| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Regard men as a flock of sheep that need a shepherd for their protection. This, verily, is the truth, the certain truth. |
 |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Mankind must be considered as sheep which must have a shepherd for their protection. Verily this is the indubitable truth. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Look at mankind; they are like sheep, they must have a shepherd to keep them. This fact is certain. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| We approve of liberty in certain circumstances, and refuse to sanction it in others. We, verily, are the All-Knowing. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| We do indeed approve of liberty in some cases but not in others, Verily we are the knowers. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
We believe in freedom in some situations and not in others; we are of those who know. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Say: True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Say, liberty is confined to the compliance with My commandments, were ye to understand! |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Say: Freedom is in following My commands, if you only knew it. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty. Happy is the man
that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will that pervadeth all created things. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Should people adopt that which we have revealed unto them from the heaven
of inspiration, they would find themselves in perfect and pure liberty. Blessed is he who knows the intended object of God in that which He hath caused to descend from the heaven of His primal will which encompasseth the worlds. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
If people were to follow what We have sent down to them from the heaven of
Revelation, they would most certainly find themselves in absolute freedom. Blessed is the one who knew the desire of God in what He sent down from the heaven of His will which supervises the worlds! |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in
complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Say, that liberty which profits you is that which is confined to your servitude to God the truth, and he who tastes its sweetness would never exchange it for the possessions of the realms of heaven and earth. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Say: The freedom which benefits you is servitude to God, the True One, and whoever has found this sweetness of freedom will not exchange it for the kingdom of sovereignty of the heavens and the earths. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| In the Bayan it had been forbidden you to ask Us questions. The Lord hath
now relieved you of this prohibition, that ye may be free to ask what you need to ask, but not such idle questions as those on which the men of former times were wont to dwell. Fear God, and be ye of the righteous! |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Ye are forbidden in the Beyan (of the Bab) to ask questions, but Go
exempted you from this that ye may ask concerning that which is necessary to you, and not that uttered by others before you (refers to superstitions of old times). Fear God and be of the pious! |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
In al-Bayan it was forbidden you to ask. God has exempted you from this
commandment that you may ask what your souls need, not what men before you spake. Fear God and be among the pious. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Ask ye that which shall be of profit to you in the Cause of God and His dominion, for the portals of His tender compassion have been opened before all who dwell in heaven and on earth. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Ask that which profiteth you in the Cause of God and His dominions, for the door of bounty has been opened to whosoever is in the earth and heavens. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Ask for what will benefit you in the Cause and Authority of God. He has opened the door of Grace to those who are in the heavens and earths. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |