Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
THE PARABLE of those who were graced with the burden of the Torah, and thereafter failed to bear this burden, is that of an ass that carries a load of books [but cannot benefit from them]. Calamitous is the parable of people who are bent on giving the lie to God's messages - for God does not bestow His guidance upon such evildoing folk
Arthur John Arberry
The likeness of those who have been loaded with the Torah then they have not carried it, is as the likeness of an ass carrying books. Evil is the likeness of the people who have cried lies to God's signs. God guides never the people of the evildoers
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong
Arabic
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِینَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ یَحۡمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡحِمَارِ یَحۡمِلُ أَسۡفَارَۢاۚ بِئۡسَ مَثَلُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ٥
Transliteration (2021)
mathalu alladhīna ḥummilū l-tawrāta thumma lam yaḥmilūhā kamathali l-ḥimāri yaḥmilu asfāran bi'sa mathalu l-qawmi alladhīna kadhabū biāyāti l-lahi wal-lahu lā yahdī l-qawma l-ẓālimīn