P:  If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!

S:  Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped.

021.040 Y:  Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them:  no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

P:  Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

S:  Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited.

021.041 Y:  Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; But their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

P:  Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.

S:  And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed.

021.042 Y:  Say:  “Who can keep you safe by night and by day from (the Wrath of) (Allah) Most Gracious?” Yet they turn away from the mention of their Lord.

P:  Say:  Who guardeth you in the night or in the day from the Beneficent?  Nay, but they turn away from mention of their Lord!

S:  Say:  Who guards you by night and by day from the Beneficent Allah?  Nay, they turn aside at the mention of their Lord.

021.043 Y:  Or have they gods that can guard them from Us?  They have no power to aid themselves, nor can they be defended from Us.

P:  Or have they gods who can shield them from Us?  They cannot help themselves nor can they be defended from Us.

S:  Or, have they gods who can defend them against Us?  They shall not be able to assist themselves, nor shall they be defended from Us.

021.044 Y:  Nay, We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders?  Is it then they who will win?

P:  Nay, but We gave these and their fathers ease until life grew long for them.  See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts?  Can they then be the victors?

S:  Nay, We gave provision to these and their fathers until life was prolonged to them.  Do they not then see that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides?  Shall they then prevail?

021.045 Y:  Say, “I do but warn you according to revelation”:  But the deaf will not hear the call, (even) when they are warned!

P:  Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind):  I warn you only by the Inspiration.  But the deaf hear not the call when they are warned.