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Muhammad Asad   
but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
But whoever manages to stealthily eavesdrop is ˹instantly˺ pursued by a piercing flare.
Safi Kaskas   
except for him who snatches a glimpse [of such knowledge], He will be pursued by a piercing flame. [:

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِب
Transliteration (2021)   
illā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-atbaʿahu shihābun thāqibu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Except (him) who snatches (by) theft but follows him a burning flame, piercing.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame
M. M. Pickthall   
Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
But whoever manages to stealthily eavesdrop is ˹instantly˺ pursued by a piercing flare.
Safi Kaskas   
except for him who snatches a glimpse [of such knowledge], He will be pursued by a piercing flame. [:
Wahiduddin Khan   
But if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he shall be pursued by a piercing flame
Shakir   
Except him who snatches off but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
but for him who snatched a fragment, then, a piercing flame pursued him.
T.B.Irving   
except for someone who tries to eavesdrop so that a blazing meteor follows him.
Abdul Hye   
Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.
The Study Quran   
save one who snatches a fragment as a piercing flame pursues him
Dr. Kamal Omar   
except one who snatched away something snatched stealthily — then a flaming fire of piercing brightness pursued and chased him
Farook Malik   
Eavesdroppers are persuaded by a flaming fire of piercing brightness
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Except for him who snatches a fragment—he gets pursued by a piercing projectile
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Except him who snatches a snatching (away); then a piercing flaming (meteor) follows him up
Muhammad Sarwar   
Some of them who stealthily steal words from the heavens are pursued by a glistening flame
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
however, if one snatches a little bit, he is pursued by a bright flame
Shabbir Ahmed   
Even if a thing of their conjecture comes to pass, they are pursued by a Flame of Brightness. (The Divine Revelation exposes the claimants to the 'occult sciences' (18:22), (26:210-212), (52:38), (67:5), (72: 8-9))
Dr. Munir Munshey   
If one (of the Shaitans) succeeds in snatching away a fragment (of knowledge), a piercing flame follows him (in hot pursuit)
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Except such who may snatch something by stealing: And they are being followed by a flaming Fire of stabbing brightness
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Any of them who snatches something away, he is pursued by a piercing flame
Abdel Haleem   
if any [of them] stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Except him who snatcheth away a word by stealth, and him then pursueth a glowing flame
Ahmed Ali   
Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame
Aisha Bewley   
except for him who snatches a snippet and then is pursued by a piercing flame.
Ali Ünal   
Excepting one who snatches something by stealth, and is pursued (and destroyed) by a piercing shooting-star
Ali Quli Qara'i   
except him who snatches a snatch, whereat there pursues him a piercing flame
Hamid S. Aziz   
Except him who snatches a fragment by stealth, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Except someone who snatches (and overhears) the snatch (the word), then a piercing shooting flame follows him
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Except those that snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness
Musharraf Hussain   
The snatcher of information is chased by a fiery comet
Maududi   
And if any is able to snatch a fragment, he is pursued by a piercing flame
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Any of them who snatches a part, he is pursued by a piercing flame.
Mohammad Shafi   
In the exceptional case of a devil snatching away any secret, a piercing flame trails him

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
But he who carries away by swooping once or twice then are at once followed by a bright burning flame.
Rashad Khalifa   
If any of them ventures to charge the outer limits, he gets struck with a fierce projectile.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
except such as snatches a fragment, and he is pursued by a piercing flame
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Except him who snatches away but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
Except who snatched the one snatch, so a light from a fire source/a star lit/ignited/penetrating followed him
Bijan Moeinian   
If one of them dares to escape the lower universe, a flashing projectile will be charged against him
Faridul Haque   
Except one who sometimes steals a part, so a blazing flame goes after him
Sher Ali   
But if any of them snatches away something by stealth, he is pursued by a piecing flame
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
But that (satan) who snatches away (something from angels), a burning brand follows it in chase
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Yet if anyone of them snatches away but once (to find out something), he is pursued by a bright shining flame
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
except such as snatches a fragment, and he is pursued by a piercing flame
George Sale   
except him who catcheth a word by stealth, and is pursued by a shining flame
Edward Henry Palmer   
save such as snatches off a word, and there follows him a darting flame
John Medows Rodwell   
While, if one steal a word by stealth, a glistening flame pursueth him
N J Dawood (2014)   
Eavesdroppers are pursued by fiery comets

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Some may snatch something [of divine value], but they are pursued by a comet of piercing brightness.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
except for someone who tries to eavesdrop so that a blazing meteor follows him.
Sayyid Qutb   
If any of them stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Except if one snatches a word, a blazing flame shall pursue him.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Except him who snatches a fragment, and he is pursued by a piercing flame.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
And he who ventures upon catching whatever comes to his hearing of the secrets or future events is pursued by a piercing flame which does not miss
Mir Aneesuddin   
except him who snatches a snatching, then a piercing flame* follows him. * Meteorite which sometimes make a hole in the earth.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Except (him) who snatches (by) theft but follows him a burning flame, piercing