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 Post subject: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 06 Jun 2009, 07:45 
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Suggested translation1,2:


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1This translation may have been updated from the original suggested translation as a result of the discussions that follow.
2Click on the {verse number} of a translation to see other good translations of the verse.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 03 Feb 2010, 02:31 
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Quote:
{12:37} He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in God, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.

{12:37} He said, "No food comes to you that is provided to you but that I will inform you of its interpretation (what it is and when it will come) before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in God, and they, of the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2010, 08:18 
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Linguistic wrote:
{12:37} He said, "No food comes to you that is provided to you but that I will inform you of its interpretation (what it is and when it will come) before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in God, and they, of the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.

I think the first sentence is in subjunctive mood, so I would translate it as "No food provided for you shall come to you except [when] I have informed you of its interpretation (what it is and when it will come)"

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2010, 08:21 
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{12:38} And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with God. That is from the favor of God upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.

I would say "do not thank [God]" instead of "are not grateful"

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2010, 17:21 
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Pragmatic wrote:
I would say "do not thank [God]" instead of "are not grateful"

Yes, that's a lot closer to the Arabic,
{12:38} And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with God. That is from the favor of God upon us and upon the people, but most of the people do not thank [God].

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2010, 17:34 
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Pragmatic wrote:
I think the first sentence is in subjunctive mood, so I would translate it as "No food provided for you shall come to you except [when] I have informed you of its interpretation (what it is and when it will come)"

Sarwar's translation is best here,
Quote:
(12:37) (Joseph) said, "To prove that my interpretation of your dream is true, I can tell you what kind of food you will receive even before it comes to you.

So, how do we convey this same meaning but phrase it in the same structure as in the Arabic? How about:
{12:37} Whatever food may come to both of you that is provided for you but I [can] foretell its details to you before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in God, and they, of the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 12:37-38
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2010, 19:13 
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Linguistic wrote:
{12:37} Whatever food may come to both of you that is provided for you but I [can] foretell its details to you before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in God, and they, of the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.

We need to work on this to get it closer to the Arabic wording. BTW, I would drop "both of" since it is understood as he is addressing the two of them, and in Arabic the 'two-tense' does not underline any special meaning since it is grammatically dictated.

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