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Muhammad Asad   
But the great ones among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth, replied: “This [man] is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wants to make himself superior to you! For, if God had willed [to convey a message unto us], He would surely have sent down angels; [moreover,] we have never heard [anything like] this from our forebears of old
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
But the disbelieving chiefs of his people said ˹to the masses˺, “This is only a human like you, who wants to be superior to you. Had Allah willed, He could have easily sent down angels ˹instead˺. We have never heard of this in ˹the history of˺ our forefathers.
Safi Kaskas   
But their leaders, who were among the unbelievers from his people said, "He is but a human being like you, trying to gain dominance over you; if God had so willed, He would have sent down angels. We have never heard of anything like this from our forefathers.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
فَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذَاۤ إِلَّا بَشَرࣱ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ یُرِیدُ أَن یَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ وَلَوۡ شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةࣰ مَّا سَمِعۡنَا بِهَـٰذَا فِیۤ ءَابَاۤىِٕنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝٢٤
Transliteration (2021)   
faqāla l-mala-u alladhīna kafarū min qawmihi mā hādhā illā basharun mith'lukum yurīdu an yatafaḍḍala ʿalaykum walaw shāa l-lahu la-anzala malāikatan mā samiʿ'nā bihādhā fī ābāinā l-awalīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
But said the chiefs (of) those who disbelieved among his people, "Not (is) this but a man like you, he wishes to assert (his) superiority over you, and if had willed Allah surely He (would have) sent down Angels. Not we heard of this from our forefathers (of) the former (people).

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
But the great ones among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth, replied: “This [man] is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wants to make himself superior to you! For, if God had willed [to convey a message unto us], He would surely have sent down angels; [moreover,] we have never heard [anything like] this from our forebears of old
M. M. Pickthall   
But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: This is only a mortal like you who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers of old
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
The chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves: his wish is to assert his superiority over you: if Allah had wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down angels; never did we hear such a thing (as he says), among our ancestors of old."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
But the disbelieving chiefs of his people said ˹to the masses˺, “This is only a human like you, who wants to be superior to you. Had Allah willed, He could have easily sent down angels ˹instead˺. We have never heard of this in ˹the history of˺ our forefathers.
Safi Kaskas   
But their leaders, who were among the unbelievers from his people said, "He is but a human being like you, trying to gain dominance over you; if God had so willed, He would have sent down angels. We have never heard of anything like this from our forefathers.
Wahiduddin Khan   
The leaders of his people who denied the truth, said, He is only a human being like yourselves who wants to make himself superior to you. If God had wished, He would have sent down angels. We never heard about this from our forefathers
Shakir   
And the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: He is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who desires that he may have superiority over you, and if Allah had pleased, He could certainly have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our fathers of yore
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
But said the Council who were ungrateful among his folk: This is nothing but a mortal like you. He wants to gain superiority over you. If God willed He would have caused angels to descend. We heard not such a thing from our fathers, the ancient ones.
T.B.Irving   
The elders among his folk who disbelieved said: "This is only a human being like yourselves who wants to attain some superiority over you. If God had wished, He would have sent down angels [instead]. We never heard about this from our early forefathers.
Abdul Hye   
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said: “This is no more but a human being like you, he seeks to make himself superior to you. If Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels; we did not hear such a thing among our forefathers.”
The Study Quran   
But the notables who disbelieved among his people said, “This is only a human being like yourselves, desiring to set himself above you. And had God willed, He would have sent down angels. We heard not of this from our fathers of old
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
However, the leaders of his people who disbelieved said, “This is nothing but a man like yourselves, seeking to assert dominance over you. If God had willed, He could’ve sent down angels. We’ve never heard of this from our forefathers.
Talal Itani (2012)   
But the notables of his people, who disbelieved, said, 'This is nothing but a human like you, who wants to gain superiority over you. Had God willed, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of this from our forefathers of old
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Then the leaders of those who had disbelieved out of his nation said: “He is not but a human being like you people. He desires that he may become superior to you. And had Allah willed, He would have surely sent down angels. We did not hear this (type of sermons) among our fathers — the earlier ones
M. Farook Malik   
The chiefs of the unbelievers among his people said, "Noah is but a human like you, he desires to assert his superiority over you. If Allah wanted to send Messengers, He could have sent down angels, we have never heard such a thing as he says from our forefathers."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Then said the chiefs who disbelieved among his people, "In no way is this anything except a mortal like yourselves, who would like to be graced with (superiority) (Literally: assume graciousness) over you. And if Allah had (so) decided, He would indeed have sent down Angels. In no way did we hear of this among our earliest fathers
Muhammad Sarwar   
The chiefs of the unbelievers said to the others, "He is a mere mortal like you. He wants only to be superior to you. Had God wanted He would have sent the angels (instead of him). We have never heard from our fathers anything like what he says
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
So, said the disbelieving chiefs from among his nation, .This (man) is nothing but a human being like you. He wishes to impose his superiority over you. Had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels (instead of him). We have not heard of such a thing among our forefathers
Shabbir Ahmed   
But the leaders among his community who refused to acknowledge the Truth, said, "This is only a man like you who wants to become prominent among you. God could have sent angels if He willed (to convey a message to us). We never heard this from our forefathers
Dr. Munir Munshey   
But the elders, the leaders of his disbelieving nation said, "He is just a human like you, and he seeks dominance over you. Had Allah wanted, He would have sent angels. Never have we heard this from our forefathers!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
The leaders of the disbelievers from his people said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves; His wish is to make his superiority over you: If Allah had wished, He could have sent down angels: We never heard any such thing (like he says), from our forefathers of the old."
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allah had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
But the leaders who rejected from among his people said: "What is this but a human like you He wants to make himself better than you! And if it was indeed God's will, He would have sent down Angels. We did not hear such a thing among our fathers of old."
Abdel Haleem   
But the leading disbelievers among his people said, ‘He is merely a mortal like you, trying to gain some superiority over you. God would have sent down angels if He had wished; besides, we never heard of anything like this from our forefathers
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Then said the chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people: this is no other than a human being like unto you, he seeketh to make himself superior unto; and if God had willed, He would save sent down angels; we have not heard of this among our fathers ancient
Ahmed Ali   
The chiefs of his people, who did not believe, said: "He is only a man like you. He wishes to acquire ascendancy over you. If God had willed He would have sent down angels. We never heard this from our elders
Aisha Bewley   
The ruling circle of those of his people who were kafir said, ´This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples.
Ali Ünal   
The leading ones who disbelieved from among his people reacted, saying (among themselves and to each other): "This is but a mortal like you. He only wishes to gain superiority over you. Had God willed (to send us a Messenger to convey His Message), He would surely have sent down angels (to communicate His Message). Further, we have never heard of anything like this in the case of our forefathers of old
Ali Quli Qara'i   
But the elite of the faithless from among his people said, ‘This is just a human being like you, who seeks to dominate you. Had Allah wished, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of such a thing among our forefathers
Hamid S. Aziz   
Said the chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people, "This is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wishes to make himself superior to you. Had Allah pleased He could surely have sent angels. We have not heard of this from our forefathers
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
The leaders of those who disbelieved among his people said: “He is only a human being like you who wants to be superior over you, and if God wanted He would have sent down angels, we did not hear of this among our forefathers,
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “He is no more than a human like you. His wish is to assert his will over you. If God had wished to send messengers, He could have sent down angels, never did we hear of such a thing as he says, from even among our earliest ancestors
Musharraf Hussain   
The leaders of disbelievers of his community said, “He is only a mortal like yourselves, who wants dominance over you. If Allah so wished, He would have sent angels. Never have we heard the like of this from our forefathers.
Maududi   
But the notables among his people had refused to believe, and said: "This is none other than a mortal like yourselves who desires to attain superiority over you. Had Allah wanted (to send any Messengers) He would have sent down angels. We have heard nothing like this in the time of our forebears of old (that humans were sent as Messengers)
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Butthe leaders who rejected from among his people said: "What is this but a human being like you? He wants to make himself better than you! And if it was indeed the will of God, He would have sent down angels. We did not hear such a thing among our fathers of old.
Mohammad Shafi   
And then the leaders of those who suppressed the Truth from among his people said, "He is nothing but a man, like you. He desires to gain superiority over you. And if Allah had willed, He could certainly have sent down angels. We have not heard of such a thing happening during our forefathers' time."

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Then the chiefs of his people who disbelieved said! He is not but a man like you, he desires to become your superior. And if Allah willed, He would have sent down angels, we have not heard this among our forefathers.
Rashad Khalifa   
The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, "This is no more than a human like you, who wants to gain prominence among you. Had GOD willed, He could have sent down angels. We never heard of anything like this from our ancestors.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
The unbelieving assembly of his nation said: 'This is but a human like you, who desires to gain superiority over you. Had Allah willed, He could have sent down angels. We never heard of this among our ancient forefathers
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: He is nothing but a mortal like yourselves, who desires to have superiority over you. And if Allah had pleased, He could have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our fathers of yore
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
So said the nobles/assembly from those who disbelieved from his nation: "That (is) not except a human similar to you he wants that (he) makes himself more preferred/favoured on (to) you, and if God willed/wanted , He would have descended angels, we did not hear with that in our fathers/forefathers, the first/beginners."
Bijan Moeinian   
The leaders of the disbelievers said: “This guy is a human being like yourselves. His only intention is to become your ruler. Had God willed, He would have sent the angels down. We have never heard none senses like this from our forefathers.”
Faridul Haque   
So the disbelieving chieftains of his people said, "He is just a human like you, he wishes to become your leader; and had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels; We did not hear this in the case of our forefathers."
Sher Ali   
And the chiefs of his people, who disbelieved, said, `He is only a mortal like yourselves; he seeks to gain superiority over you. And if ALLAH had so willed, HE could have, surely, sent down angels with him. We have never heard of such a thing among our forefathers
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Then the chiefs (and the lords) of his people who disbelieved said: ‘This man is just a human being like you (nothing else). He seeks to establish (his) superiority and predominance over you. And if Allah wanted (to send some Messenger for guidance), He would send down angels. We have never heard of it from our ancestors (that a human being like us should be appointed as our Messenger)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said, `He is nothing but a human being like yourselves, (only) he seeks to assert (his) superiority over you. And if Allah had so willed He could have certainly sent down angels (with him). We have never heard of this (sort of a thing) happen in the times of our fathers of yore
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said: "He is no more than a human being like you, he seeks to make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels; never did we hear such a thing among our fathers of old

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Said the Council of the unbelievers of his people, 'This is naught but a mortal like yourselves, who desires to gain superiority over you. And if God willed, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of this among, our fathers, the ancients
George Sale   
And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, said, this is no other than a man, as ye are: He seeketh to raise himself to a superiority over you. If God had pleased to have sent a messenger unto you, He would surely have sent angels: We have not heard this of our forefathers
Edward Henry Palmer   
Said the chiefs of those who misbelieved among his people, 'This is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wishes to have preference over you, and had God pleased He would have sent angels; we have not heard of this amongst our fathers of yore
John Medows Rodwell   
But the chiefs of the people who believed not said, "This is but a man like yourselves: he fain would raise himself above you: but had it pleased God to send, He would have sent angels: We heard not of this with our sires of old;
N J Dawood (2014)   
The unbelieving elders of his people said: ‘This man is but a mortal like yourselves, feigning to be your superior. Had God willed, He could have sent down angels. Nor did we hear that such a thing ever happened to our forefathers

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
So the chieftains who disbelieved from his people said, “This is no other than a human like you. He intends to place himself above you. Had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels. We never heard about this in our forefathers.”
Munir Mezyed   
But the chiefs of his people, who refuse to Yield to the Truth, said: "This (man) is no more than a mortal like yourselves who seeks to attain superiority over you. Had Allâh willed, He would have surely sent down Angels (instead of him). We never heard of such a thing among our forefathers.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Then the leaders of his people who rejected (the truth) said: this is only a human like you who wants to be better than you, and if Allah pleased, He would have sent angels, we never heard of this amongst our forefathers.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “He is no more than a man like you. His wish is to assert his superiority over you. If Allah had wanted, He could have sent down angels. We never heard such a thing from our ancestors of old.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
So the chiefs of his people, who denied, said, “This is nothing but a human being like youpl, who wants to gain superiority over you. And had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of this among our forefathers of old;
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
The elders among his folk who disbelieved said: "This is only a human being like yourselves who wants to attain some superiority over you. If Allah (God) had wished, He would have sent down angels [instead]. We never heard about this from our early forefathers.
Samy Mahdy   
So, the chieftains among his kinfolk, who disbelieved, said, “This is none except a humankind like you, who wants to have bounty over you. And if Allah willed, He would send down angels. We never heard this from our former parents.
Sayyid Qutb   
The unbelieving elders of his people said: 'This man is but a mortal like yourselves who wants to make himself superior to you. Had God willed, He would surely have sent down angels. We have never heard anything like this ever happening to our forefathers.
Ahmed Hulusi   
The leaders among his people who denied the knowledge of the reality said, “He is only a mortal being like yourselves... He wants to make himself superior to you... Had Allah willed (instead of sending a mortal) He would have sent angels... We have not heard a thing like this from our forefathers.”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: 'This is nothing but a mortal like you who intends to gain superiority over you. And if Allah had pleased (to send any prophet), He surely could have sent down angels. We have not heard of this (invitation) among our ancestors of old'
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
But the leaders of infidelity among his people exclaimed: "He is only a human like yourselves" They added "he simply wishes to take precedence of you and to claim supereminence for holiness and high virtues". "And had Allah willed", they added, "He would have sent down angels to serve as His Messengers." "We never heard of such a notion voiced by our ancestors"
Mir Aneesuddin   
And We had sent Nuh to his people so he said, "O my people! serve (worship) Allah, there is no god for you other than Him. Will you not then guard (against the evil of worshipping others)?"

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
The chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves: his wish is to assert his superiority over you: if God had wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down angels; never did we hear such a th ing (as he says), among our ancestors of old."
OLD Literal Word for Word   
But said the chiefs (of) those who disbelieved among his people, "This is not but a man like you, he wishes to assert (his) superiority over you, and if Allah had willed surely He (would have) sent do Angels. Not we heard of this from our forefathers
OLD Transliteration   
Faqala almalao allatheena kafaroo min qawmihi ma hatha illa basharun mithlukum yureedu an yatafaddala AAalaykum walaw shaa Allahu laanzala mala-ikatan ma samiAAna bihatha fee aba-ina al-awwaleena