أَنِ اغدوا عَلىٰ حَرثِكُم إِن كُنتُم صارِمينَ

“Go early to your crop if you intend to harvest.”

فَانطَلَقوا وَهُم يَتَخافَتونَ

And they set off, whispering amongst themselves.

أَن لا يَدخُلَنَّهَا اليَومَ عَلَيكُم مِسكينٌ

“Make sure no poor person enters your garden today.”

وَغَدَوا عَلىٰ حَردٍ قادِرينَ

And they left early, firm in their resolve.

فَلَمّا رَأَوها قالوا إِنّا لَضالّونَ

But when they saw it, they said, “We must have strayed!

قالَ أَوسَطُهُم أَلَم أَقُل لَكُم لَولا تُسَبِّحونَ

The most prudent among them said, “Didn’t I tell you to offer praise?”

قالوا سُبحانَ رَبِّنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ

They replied, “Glory be to our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers.”

فَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَلاوَمونَ

Then they turned to one another, blaming each other.

قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا طاغينَ

They lamented, “Woe to us! We were domineering.

عَسىٰ رَبُّنا أَن يُبدِلَنا خَيرًا مِنها إِنّا إِلىٰ رَبِّنا راغِبونَ

Our Lord may give us a better substitute. We turn to our Lord in hope.”