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Muhammad Asad   
NOW WHEN he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of men who were watering [their herds and flocks]; and at some distance from them he came upon two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked [them]: “What is the matter with you?” They answered: “We cannot water [our animals] until the herdsmen drive [theirs] home - for [we are weak and] our father is a very old man.”
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a group of people watering ˹their herds˺. Apart from them, he noticed two women holding back ˹their herd˺. He asked ˹them˺, “What is the problem?” They replied, “We cannot water ˹our animals˺ until the ˹other˺ shepherds are done, for our father is a very old man.”
Safi Kaskas   
When he came to the well of Midian, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and beside them he found two women holding back their flocks. He said, "What is going on?" They said, "We cannot water until the shepherds take their flocks away, and our father is an old man."

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاۤءَ مَدۡیَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَیۡهِ أُمَّةࣰ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ یَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَیۡنِ تَذُودَانِۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَاۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِی حَتَّىٰ یُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَاۤءُۖ وَأَبُونَا شَیۡخࣱ كَبِیرࣱ ۝٢٣
Transliteration (2021)   
walammā warada māa madyana wajada ʿalayhi ummatan mina l-nāsi yasqūna wawajada min dūnihimu im'ra-atayni tadhūdāni qāla mā khaṭbukumā qālatā lā nasqī ḥattā yuṣ'dira l-riʿāu wa-abūnā shaykhun kabīru
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And when he came (to the) water (of) Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering, and he found from besides them two women keeping back. He said, "What (is the) matter with both of you?" They said, "Not we can water until take away the shepherds; and our father (is) old man aged."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
NOW WHEN he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of men who were watering [their herds and flocks]; and at some distance from them he came upon two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked [them]: “What is the matter with you?” They answered: “We cannot water [our animals] until the herdsmen drive [theirs] home - for [we are weak and] our father is a very old man.”
M. M. Pickthall   
And when he came unto the water of Midian he found there a whole tribe of men, watering. And he found apart from them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What aileth you? The two said: We cannot give (our flocks) to drink till the shepherds return from the water; and our father is a very old man
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a group of people watering ˹their herds˺. Apart from them, he noticed two women holding back ˹their herd˺. He asked ˹them˺, “What is the problem?” They replied, “We cannot water ˹our animals˺ until the ˹other˺ shepherds are done, for our father is a very old man.”
Safi Kaskas   
When he came to the well of Midian, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and beside them he found two women holding back their flocks. He said, "What is going on?" They said, "We cannot water until the shepherds take their flocks away, and our father is an old man."
Wahiduddin Khan   
And when he arrived at the well of Midian, he found around it a group of men watering their flocks, and he saw two women standing apart from them, who were holding back their flocks, so he asked, What is the matter with you? They replied, We cannot draw water until the shepherds take away their sheep. Our father is a very old man
Shakir   
And when he came to the water of Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What is the matter with you? They said: We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water, and our father is a very old man
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And when he went down to the well of Midian, he found a community there of personages drawing water and he found other than them two women who keep away. He said: What is your business? They both said: We draw not water until the ones who are shepherds move on. And our father is an aged, old man.
T.B.Irving   
When he approached the water of Midian, he found a company of people watering [their flocks] there, and found two women besides them, holding theirs off at a distance. He said: "What´s the matter with you?" They both said: "We may not draw any water until the herdsmen move on. Our father is an elderly gentleman."
Abdul Hye   
And when he arrived at the water well of Midian, he found a group of men watering (their flocks), and he found 2 women besides them who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: “What is the matter with you?” They said: “We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take away (their flocks). Our father is a very old man.”
The Study Quran   
And when he arrived at the wells of Midian, he found there a community of people watering [their flocks]. And he found beside them two women holding back [their flocks]. He said, “What is your errand?” They said, “We water not [our flocks] until the shepherds have driven [theirs] away, and our father is a very old man.
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Upon reaching the water of Midian, he found a crowd of people watering. And he found, apart from them, two women keeping back. He asked, “What troubles you?” They replied, “We can’t water until the shepherds have finished, and our father is an elderly man.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
And when he arrived at the waters of Median, he found there a crowd of people drawing water, and he noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, 'What is the matter with you?' They said, 'We cannot draw water until the shepherds depart, and our father is a very old man.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And when he arrived at the water (-supply point) of Madyan he found thereat a group of people: they provide water (to their flocks). And he found besides them two women: they keep (their flocks) back. He said: “What is the problem with you?” Both the females said: “We do not water (our flocks) until the shepherds remove (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.”
M. Farook Malik   
When he arrived at the well of Madyan, he saw a multitude of men watering their flocks, and besides them two women who were keeping their flocks back. He asked: "What is the problem?" They replied: "We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds take away their flocks from the water, because we are weak and our father is a very old man."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And as soon as he was within reach of the water (s) of Madyan, he found there a whole company (Literally: a nation of mankind) of the citizens watering, and he found, apart from them, two women keeping away (their flocks). He said, "What is your concern?" The two said, "We cannot give (our flocks) to drink until the shepherds drive off; and our father is an aged (man), great (with years)."
Muhammad Sarwar   
When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found some people watering (their sheep) and two women keeping the sheep away from the others. He asked the two women, "What is the matter with you?" They replied, "We cannot water our sheep until all the shepherds have driven away their flocks. Our father is an old man"
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And when he arrived at the waters of Madyan, he found a large number of people watering (their animals) and found, aloof from them, two women keeping (their animals) back. He said, .What is the matter with you?. They said, .We cannot water (our animals) until these shepherds take (their animals) back after watering them, and our father is very old man
Shabbir Ahmed   
Now when he arrived at the wells of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering their herds and flocks. And he found two women who were keeping away their flocks. He asked, "What is the matter with you?" They said, "We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds take back their flocks. And our father is a very old man."
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Musa came to the town of Madyan. Near the water supply, he found a group of men supplying their cattle with water. Close by, he found two women trying to keep their animals from drinking. Musa asked, "What is the matter?" They replied, "We cannot take our turn until all other shepherds have supplied their herd. Our father is very old!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And when he came to the watering (place) in Madyan, there he found a group of men watering (their herds), and in addition to them, he found two (young) women who were holding back (their herds). He said: "What is the matter with you?” They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take back (their herds); And our father is a very old man."
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
When he arrived at the watering hole of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering, and he noticed two women waiting on the side. He said: "What is holding you back." They said: "We cannot draw water until the shepherds finish, and our father is an old man."
Abdel Haleem   
When he arrived at Midian’s waters, he found a group of men watering [their flocks], and beside them two women keeping their flocks back, so he said, ‘What is the matter with you two?’ They said, ‘We cannot water [our flocks] until the shepherds take their sheep away: our father is a very old man.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a community of the people watering. And he found, apart from them, two women keeping back their flocks. He said: what aileth you twain! The twain said: we water not until the shepherds have driven away their flocks; and our father is a very old man
Ahmed Ali   
And when he came to the waters of Midian he found a crowd of people watering (their flocks), and saw two maidens holding back (their cattle). He asked: "What is the trouble with you?" They said: "We cannot water our flock till the shepherds have driven away theirs, and our father is a very old man."
Aisha Bewley   
When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of people drawing water there. Standing apart from them, he found two women, holding back their sheep. He said, ´What are you two doing here?´ They said, ´We cannot draw water until the shepherds have driven off their sheep. You see our father is a very old man.´
Ali Ünal   
When he arrived at the wells of Midian, he found there a group of people watering their flocks, and he found, apart from them, two women (maidens) holding back their flock. He said: "What is the matter with you?" The two (women) said: "We do not water our flock until the shepherds take their flocks away. (It is we who do this work because) our father is a very old man."
Ali Quli Qara'i   
When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found there a throng of people watering [their flocks], and he found, besides them, two women holding back [their flock]. He said, ‘What is your business?’ They said, ‘We do not water [our flock] until the shepherds have driven out [their flocks], and our father is an aged man.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
And when he came unto the water of Midian he found thereat a group of people watering their flocks. And he found apart from them two women keeping back their flocks. Said he, "What is the matter with you?" They said, "We cannot water our f
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And when he reached Midian’s water, he found a group of people watering (their animals) from it, and he found two women holding back (their animals) away from them. He said: “What do you want?” They said: “We cannot water (our animals) until the shepherds drive (their animals) away, and our father (Shu’aib/Jethro) is a very old man.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
And when he arrived at the watering-place in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering their flocks, and besides them he found two ladies who were keeping back their flocks. He said, “What is the problem?” They said, “We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds move their flocks, for our father is a very old man.
Musharraf Hussain   
After he arrived at the water well of Madyan, he found a large crowd of people watering their flocks. He saw standing apart from them two women, holding their sheep back. He asked: “What is the matter with you?” They said, “We can’t water our sheep until the shepherds move off, our father is an elderly man, unable to help us.”
Maududi   
When he arrived at the spring of Midian, he found there a crowd of people watering their flocks, and he found apart from them two women holding their flocks back. He asked the women: "What is it that troubles you?" They said: "We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds take their flocks away, and our father is a very old man."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
When he arrived at the watering hole of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering, and he found two women waiting on the side. He said: "What is holding you back." They said: "We cannot draw water until the shepherds finish, and our father is an old man.
Mohammad Shafi   
And when he arrived at the watering place of Midian he found there a lot of men watering their animals. And he found two women, apart from the men, holding their flocks back. He asked, "What is the matter with you two?" The two said, "We cannot water our flocks till the shepherds lead theirs' away from the water. And our father is a very old man."

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And when he came at the water of Madian, there he saw parties of the people are watering their animals, and at the other side of them, he saw two women that they are holding back their animals; Musa said, 'what is the condition of you two'? They said, 'we do not water until all shepherds take away their animals after watering, and our father is very old.'
Rashad Khalifa   
When he reached Midyan's water, he found a crowd of people watering, and noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is it that you need?" They said, "We are not able to water, until the crowd disperses, and our father is an old man."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
When he came to the water wells of Midian he found there some people drawing water, and he found two women apart from them who were keeping back (their flocks). 'What is your business? ' he asked. They replied: 'We cannot draw water until the shepherds have driven away (their flocks), and our father is an elderly man.
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And when he came to the water of Midian, he found there a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What is the matter with you? They said: We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water; and our father is a very old man
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And when he neared/approached Madya's water he found at it a nation/generation from the people, they water/irrigate and he found from other than them two women, (B) pushing/defending , he said: "What (is) your matter/concern ." They (B) said: "We do not water/irrigate until the shepherds/protectors return from the water/proceed , and our father (is) an old aged old ."
Bijan Moeinian   
When Moses reached the well of Midyan, he saw all shepherds are watering their animals except two women who are [sadly] waiting. Moses asked them: “What is the problem?” They replied: “ As our father is an old man, we have to wait so that the others water their animals first.”
Faridul Haque   
And when he came to the water of Madyan he found a group of men, watering their animals; and away from them he found two women restraining their animals; he said, “What is the matter with you?” They said, “We do not water our animals till all the shepherds water and take away their animals; and our father is very old.”
Sher Ali   
And when he arrived at the water of Midian, he found there a party of men, watering their flocks. And he found beside them two women holding back their flocks. He said, `What is your the problem?' They replied, `We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds depart with their flocks, and our father is a very old man.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And when he arrived at the watering (well) of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering (their flocks). And on a side, he saw two women, withdrawn, holding back (their goats. Musa [Moses]) asked: ‘Why are you (standing) in this condition?’ Both said: ‘We cannot water (our goats) till the shepherds take back their flocks and our father is an aged man.
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And when he arrived at the water of Midian, he found there a party of men watering (their flocks) and he found two ladies (standing) apart from them, holding (their flock) back. He said, `What is your problem?' they replied, `We cannot water (our flock) until the shepherds depart (having driven their flocks away), and our father is a very old man.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And when he arrived at the water of Madyan (Midian) he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man."

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
On the right way. And when he came to the waters of Midian he found a company of the people there drawing water, and he found, apart from them, two women holding back their flocks. He said, 'What is your business?' They said, 'We may not draw water until the shepherds drive off; and our father is passing old.
George Sale   
And when he arrived at the water of Madian, he found about the well a company of men, who were watering their flocks. And he found, besides them, two women, who kept off their sheep at a distance. And he said unto them, what is the matter with you? They answered, we shall not water our flock, until the shepherds shall have driven away theirs; for our father is an old man, stricken in years
Edward Henry Palmer   
And when he went down to the water of Midian he found thereat a nation of people watering their flocks. And he found beside them two women keeping back their flocks. Said he, 'What is your design?' They said, 'We cannot water our flocks until the herdsmen have finished; for our father is a very old man.
John Medows Rodwell   
And when he arrived at the water of Madian, he found at it a company of men watering. And he found beside them, two women keeping back their flock: "Why do ye," said he, "thus?" They said "We shall not water till the shepherds shall have driven off; for our father is very aged."
N J Dawood (2014)   
When he came to the well of Midian he found around it a multitude of people watering their flocks, and beside them he found two women keeping back their sheep. ‘What is it that troubles you both?‘ he asked. They said: ‘We cannot draw water until the shepherds have driven away their flocks. Our father is an elderly man, well advanced in years.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And when he came to the water of Madian, he found about it a group of people who were fetching water and he found besides them two women who were holding back [their flock]. He said, “What is the matter with the two of you?” They both said, “We do not give water [to our flock] to drink until the shepherds take their flocks away from the water and our father is a very old man.”
Munir Mezyed   
And when he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a group of people there watering their flocks, and besides them he saw two women holding back their flock from the water. He asked (the two women): "What is the matter with you?" They replied: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds move away. (As you see, we are hopeless two women) and our father is an old man.”
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And when he arrived at the water of Madyan (Midian) he found a community of people there who watered (their flocks) and found besides them two women staying away. He said: what is the matter with you? They said: we will not water (our flock) until the shepherds have gone, and our father is an old man.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
When he arrived at the water [well] in Midian, he found a group of men watering [their flocks]. He also found two women kept away. He asked them, “What is the matter?” (The women) said, “We cannot water until the shepherds retreat, and our father is a very old man.”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And when he arrived at the waters of Midian he found there a crowd of people drawing water, and he found two women holding their flocks on the side. He said, “What is the matter with youdl?” They said, “We cannot draw water until the shepherds depart, and our father is a very old man.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
When he approached the water of Midian, he found a company of people watering [their flocks] there, and found two women besides them, holding theirs off at a distance. He said: "What's the matter with you?" They both said: "We may not draw any water until the herdsmen move on. Our father is an elderly gentleman."
Samy Mahdy   
And when he arrived at Midian's water, he found a community of the people who were watering, and he found without them two women were keeping back (their flocks). He said, “What is the matter with you?” They said, “We cannot draw water until the shepherds depart, and our father is a very old man (Sheikh).”
Sayyid Qutb   
When he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of people drawing water [for their herds and flocks], and at some distance from them he found two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked them: 'What is the matter with you two?' They said: “We cannot water [our animals] until the herdsmen drive home. Our father is a very old man.'
Ahmed Hulusi   
When he reached the wells of Madyan he saw a group watering their flocks. And he saw two ladies waiting to water their flocks, so he asked them, “What are you waiting for?” They said, “We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds water (their flocks) and go... And our father is an old man, he cannot do this!”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: �What is the matter with you?� They said: �We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take away (their sheep from the water), and our father is a very old man�
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And as he arrived at the spring waters of Madyan he found a large crowd of people watering their flocks. Among them he found two women trying to keep back their flocks. He asked them: "What is your trouble?"; "we cannot water our flocks", they said, "until the shepherds have driven off their flocks and our father is quite an old man"
Mir Aneesuddin   
And when he came to the watering (place) of Midian he found there a group of people watering (their flocks), and besides them, he found two women staying back. He said, “ What is the matter with you?” They said, “We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their flocks), and our father is a very old man.”

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We can not water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man."
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And when he came (to the) water (of) Madyan, he found on it a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back. He said, "What (is the) matter with both of y They said, "We cannot water until take away the shepherds; and our father (is) a very old man.
OLD Transliteration   
Walamma warada maa madyana wajada AAalayhi ommatan mina alnnasi yasqoona wawajada min doonihimu imraatayni tathoodani qala ma khatbukuma qalata la nasqee hatta yusdira alrriAAao waaboona shaykhun kabeerun