Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
Had there been [a prospect of] immediate gain, and an easy journey, they would certainly have followed thee, [O Prophet:] but the distance was too great for them. And yet, [after your return, O believers,] they will swear by God, "Had we been able to do so, we would certainly have set out with you!" - [and by thus falsely swearing] they will be destroying their own selves: for God knows indeed that they are lying
Arthur John Arberry
Were it a gain near at hand, and an easy journey, they would have followed thee; but the distance was too far for them. Still they will swear by God, 'Had we been able, we would have gone out with you,' so destroying their souls; and God knows that they are truly liars
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, "If we only could, we should certainly have come out with you": They would destroy their own souls; for Allah doth know that they are certainly lying
Arabic
لَوۡ كَانَ عَرَضࣰا قَرِیبࣰا وَسَفَرࣰا قَاصِدࣰا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتۡ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُۚ وَسَیَحۡلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡنَا لَخَرَجۡنَا مَعَكُمۡ یُهۡلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ یَعۡلَمُ إِنَّهُمۡ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ ٤٢
Transliteration (2021)
law kāna ʿaraḍan qarīban wasafaran qāṣidan la-ittabaʿūka walākin baʿudat ʿalayhimu l-shuqatu wasayaḥlifūna bil-lahi lawi is'taṭaʿnā lakharajnā maʿakum yuh'likūna anfusahum wal-lahu yaʿlamu innahum lakādhibūn