Compare up to three translations verse by verse.
WAS THERE NOT a time in the life of man when he was not even a mentionable thing?
Indeed there has been a time for man, when even his name did not exist anywhere.
Has there come on man a while of time when he was a thing unremembered?
Verily We created man from a sperm yoked (to the ovum) to bring out his real substance, then gave him hearing and sight.
Indeed We have created man from mixed semen; in order to test him – We therefore made him hearing, knowing.
We created man of a sperm-drop, a mingling, and We made him hearing, seeing.
We surely showed him the way that he may either be grateful or deny.
We have indeed shown him the way – whether he is grateful or ingrate.
Surely We guided him upon the way whether he be thankful or unthankful.
We have prepared for unbelievers chains and collars and a blazing fire.
We have indeed kept prepared chains, and shackles and a blazing fire for the disbelievers.
Surely We have prepared for the unbelievers chains, fetters, and a Blaze.
Surely the devotees will drink cups flavoured with palm blossoms
Indeed the virtuous will drink from a cup, containing a mixture of Kafoor.
Surely the pious shall drink of a cup whose mixture is camphor,
From a spring of which the votaries of God will drink and make it flow in abundance.
The Kafoor is a spring, from which the chosen bondmen of Allah will drink, causing it to flow wherever they wish inside their palaces.
a fountain whereat drink the servants of God, making it to gush forth plenteously.
Those who fulfil their vows and fear the Day whose evil shall be diffused far and wide,
They fulfil their pledges, and fear a day the evil of which is widespread.
They fulfil their vows, and fear a day whose evil is upon the wing;
And feed the needy for the love of Him, and the orphans and the captives,
And out of His love, they give food to the needy, the orphan and the prisoner.
they give food, for the love of Him, to the needy, the orphan, the captive:
(Saying): "We feed you for the sake of God, desiring neither recompense nor thanks.
They say to them, “We give you food, only for the sake of Allah – we do not seek any reward or thanks from you.”
'We feed you only for the Face of God; we desire no recompense from you, no thankfulness;
We fear the dismal day calamitous from our Lord."
“Indeed we fear from our Lord a day which is extremely bitter, most severe.”
for we fear from our Lord a frowning day, inauspicious.
So God will protect them from the evil of that day, and grant them happiness and joy,
So Allah saved them from the evil of that day, and gave them freshness and joy.
So God has guarded them from the evil of that day, and has procured them radiancy and gladness,
And reward them for their perseverence Paradise and silken robes,
And gave them Paradise and silk clothes, as a reward for their patience.
and recompensed them for their patience with a Garden, and silk;
Where they will recline on couches feeling neither heat of the sun nor intense cold.
Reclining in it, upon thrones; they will not see the hot sunshine in it, nor the bitter cold.
therein they shall recline upon couches, therein they shall see neither sun nor bitter cold;
The shadows will bend over them, and low will hang the clusters of grapes.
And its shade will cover them, and its fruit clusters brought down low for them.
near them shall be its shades, and its clusters hung meekly down,
Passed round will be silver flagons and goblets made of glass,
Rounds of silver cups and silver beakers, looking like glass, will be presented upon them.
and there shall be passed around them vessels of silver, and goblets of crystal,
And crystal clear bottles of silver, of which they will determine the measure themselves.
Glass made from silver, which the servers have filled up to the measure.
crystal of silver that they have measured -- very exactly.
There will they drink a cup flavoured with ginger
And in Paradise they will be given to drink cups, filled with a mixture of ginger.
And therein they shall be given to drink a cup whose mixture is ginger,
From a spring by the name of Ever-flowing-Salsabil.
Which is a spring in Paradise called Salsabeel.
therein a fountain whose name is called Salsabil.
And boys of everlasting youth will go about attending them. Looking at them you would think that they were pearls dispersed.
Immortal youths shall surround them, waiting upon them; when you see them, you would think they are scattered pearls.
Immortal youths shall go about them; when thou seest them, thou supposest them scattered pearls,
When you look around, you will see delights and great dominion.
And when you look towards it, you will see serenity and a great kingdom.
when thou seest them then thou seest bliss and a great kingdom.
On their bodies will be garments of the finest green silk and brocade, and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give them a purest draught to drink.
In it they adorn clothes of fine green silk and gold embroidery; and they are given silver bracelets to wear; and their Lord gave them pure wine to drink.
Upon them shall be green garments of silk and brocade; they are adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord shall give them to drink a pure draught.
"This in truth is your recompense, and acceptance of your endeavours."
It will be said to them, “This is your reward – indeed your efforts have been appreciated.”
Behold, this is a recompense for you, and your striving is thanked.'
We have revealed the Qur'an to you gradually;
Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an upon you, in stages.
Surely We have sent down the Koran on thee, a sending down;
So wait for your Lord's command, and do not follow any sinner or disbeliever among them.
Therefore stay patient upon your Lord’s command, and do not listen to any of the sinners or ingrates among them.
so be thou patient under the judgment of thy Lord, and obey not one of them, sinner or unbeliever.
Meditate upon the name of your Lord morning and evening;
And remember the name of your Lord morning and evening.
And remember the Name of thy Lord at dawn and in the evening
And bow in homage part of the night, and glorify Him far into the night.
And prostrate for Him in a part of the night, and proclaim His purity into the long night.
and part of the night; bow down before Him and magnify Him through the long night.
Surely men love what hastes away and forget the grievous day (ahead).
Indeed these people love what they have, the fleeting one, and have forsaken the immensely important day behind them.
Surely these men love the hasty world, and leave be behind them a heavy day.
We created them and fixed their bones and joints; and We could replace them when We like with others like them.
It is We Who created them, and strengthened their skeleton; and We can replace them with others like them, whenever We will.
We created them, and We strengthened their joints; and, when We will, We shall exchange their likes.
This surely is a reminder: Therefore whosoever desires may take the way to his Lord.
This is indeed an advice; so whoever wishes may take the path towards his Lord.
Surely this is a Reminder; so he who will, takes unto his Lord a way.
But you will not desire except as God wills. Verily He is all-knowing and all-wise.
And what will you wish, except if Allah wills; indeed Allah is All Knowing, Wise.
But you will not unless God wills; surely God is ever All-knowing, All-wise.
He admits whosoever He will to His benevolence. But for the evil-doers He has prepared a painful punishment.
He admits into His mercy, whomever He wills; and for the unjust He has kept prepared a painful punishment.
For He admits into His mercy whomsoever He will; as for the evildoers, He has prepared for them a painful chastisement.