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Muhammad Asad   
Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We have indeed made whatever is on earth as an adornment for it, in order to test which of them is best in deeds.
Safi Kaskas   
We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people [as to) who will do best

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ زِینَةࣰ لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ أَیُّهُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰا ۝٧
Transliteration (2021)   
innā jaʿalnā mā ʿalā l-arḍi zīnatan lahā linabluwahum ayyuhum aḥsanu ʿamala
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Indeed, We We have made what (is) on the earth adornment for it, that We may test [them] which of them (is) best (in) deed.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct
M. M. Pickthall   
Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We have indeed made whatever is on earth as an adornment for it, in order to test which of them is best in deeds.
Safi Kaskas   
We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people [as to) who will do best
Wahiduddin Khan   
We have adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct
Shakir   
Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) which of them is best in works
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Truly, We assigned whatever is in and on the earth as adornment for it so that We try them with it as to which of them are fairer in actions.
T.B.Irving   
We have placed whatever is on earth as an ornament for it so We may test them as to which one is best in action;
Abdul Hye   
Surely! We have made the earth with all kinds of adornments in order that We may test them (mankind) and to see which of them are best in deeds.
The Study Quran   
Surely We made whatsoever is on the earth an adornment for it, that We may try them as to which of them is most virtuous in deed
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
We’ve made everything on earth an adornment for it, to test them, and ascertain who performs the best deeds among them.
Talal Itani (2012)   
We made what is upon the earth an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them is best in conduct
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Verily, We have made that which is on earth as an adoration for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) — as to which of them are better in deeds
M. Farook Malik   
We have decked the earth with all kinds of ornaments to test the people and to see which of them do the best deeds
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Surely We have made whatever is on the earth for an adornment for it that We may try whichever of them is fairest in deeds
Muhammad Sarwar   
We have caused earthly things to seem attractive so that We can see who will excel in good deeds
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Surely, We have made what is on earth an adornment for it, so that We test them as to who among them is better in deeds
Shabbir Ahmed   
(We never ordained asceticism for mankind. It was something they invented (57:27)). Behold, We have Willed the earth to be pleasingly decorated. We make it a test for people to see for themselves as to which of them lives a balanced life. (18:30-31), (18:46), (67:2)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
We have, in fact, fashioned everything in this world as mere adornments in order to test them! To see who amongst them performs the righteous deeds
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Verily, whatever is on earth, We have made it only as a shining show for the earth. So that We may test them— As to which (ones) of them are best in conduct
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
We have made what is on Earth an adornment for them, so that We will test them as to who is better in deeds
Abdel Haleem   
We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people to find out which of them do best
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Verily We have made whatsoever is on the earth as an adornment thereof, that We may prove them - which of them is best in work
Ahmed Ali   
We have made whatever exists on the earth its adornment to test and try them (and) know who acts better
Aisha Bewley   
We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best.
Ali Ünal   
We have surely made whatever is on the earth as an ornament for it (appealing to humanity), so that We may try them (by demonstrating it to themselves) which of them is best in conduct
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Indeed We have made whatever is on the earth an adornment for it that We may test them [to see] which of them is best in conduct
Hamid S. Aziz   
Verily, We have placed all that which is on the earth as an ornament thereof, that We may try them, which of them is best in conduct
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And We made all that is on the earth as decoration for it, so that We test them as to which one of them does better work.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
That which is on earth we have made only as a glittering show for the world, in order that We may make evident which of them are best in conduct
Musharraf Hussain   
We’ve made attractive what is on Earth, to test who is best in deeds.
Maududi   
Surely We have made all that is on the earth an embellishment for it in order to test people as to who of them is better in conduct
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
We have made what is on the earth an adornment for them, so that We will test them as to which of them is best in works.
Mohammad Shafi   
We have indeed made whatever is on the earth as an adornment for it, and We put them on trial to see which of them do good deeds

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Undoubtedly We adorned the earth whatever is on it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in works.
Rashad Khalifa   
We have adorned everything on earth, in order to test them, and thus distinguish those among them who work righteousness.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
We have appointed all that is on the earth an adornment for it, in order that We try which of them is finest in works
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try which of them is best in works
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
We have made/put what (is) on the earth/Planet Earth (as) decoration/beauty for it, to test them which of them (is) better (in) a deed
Bijan Moeinian   
I (God) created the world as a place to test mankind and to reward those who are not enchanted by the glitter of the worldly life
Faridul Haque   
We have indeed placed all that is on the earth as its adornment in order that We may test them, who among them has the best deeds
Sher Ali   
Verily, WE have made all that is on the earth an ornament for it, that WE may try them as to which of them is the best in conduct
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And indeed, We have made whatever is on earth a means of its beauty (and adornment) so that We test (the inhabitants of the earth) as to who is better in deeds
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Verily, We have made all that is on the earth as an embellishment for it, that We may try them as to which of them is the most excellent in (respect of) performing the noblest deeds
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. (i.e.those who do good deeds in the most perfect manner, that means to do them (deeds) totally for Allahs sake and in accordance to the legal ways of the Prophet SAW )

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
We have appointed all that is on the earth for an adornment for it, and that We may try which of them is fairest in works
George Sale   
Verily we have ordained whatsoever is on the earth for the ornament thereof, that we might make trial of men, and see which of them excelleth in works
Edward Henry Palmer   
Verily, we have made what is on the earth an ornament thereof, to try them, which of them is best in works
John Medows Rodwell   
Verily, we have made all that is on earth as its adornment, that we might make trial who among mankind would excel in works
N J Dawood (2014)   
We have decked the earth with all manner of ornaments to test them as to who would acquit himself best

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Truly We have made everything on the earth as an ornament for it so that We may test them to see who among them are going to act in excellence.
Munir Mezyed   
Surely We have made whatsoever in the earth as an ornament for it, so as to test them as to which of them perform the best deeds .
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
For We have placed everything on earth as an adornment for it to test them who of them is best in deeds.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
We have caused what is on the earth as adornment for it so that We may test (people) and reveal who are best in conduct.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Indeed, We have made whatever is on earth as an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them excels in work.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
We have placed whatever is on earth as an ornament for it so We may test them as to which one is best in action;
Samy Mahdy   
Surely, We set up what is on the earth an adornment for it, to try them, which of them is the best work.
Sayyid Qutb   
We have made all that is on earth as an adornment in order to test people as to which of them are best in conduct;
Ahmed Hulusi   
We adorned everything on earth (or the bodily life) for it, so that it may become apparent who will display the best conduct!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Verily We have appointed whatever is on the earth as an ornament for it, so that We may try them:which of them is best in conduct.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
We have caused the material world on earth to be of the nature of an embellishment and ornamentation in order to test the peoples' reaction to the grace of Allah and distinguish those of them who will imprint their deeds with wisdom and piety
Mir Aneesuddin   
We have made that which is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in conduct.
Yahiya Emerick   
Whatever (riches and distractions) that We've placed in the earth are but a dazzling display by which We test them, in order to bring out those whose conduct is best

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Indeed, We We have made what (is) on the earth adornment for it, that We may test [them] which of them (is) best (in) deed
OLD Transliteration   
Inna jaAAalna ma AAala al-ardi zeenatan laha linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu AAamalan