| | N J Dawood (2014) rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | Nūn. BY the Pen, and what they¹ write |
| 68:2 | | you² are not a man possessed: thanks to the favour of your Lord |
| 68:3 | | A lasting recompense awaits you |
| 68:4 | | for yours is a sublime nature |
| 68:5 | | You shall before long see ― as they will see ― |
| 68:6 | | which of you is enchanted |
| 68:7 | | Your Lord knows best those who stray from His path, as He knows best those who are rightly guided |
| 68:8 | | Yield not to the disbelievers |
| 68:9 | | they desire you to overlook their doings that they may overlook yours |
| 68:10 | | Nor yield to the wretch of many oaths |
| 68:11 | | the mischief-making slanderer |
| 68:12 | | the opponent of good, the sinful transgressor |
| 68:13 | | the bully who is of doubtful birth to boot |
| 68:14 | | Though such a man be blessed with wealth and children |
| 68:15 | | when Our revelations are recited to him, he says: ‘Fables of the ancients.&lsquo |
| 68:16 | | On the nose We will brand him |
| 68:17 | | We have afflicted them³ as We afflicted the owners of the orchard who had declared that they would pluck its fruit next morning |
| 68:18 | | without adding any reservation.⁴ |
| 68:19 | | A visitant from your Lord came down upon it while they slept |
| 68:20 | | and in the morning it was as black as midnight |
| 68:21 | | In the morning they called out to one another |
| 68:22 | | Hurry to your orchard, if you would pick its fruit.&lsquo |
| 68:23 | | And off they went, whispering to one another |
| 68:24 | | No beggar shall enter it today.&lsquo |
| 68:25 | | Thus they went out, fixed in their resolve |
| 68:26 | | But when they saw it they said: ‘We have erred indeed |
| 68:27 | | we are bereft.&lsquo |
| 68:28 | | The most upright among them said: ‘Did I not bid you give praise?&lsquo |
| 68:29 | | Glory be to our Lord,‘ they said. ‘We have assuredly done wrong.‘ |
| 68:30 | | And they began to blame one another |
| 68:31 | | Woe betide us!‘ they said. ‘We have been great transgressors |
| 68:32 | | Perchance Our Lord will give us a better one in its place; to Our Lord we will turn.&lsquo |
| 68:33 | | Such was their torment. But the torment of the life to come is more terrible, if they but knew it |
| 68:34 | | In the Gardens of Delight the righteous shall be with their Lord |
| 68:35 | | Are We to treat the Muslims and the sinners alike |
| 68:36 | | What has come over you¹ that you should judge so ill |
| 68:37 | | Or have you a scripture to stud |
| 68:38 | | promising you whatever you choose |
| 68:39 | | Or have We sworn a covenant with you ― a covenant binding till the Day of Resurrection ― that you shall have what you yourselves ordain |
| 68:40 | | Ask if any of them¹ will vouch for that |
| 68:41 | | Or have they other deities besides God? Let them produce their deities, if what they say be true |
| 68:42 | | On the day the dread event unfolds and they are told to prostrate themselves, they will not be able |
| 68:43 | | Utterly humbled, they shall stand with eyes downcast; for they had long since been bidden to prostrate themselves when they were safe and sound |
| 68:44 | | Therefore leave to Me those that deny this revelation. We will lead them on step by step, in ways beyond their knowledge |
| 68:45 | | I shall bear long with them: My stratagem is sure |
| 68:46 | | Are you demanding pay of them, so that they are burdened with debt |
| 68:47 | | Or have they knowledge of what is hidden? Can they write it down |
| 68:48 | | Wait, then, the judgement of your Lord and do not act like him¹ who was swallowed by the whale when he called out in despair |
| 68:49 | | Had his Lord not bestowed on him His grace, he would have been abandoned in the open to be blamed by all |
| 68:50 | | But his Lord chose him for His own and made of him a righteous man |
| 68:51 | | The unbelievers well-nigh devour you with their eyes when they hear the Admonition . ‘He is surely possessed,‘ they say |
| 68:52 | | Yet it is but an Admonition to mankind |
