TheMostReadBook.org

An English translation of the Quran that is as close as possible to the Arabic sacred text
View active topics
  Verse(s):    
View unanswered posts





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Verses 4:44-46
PostPosted: 07 Jun 2009, 05:29 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: 08 May 2009, 14:16
Posts: 1994
Go to previous segment   Go to next segment


Suggested translation1,2:


-------
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.

Go to previous segment   Go to next segment


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:44-46
PostPosted: 09 Sep 2009, 15:12 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: 04 May 2009, 16:10
Posts: 4558
Location: USA
Quote:
{4:44} Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, purchasing error [in exchange for it] and wishing you would lose the way?

"Misguidance" would be a better translation than "error."

I suggest,
{4:44} Have you not seen to those who were granted a share of the Book, purchasing misguidance and wanting that you lose the way?

Quote:
{4:45} And God is most knowing of your enemies; and sufficient is God as an ally, and sufficient is God as a helper.

I suggest,
{4:45} And God is most knowing of your enemies; and sufficed God an ally, and sufficed God a helper.

Quote:
{4:46} Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] usages and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Raaina," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But God has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.

Again, a transliteration that is not explained will fly over the English reader's head. "Raa`ina" means "pay attention to us," so why transliterate it?

The Arabic refers to the Jews by the phrase الذين هادوا, so we should try to translate that. The phrase means "those who came back in humility and apologized." I'd use that and follow it with an explanatory note, "(the Jews)."

Finally, I prefer the modern English style of "they do not believe" to the older style, "they believe not."

So, I suggest,
{4:46} Among those who came back apologizing (the Jews) [some] distort the wording from its placements and say, "We heard and disobeyed" and "Hear - but you are not heard" and "Raa`ina" (an Arabic word meaning 'pay attention to us' but sounds like a Hebrew word meaning flippant), twisting with their tongues and stabbing at the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We heard and obeyed" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would surely have been better for them and straighter. But God has cursed them for their ingratitude, so they do not believe, except for a few.

_________________
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:44-46
PostPosted: 10 Sep 2009, 09:09 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: 05 May 2009, 00:16
Posts: 1839
Location: USA
Linguistic wrote:
Again, a transliteration that is not explained will fly over the English reader's head. "Raa`ina" means "pay attention to us," so why transliterate it?

Beats me.

_________________
To translate is the best way to understand


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 21:47

All times are UTC

Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group