Those who lived before them (and adopted the same attitude and followed a similar way) said it (too); but all that they achieved (in the world) was of no avail to them
The same was said by those who passed before them, but they gained nothing from what they di
Dr. Munir Munshey
The (people who lived) before their time had said the very same things. But their achievements, the deeds (and wealth) they earned, were of no use to them
Dr. Kamal Omar
Verily, those before them (also) said it (the same way), yet availed them not what they used to earn
The ones before them had similar conviction but their “earnings” was not of any help [for the simple token that it was God’s blessing and not their earning] them in the least. [when will man learn from history?]
Faridul Haque
Those before them also said the same, so their earnings did not benefit them at all
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
Those before them said the same, but what they earned did not help them
Those before them had also said it... But their earnings did not give them any benefit.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim
In a similar manner did those who preceded them reveal their true character but nothing they had done or left undone and nothing they had accomplished in their own irreverent way was of any advantage to them nor did it accomplish their purpose nor did it protect them from Allah's retributive punishment