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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
A brief enjoyment [may be theirs in this world] -but grievous suffering awaits them [in the life to come]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹It is only˺ a brief enjoyment, then they will suffer a painful punishment.
Safi Kaskas   
A brief enjoyment, but grievous punishment awaits them.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيم
Transliteration (2021)   
matāʿun qalīlun walahum ʿadhābun alīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
An enjoyment little and for them (is) a punishment painful.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
A brief enjoyment [may be theirs in this world] -but grievous suffering awaits them [in the life to come]
M. M. Pickthall   
A brief enjoyment (will be theirs); and theirs a painful doom
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
(In such falsehood) is but a paltry profit; but they will have a most grievous Penalty
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹It is only˺ a brief enjoyment, then they will suffer a painful punishment.
Safi Kaskas   
A brief enjoyment, but grievous punishment awaits them.
Wahiduddin Khan   
their enjoyment of this life is brief, and they shall have a painful punishment
Shakir   
A little enjoyment and they shall have a painful punishment
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
but a little enjoyment and for them is a painful punishment.
T.B.Irving   
(they will have] slight enjoyment, and they shall [then] have painful punishment.
Abdul Hye   
A brief enjoyment is (in this life) for them, but they will have a painful punishment.
The Study Quran   
A little enjoyment, while theirs shall be a painful punishment
Dr. Kamal Omar   
(It is) a brief enjoyment, and (then) for them (awaits) a painful punishment
Farook Malik   
Brief is their enjoyment of this life, and they shall have a painful punishment
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
A brief enjoyment—then they will have a painful punishment
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
A little enjoyment and they will have a painful torment
Muhammad Sarwar   
(Such an invention) will bring only a little enjoyment but will be followed by painful torment
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
(Let there be) a little enjoyment, and (then) for them there is a painful punishment
Shabbir Ahmed   
A brief enjoyment, but grievous suffering in the long run
Dr. Munir Munshey   
(After this) brief enjoyment, theirs is the painful punishment
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
(When such type of lies are spoken, there) is only a very little worthless profit; But they will have a most painful penalty
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
[It is but] a brief enjoyment, and they will have a painful punishment
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
A small enjoyment, and they will have a painful retribution
Abdel Haleem   
they may have a little enjoyment, but painful punishment awaits them
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
A brief enioyment, and unto them shall be a torment afflictive
Ahmed Ali   
For them there is some enjoyment, but the punishment is painful
Aisha Bewley   
Those who invent lies against Allah are not successful — a brief enjoyment, then they will have a painful punishment.
Ali Ünal   
(Their lot is) a brief enjoyment (in this world), and theirs is a painful punishment (in the Hereafter)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
A trifling enjoyment, and there will be a painful punishment for them
Hamid S. Aziz   
A brief enjoyment for them - then a grievous woe
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
a little enjoyment (in this life) and they have a painful punishment
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
They would get a little profit, but a most terrible penalty
Musharraf Hussain   
This is unfair; for them is a painful punishment.
Maududi   
Brief is their enjoyment of the world, and thereafter they shall suffer a painful chastisement
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
A small enjoyment, and they will have a painful retribution
Mohammad Shafi   
They will enjoy a little and then have a painful punishment

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
There is a short enjoyment and for them is the painful torment.
Rashad Khalifa   
They enjoy briefly, then suffer painful retribution.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Brief (is their) enjoyment, after which a painful punishment awaits them
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
A little enjoyment -- and for them is a painful chastisement
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
Little long life/enjoyment and for them (is) a painful torture
Bijan Moeinian   
Such liars should realize that the pleasures of this world is brief to enjoy and that a sever [everlasting] punishment is waiting for them
Faridul Haque   
A little enjoyment - and for them is a punishment, most painful
Sher Ali   
This life is a brief enjoyment and then they shall have a grievous punishment
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
There is only a little profit, but the torment for them is painful (beyond proportion)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(Though in forging lies) they may enjoy themselves for a brief spell in this life, yet a grievous punishment awaits them (in the Hereafter)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
A little enjoyment, then for them awaits a painful chastisement
George Sale   
They shall have small enjoyment in this world, and in that which is to come they shall suffer a grievous torment
Edward Henry Palmer   
A little enjoyment - then for them is grievous woe
John Medows Rodwell   
Brief their enjoyment, but sore their punishment
N J Dawood (2014)   
Brief is their enjoyment, and woeful punishment awaits them

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
They may get a little profit, but such people will have a horrible punishment.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
[they will have] slight enjoyment, and they shall [then] have painful punishment.
Sayyid Qutb   
Brief is their enjoyment [of this life], and grievous suffering awaits them [in the life to come].
Ahmed Hulusi   
(They do this) for a brief benefit! And they will have a painful suffering.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
A brief enjoyment (will be theirs) while for them is a painful punishment (in Hereafter) .
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
They derive pleasure and satisfaction from their falsehood but the pleasure it affords them is of short duration, then comes the encounter with the torment laid upon the damned
Mir Aneesuddin   
A little enjoyment and (then) there will be a painful punishment for them.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
(In such falsehood) is but a paltry profit; but they will have a most grievous Penalty
OLD Literal Word for Word   
An enjoyment little and for them (is) a punishment painful