allah —there is a severe punishment for them because of their forgetting the Day of Reckoning.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
"O David! Surely We have made you a Vicegerent in the land; so judge between men with justice and follow not desire, lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah. Lo! Those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a seve
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
David, indeed We made you a successor on the earth, so judge between people with truth and do not follow the desire, for it misguides you from God's way. Indeed, those who lose God's way have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
O David, We indeed made you a creation of free will on the earth. So judge between people in truth, and do not follow your desires, for they will mislead you from the path of God. Those who wander astray from the path of God is a terrible penalty, because they forget the Day of Account
Musharraf Hussain   
“Dawud, We appointed you Our vice-regent on Earth, so judge fairly between people and don’t act on a whim that may lead you astray from the path of Allah. Those who wander away from the path of Allah will have severe punishment for neglecting 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
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
O David, We have made you a successor on the earth. Therefore, you shall judge among the people with the truth, and do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from the path of God. Indeed, those who stray off the path of God will have a severe retribution for forgetting the Day of Reckoning
Mohammad Shafi   
"O David! We have indeed made you a vicegerent on earth. Establish, then, a just rule among the people, and follow not vain desire, lest it lead you astray from Allah's Path. Those who go astray from Allah's Path shall indeed suffer severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!"

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
'O Daud', Undoubtedly, We have made you a vicegerent in the earth, therefore order between mankind with truth, and follow not desire, otherwise it would cause you to go astray from the path of Allah. Verily, those who go astray from the path of Allah, there is for them a severe torment for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning.
Rashad Khalifa   
O David, we have made you a ruler on earth. Therefore, you shall judge among the people equitably, and do not follow your personal opinion, lest it diverts you from the way of GOD. Surely, those who stray off the way of GOD incur severe retribution for forgetting the Day of Reckoning.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
(We said): 'David, We have made you a caliph in the earth. Judge with justice among people and do not yield to your own preference in case it should lead you from the Path of Allah. Surely, a terrible punishment awaits those who stray from the Path of Allah, because they forget the Day of Reckoning.
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
O David, surely We have made thee a ruler in the land; so judge between men justly and follow not desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of Allah. Those who go astray from the path of Allah, for them is surely a severe chastisement because they forgot the day of Reckoning
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
You David, that We made/put you (as) a caliph/leader in the land/Earth , so judge/rule between the people with the truth/just , and do not follow the self attraction for desire , so it misguides you from God's way/path , that those who misguide from God's way/path, for them (is) a strong (severe) torture because (of) what they forgot the Account Day/Resurrection Day
Bijan Moeinian   
[Then his Lord commanded:] “ O David, I have made you My representative in the earth, so rule among the people with justice and do not follow your lust, for it will deviate you from the path of God.” For those who deviate from the path of God, there is an awful punishment because they did not take the Day of judgment seriously
Faridul Haque   
“O Dawud! We have indeed appointed you as a Viceroy in the earth, therefore judge between mankind with the truth, and do not follow desire for it will lead you astray from Allah’s path; indeed for those who stray away from Allah’s path is a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.”
Sher Ali   
Then WE said to him, `O David, WE have made thee a viceregent in the earth; so judge between men with justice, and follow not vain desire, lest it should lead thee astray from the way of ALLAH.' Surely, those, who go astray from the way of ALLAH, will have a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
O Dawud (David)! Verily, We have made you (Our) vicegerent in the earth. So judge between the people (or rule) with truth and justice. And do not follow your desire, for this (pursuance of desire) shall turn you away from the path of Allah. Surely, those who turn away from the path of Allah, for them is severe punishment because they forget the Day of Reckoning
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(We said,) `O David! verily We have made you the ruler in this land. So rule among the people according to (the tenants of) justice, and do not follow their vain desires, (for if you do) it will lead you astray from the path leading to Allah. Behold! a severe punishment awaits those who go astray from Allah's way, because they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
O Dawood (David)! Verily! We have placed you as a successor on earth, so judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of Allah. Verily! Those who wander astray from the Path of Allah (shall) have a severe torment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John 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.
George Sale   
O David, verily We have appointed thee a sovereign prince in the earth: Judge therefore between men with truth; and follow not thy own lust, lest it cause thee to err from the way of God: For those who err from the way of God, shall suffer a severe punishment, because they have forgotten the day of account
Edward Henry Palmer   
O David! verily, we have made thee a vicegerent, judge then between men with truth and follow not lust, for it will lead thee astray from the path of god. Verily, those who go astray from the path of God, for them is keen torment, for that they did forget the day of reckoning
John Medows Rodwell   
O David! verily we have made thee our vicegerent upon earth. Judge therefore between men with truth, and follow not thy passions, lest they cause thee to err from the way of God. For they who err from the way of God shall meet with a grievous chastisement, for that they have forgotten the day of reckoning
N J Dawood (2014)   
David, We have made you master in the land. Rule with justice among people and do not yield to lust, lest it turn you away from God‘s path.‘ Because they forget the Day of Reckoning, those that stray from God‘s path shall be grievously punished.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
O David! We have indeed appointed you as a vicegerent on earth therefore judge between people by the truth and do not follow the false desire lest it leads you astray from the way of Allah. Truly those who go astray from the way of Allah, for them there will be a formidable punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning.
Munir Mezyed   
O’ David, indeed, We have appointed you a vicegerent on the earth. Now, therefore, judge fairly between the people and don't yield to your own whims lest you deviate from the path of Allâh. Most surely, those who deviate from the Path of Allah will be subjected to a severe punishment because they forget the Day of Reckoning.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Oh Dawud (David), We have made you a representative on earth, so judge between people with the truth and do not follow desire to lead you astray from the way of Allah, for those who lead away from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the day of reckoning.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
O David, We certainly made you a representative on earth, so judge among men in truth. Do not follow lusts for they will guide you away from the path of Allah. Those who wander astray from the path of Allah will have a horrid punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
“O David, We have appointed you as a viceroy in the land, so judge between mankind with the truth and do not follow the whim, lest it misguide you from the way of Allah. Indeed, for those who stray from the way of Allah there is a severe punishment for their having forgotten the Day of Reckoning.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
David, We have placed you as an overlord on earth, so judge among men correctly and do not follow any whims which will lead you away from Allah (God)'s path. Those who stray from Allah (God)'s path will have severe torment because they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning!
Samy Mahdy   
“O David, surely, We set up you a successor in the earth, so judge between the people with the right, and do not follow the desire, so it will astray you about Allah’s pathway. Surely those who stray about Allah’s pathway for them severe torment, with what they have forgotten The Reckoning Day.”
Sayyid Qutb   
David! We have made you a vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between people with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it leads you astray from the path of God. Those who go astray from the path of God will have a severe punishment for having ignored the Day of Reckoning.
Ahmed Hulusi   
O David! We have made you a vicegerent on earth! So judge between the people with Truth and do not follow your desires (thoughts and feelings not based on the Truth)! For this will lead you astray from the way of Allah... As for those who go astray from the way of Allah, they will be subject to intense suffering for forgetting the time of facing consequences.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
ODavid! Verily We have appointed you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between the people with justice and do not follow (vain) desire for it will mislead you from the way of Allah; (as for) those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And We advised him, thus: "O Dawud, We inducted you a vicegerent on earth, therefore, judge between people with equity and justice and do not follow a vain desire, nor yield to an overpowering emotion to let passion conquer reason. Such an attitude takes you away from the path of righteousness, the path of Allah. Those who deviate from His path shall suffer the torment laid upon those who have been neglectful of the Day of Judgement"
Mir Aneesuddin   
O Dawood! We have made you a successor (to rule) in the earth so judge between mankind with justice and do not follow (your) desire lest it lead you astray from the way of Allah. Those who go astray from the way of Allah, for them there is certainly a severe punishment because they forgot the day of account.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
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 God: for those who wander astray from the Path of G od, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget the Day of Account
OLD Literal Word for Word   
"O Dawood! Indeed, We [We] have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between [the] men in truth and (do) not follow the desire, for it will lead you astray from (the) way (of) Allah. Indeed, those who go astray from (the) way (of) Allah, for them (is) a punishment severe because they forgot (the) Day (of) Account.
OLD Transliteration   
Ya dawoodu inna jaAAalnaka khaleefatan fee al-ardi faohkum bayna alnnasi bialhaqqi wala tattabiAAi alhawa fayudillaka AAan sabeeli Allahi inna allatheena yadilloona AAan sabeeli Allahi lahum AAathabun shadeedun bima nasoo yawma alhisabi