Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
not even a word can he utter but there is a watcher with him, ever-present
M. M. Pickthall
He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
not a word does a person utter without having a ˹vigilant˺ observer ready ˹to write it down˺.
Safi Kaskas
He does not utter any word, without a vigilant observer present with him.
Wahiduddin Khan
each word he utters shall be noted down by a vigilant guardian
Shakir
He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
he utters not a saying but that there is one ready, watching over near him
T.B.Irving
he will utter no statement unless he has an observer on hand ready to note it down.
Abdul Hye
not a word does one utter but there is a watcher by it ready (to record).
The Study Quran
no word does he utter without a ready watcher beside him
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
Every word he utters is noted by a vigilant scribe nearby.
Talal Itani (2012)
Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him, ready
Dr. Kamal Omar
not a word does he (i.e., , the human being) utter but (then and there) with him is a sentinel ever ready (to record)
not a single word does he utter but there is a vigilant guardian ready to note it down
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
In no way does he utter a saying except that close to him is a (Guardian) constantly ready
Muhammad Sarwar
The human being will certainly experience the agony of deat
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Not a single word is uttered by one but there is a watcher near him, ready (to record)
Shabbir Ahmed
Not even a word can he utter but there is an ever-vigilant watcher with him. (The Law of Requital makes a meticulous record)
Dr. Munir Munshey
Not a word uttered by any person, escapes (the attention of) the vigilant observers _ (the angels assigned over him)
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Not a word does he (each angel) say, but there is a guard by him, ready (to note the deeds)
Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
He does not utter a word except with having a constant recorder
Abdel Haleem
he does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
Not a word he uttereth but there is with him a watcher ready
Ahmed Ali
There is not a word he utters but an observer is ready (to make note of it)
Aisha Bewley
He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand!
Ali Ünal
Not a word does he utter but there is a watcher by him, ever-present
Ali Quli Qara'i
he says no word but that there is a ready observer beside him
Hamid S. Aziz
He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher (sentinel, one who censors) at hand
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
he does not speak a word unless there is a watcher with him ready (to record).
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
Not a word do they utter, except that there is with him a ready observer
Musharraf Hussain
Not a word they speak goes unrecorded by a vigilant observer.
Maududi
He utters not a word, but there is a vigilant watcher at hand
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
He does not utter a word except a watcher is constantly with him.
Mohammad Shafi
He utters not a word but is there a sentinel by him, ready [to record it]
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
Not a word he utters but there is sitting a watcher ready by him.
Not an utterance does he utter without an alert witness.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
whatever phrase he utters, an observer is present
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
Nothing emits/vocalizes from a word except at Him (is a) prepared/made ready observer/guard
Bijan Moeinian
Not even a word spoken is being missed in their registration
Faridul Haque
He does not utter a single word, without a ready recorder seated next to him
Sher Ali
He utters not a word but there is by him a guardian angel ready to record it
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Not a word does he utter but a watcher is there beside him ready (to write it)
Amatul Rahman Omar
He utters not a word but (it is noted down by) a guardian (angel of his who) stands ready by his side (to record his words)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
He does not utter a word except that in his presence there is a watcher well stationed.
Munir Mezyed
Not a single word does he utter but there is by him a keeper at hand.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
He does not utter a word but there is an observer present with him.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
Not even a word does he/she utter without an observer [angel] ready [to note it].
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
Not a word does he utter, but close to him is a watcher, constantly ready.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
he will utter no statement unless he has an observer on hand ready to note it down.
Samy Mahdy
He does not pronounce among a say, except with him, a ready observer.
Ahmed Hulusi
Every thought (of man) is observed (recorded) by an observer!
Mir Aneesuddin
he does not utter a word but one vigilant near him is ready.
Nothing he utters and expresses in words, be it under his breath or openly disclosed but is related in writing by the two angels who keep a watchful guard
The Wise Quran
He does not utter any speech except with him is a ready watcher.