وَمَهَّدتُ لَهُ تَمهيدًا

And I eased his circumstances.

ثُمَّ يَطمَعُ أَن أَزيدَ

Then he hopes that I will add more.

كَلّا ۖ إِنَّهُ كانَ لِآياتِنا عَنيدًا

Indeed, no! He was stubborn towards Our revelations.

سَأُرهِقُهُ صَعودًا

I will impose on him a steep uphill climb.

إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ

He thought and decided.

ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيفَ قَدَّرَ

Then may he be destroyed, how he decided!

ثُمَّ نَظَرَ

Then he looked.

ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ

Then he frowned and grimaced.

ثُمَّ أَدبَرَ وَاستَكبَرَ

Then he turned his back and swelled with pride.

فَقالَ إِن هـٰذا إِلّا سِحرٌ يُؤثَرُ

He said, “This is nothing but magic inherited from antiquity.