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Muhammad Asad   
Hence, if you have to respond to an attack (in argument], respond only to the extent of the attack levelled against you; but to bear yourselves with patience is indeed far better for (you, since God is with] those who are patient in adversity
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient.
Safi Kaskas   
If you want to retaliate to an attack make your response proportionate. But if you can be patient, it is always better to be patient.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُوا۟ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُم بِهِۦۖ وَلَىِٕن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلصَّـٰبِرِینَ ۝١٢٦
Transliteration (2021)   
wa-in ʿāqabtum faʿāqibū bimith'li mā ʿūqib'tum bihi wala-in ṣabartum lahuwa khayrun lilṣṣābirīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And if you retaliate, then retaliate with the like of what you were afflicted with [it]. But if you are patient, surely (it) is better for those who are patient.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Hence, if you have to respond to an attack (in argument], respond only to the extent of the attack levelled against you; but to bear yourselves with patience is indeed far better for (you, since God is with] those who are patient in adversity
M. M. Pickthall   
If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient.
Safi Kaskas   
If you want to retaliate to an attack make your response proportionate. But if you can be patient, it is always better to be patient.
Wahiduddin Khan   
If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be so
Shakir   
And if you take your turn, then retaliate with the like of that with which you were afflicted; but if you are patient, it will certainly be best for those who are patient
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And if you chastised, then, chastise with the like of that with which you were chastised. But if you endured patiently, certainly, it is better for the ones who remain steadfast.
T.B.Irving   
If you (all) should punish them, then do your punishing to the same extent as you have been punished. Yet if you are patient, well [things go] better for the patient.
Abdul Hye   
And if you (have to) punish (your enemy), then let your punishment be like that which you were punished with. But if you endure patiently, surely, it is better for the patient.
The Study Quran   
And if you would punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were punished. But if you are patient, then that is better for the patient
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
If you retaliate, then retaliate proportionately to the offense committed against you. However, if you endure, it is indeed better for those who are patient.
Talal Itani (2012)   
If you were to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you resort to patience—it is better for the patient
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And if you chased to give hurt, then chase to give hurt with the like of what you were chased to receive hurt. And surely, if you endured patiently, verily, it is good for the perseverants
M. Farook Malik   
If you have to retaliate, let your retaliation be commensurate with the wrong which was done to you; but if you endure with patience, the best reward indeed is for those who endure with patience
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And in case you (This is addressed to all believers) punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were punished; and indeed in case you endure patiently, indeed it is more charitable of the patient
Muhammad Sarwar   
If you want retaliation, let it be equal to that which you faced. But if you exercise patience it will be better for you
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And if you were to harm (them) in retaliation, harm them to the measure you were harmed. And if you opt for patience, it is definitely much better for those who are patient
Shabbir Ahmed   
Hence, if you have to respond to an attack in argument, respond only to the extent of the attack leveled against you. But to bear with patience is indeed far better for the steadfast
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Should you want to retaliate, get even only to the extent you were wronged. But to endure and bear calmly is much better for those who are steadfast
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And if you punish them, then no worse than that they punish you: But if you show patience that is really the best for those who are patient
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And if you punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones
Abdel Haleem   
If you [believers] have to respond to an attack, make your response proportionate, but it is best to stand fast
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And if ye chastise, then chastise with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted, and if ye endure patiently, then surely it is better for the patient
Ahmed Ali   
If you have to retaliate, do so to the extent you have been injured; but if you forbear it is best for those who bear with fortitude
Aisha Bewley   
If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be patient.
Ali Ünal   
If you have to respond to any wrong, respond (only) to the measure of the wrong done to you; but if you endure patiently, it is indeed better for the patient
Ali Quli Qara'i   
And if you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer, but if you are patient that is surely better for the patient
Hamid S. Aziz   
But if you punish (or catch them out), punish (or catch them out) only with the like of that with which you were afflicted; but if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And if you (want to) punish, then punish like you were made to suffer it (and not more), and if you are patient, it is certainly better for the patient ones.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
And if you retaliate, then retaliate no worse than with what you were afflicted, but if you show patience, that is indeed best for those who are patient
Musharraf Hussain   
If you retaliate, then do so to the same extent, but if you are patient that would be better, being patient is good.
Maududi   
If you take retribution, then do so in proportion to the wrong done to you. But if you can bear such conduct with patience, indeed that is best for the steadfast
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And if you punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones
Mohammad Shafi   
And if you retaliate, then retaliate with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you are patient, it will certainly be better for those who are patient

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And if you give punishment then punish them to the extent they had afflicted you, and if you be patient, then undoubtedly, patience is best 'for those who are patient.
Rashad Khalifa   
And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better for the patient ones.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
If you punish, let your punishment be proportionate to the punishment you received. But if you are patient, it is better for the patient
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And if you take your turn, then punish with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you show patience, it is certainly best for the patient
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And if you punished/rewarded, so punish with similar/equal (to) what you were punished with it, and if (E) you were patient it (E) (is) best to the patient
Bijan Moeinian   
If you decide to retaliate, be fair in retaliation. However, it will be better (up to certain point) to be patient (rather than revengeful.
Faridul Haque   
And if you mete out punishment, then punish similarly as you were afflicted; and if you patiently endure, then indeed patience is better for the patiently enduring
Sher Ali   
And if you decide to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged; but if you show patience then, surely, that is best for those who are patient
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And if you want to punish, then punish only (as severely) as you were afflicted, but if you remain patient, then certainly that is better for those who keep patience
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(Believers!) if you have to punish (the oppressors) then punish them to the extent you have been persecuted. But if you endure patiently, remember it is far better for the patiently persevering
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allah), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And if you chastise, chastise even as you have been chastised; and yet assuredly if you are patient, better it is for those patient
George Sale   
If ye take vengeance on any, take a vengeance proportionable to the wrong which hath been done you; but if ye suffer wrong patiently, verily this will be better for the patient
Edward Henry Palmer   
But if ye punish, punish (only) as ye were punished; but if ye are patient, it is best for those who are patient
John Medows Rodwell   
If ye make reprisals, then make them to the same extent that ye were injured: but if ye can endure patiently, best will it be for the patiently enduring
N J Dawood (2014)   
If you punish, let your punishment be commensurate with the wrong that has been done you. But it shall be best for you to endure with patience

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And if you meet out a punishment, then afflict a punishment of the like of that which you are punished with but if you exercise patience truly that [patience] is best for those who are patient.
Munir Mezyed   
If you chastise, then chastise with the like of that wherewith you were afflicted. But if it happens that you endure patiently, it will certainly be better for those who cling to patience.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And if you punish, then punish with the like of what you were afflicted with, and if you have patience, then it is better for those who have patience.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
If you expose them [by pointing out their faults], expose them no worse than they have embarrassed you [in denigrating your religion]. Instead, show patience; that is indeed the way of tolerance.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And if youpl punish, then punish with the like of that with which you were punished. But if you resort to patience, it is surely better for the patient ones.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
If you (all) should punish them, then do your punishing to the same extent as you have been punished. Yet if you are patient, well [things go] better for the patient.
Samy Mahdy   
And if you punish, so punish with the like of what you were punished with. And if you are patient, it is good for the patient ones.
Sayyid Qutb   
If you should punish, then let your punishment be commensurate with the wrong done to you. But to endure patiently is far better for those who are patient in adversity.
Ahmed Hulusi   
And if you are to repay them for their misdeeds, then compensate them with the equivalent of the suffering with which they afflicted you... If you are patient, then indeed this is better for those who are patient.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And if you punish then punish as you were punished with; but if you are patient, decisively, it will be best for the patient ones.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And if you should inflict punishment, exact a retribution or make reprisals for injury, harm or wrong, then you may avenge your right with a similar injury and to the same extent. But if you bear the wrong and bear with the wrongful -as an obligation to Allah and not a reflection of human weakness- you shall possess your souls, derive great benefits and advantage yourselves of Allah's expectative grace
Mir Aneesuddin   
And if you retaliate then retaliate in a manner similar to that in which you are afflicted, but if you are patient, (then) that is certainly the best for those who are patient.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And if you retaliate, then retaliate with the like of what you were afflicted with [it]. But if you are patient, surely (it) is better for those who are patient
OLD Transliteration   
Wa-in AAaqabtum faAAaqiboo bimithli ma AAooqibtum bihi wala-in sabartum lahuwa khayrun lilssabireena