Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
But as for those who are bent on denying the truth, their [good] deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty supposes to be water – until, when he approaches it, he finds that it was nothing: instead, he finds [that] God [has always been present] with him, and [that] He will pay him his account in full - for God is swift in reckoning
Arthur John Arberry
And as for the unbelievers, their works are as a mirage in a spacious plain which the man athirst supposes to be water, till, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing; there indeed he finds God, and He pays him his account in full; (and God is swift at the reckoning.
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account
Arabic
وَٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوۤا۟ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ كَسَرَابِۭ بِقِیعَةࣲ یَحۡسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمۡءَانُ مَاۤءً حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا جَاۤءَهُۥ لَمۡ یَجِدۡهُ شَیۡءࣰا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِیعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ٣٩
Transliteration (2021)
wa-alladhīna kafarū aʿmāluhum kasarābin biqīʿatin yaḥsabuhu l-ẓamānu māan ḥattā idhā jāahu lam yajid'hu shayan wawajada l-laha ʿindahu fawaffāhu ḥisābahu wal-lahu sarīʿu l-ḥisāb