Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And not alike are the two seas: one is fresh and sweet, delicious to drink, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat succulent flesh, and extract ornaments which you wear. And thou seest the ships ploughing therein, that you might seek of His bounty and that you might be grateful.

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِۗ هٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَٓائِـغٌ شَرَابُهُ وَهٰذَا مِلْحٌ اُجَاجٌۜ وَمِنْ كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْماً طَرِياًّ وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَاۚ وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ ف۪يهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِه۪ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Wama yastawee albahranihatha AAathbun furatun sa-ighun sharabuhuwahatha milhun ojajun wamin kullinta/kuloona lahman tariyyan watastakhrijoona hilyatantalbasoonaha watara alfulka feehi mawakhiralitabtaghoo min fadlihi walaAAallakum tashkuroon
#wordmeaningroot
1wamāAnd not
2yastawīare alikeسوي
3l-baḥrānithe two seasبحر
4hādhāThis
5ʿadhbun(is) freshعذب
6furātunsweetفرت
7sāighunpleasantسوغ
8sharābuhuits drinkشرب
9wahādhāand this
10mil'ḥunsaltyملح
11ujājun(and) bitterاجج
12waminAnd from
13kullineachكلل
14takulūnayou eatاكل
15laḥmanmeatلحم
16ṭariyyanfreshطرو
17watastakhrijūnaand you extractخرج
18ḥil'yatanornamentsحلي
19talbasūnahāyou wear themلبس
20watarāand you seeراي
21l-ful'kathe shipsفلك
22fīhiin it
23mawākhiracleavingمخر
24litabtaghūso that you may seekبغي
25minof
26faḍlihiHis Bountyفضل
27walaʿallakumand that you may
28tashkurūnabe gratefulشكر
  • Aisha Bewley

    The two seas are not the same: the one is sweet, refreshing, delicious to drink, the other salty, bitter to the taste. Yet from both of them you eat fresh flesh and extract ornaments for yourselves to wear; and you see ships on them, cleaving through the waves so that you can seek His bounty and so that hopefully you will be thankful.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Nor are the two seas the same. One is fresh and palatable, good to drink, while the other is salty and bitter. And from each of them you eat tender meat, and you extract jewellery to wear. And you see the ships sailing through them, seeking His provisions; and perhaps you may be appreciative.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Observe the diversity in Nature. ) Thus the two seas (and subsoil waters) are not alike. One is fresh, good to drink, the other undrinkable, salty (25:53). Yet, from either of them you eat tender meat and extract ornament that you may wear. And you see ships sailing through the waves seeking His Bounty, so that you may have cause to be grateful.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And not alike are the two seas: one is fresh and sweet, delicious to drink, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat succulent flesh, and extract ornaments which you wear. And thou seest the ships ploughing therein, that you might seek of His bounty and that you might be grateful.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Nor are the two seas the same. One is fresh and palatable, good to drink, while the other is salty and bitter. And from each of them you eat tender meat, and you extract jewelry to wear. And you see the ships sailing through them, seeking His provisions; and perhaps you may be thankful.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Nor are the two seas the same. One is fresh and palatable, good to drink, while the other is salty and bitter. From each of them you eat tender meat, and you extract jewelry to wear. You see the ships sailing through them, seeking His provisions; and perhaps you may be appreciative.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    The two seas are not the same; one is fresh and delicious, while the other is salty and undrinkable. From each of them you eat tender meat, and extract jewelry to wear. And you see the ships sailing through them, seeking His provisions, that you may be appreciative.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Alike are not two bodies of water: This one is sweet and fresh and pleasant to drink, and this one brine and bitter; yet you get fresh meat to eat from both, and take out ornaments to wear. You see how the ships churn through them so that you may seek of His bounty and, perhaps, give thanks.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    And not alike are the two bodies of water. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.

  • Muhammad Asad

    thus, the two great bodies of water are not alike the one sweet, thirst-allaying, pleasant to drink, and the other salty and bitter: and yet, from either of them do you eat fresh meat, and you take gems which you may wear; and on either thou canst see ships ploughing through the waves, so that you might go forth in quest of some of His bounty, and thus have cause to be grateful.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And the two seas are not alike: this, fresh, sweet, good to drink, this (other) bitter, salt. And from them both ye eat fresh meat and derive the ornament that ye wear. And thou seest the ship cleaving them with its prow that ye may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may give thanks.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    The two masses of water are not alike.* The one is sweet, sates thirst, and is pleasant to drink from, while the other is salt, bitter on the tongue. Yet from both you eat fresh meat,* and extract from it ornaments that you wear;* and you see ships cruising through it that you may seek of His Bounty and be thankful to Him.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Nor do the two kinds of flowing waters compare: one fresh and sweet pleasant to drink and the other salty and bitter, and from each do you eat tender meat and you obtain various kinds of gems you use as articles of ornaments carried on your bodies. And you see the ships -the large sea-going vessels and the river- boats- ploughing through the waves and cleaving the surface thereof to help you accomplish your objects sought after of His bounty to the end that your bosoms may hopefully surge and answer thanks.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Be grateful to God:

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And the two seas (kinds of water) are not alike: this is palatable, sweet and pleasant to drink, and that is salt and bitter. And from them both you eat fresh tender meat (fish), and derive the ornaments that you wear. And you see the ships cleaving (the sea-water as they sail through it), that you may seek of His Bounty, and that you may give thanks.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Nor are the two bodies of flowing water alike,- the one palatable, sweet, and pleasant to drink, and the other, salt and bitter. Yet from each (kind of water) do ye eat flesh fresh and tender, and ye extract ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the Bounty of Allah that ye may be grateful.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    The two bodies of water are not alike: one is fresh, palatable, and pleasant to drink and the other is salty and bitter. Yet from them both you eat tender seafood and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing their way through both, so you may seek His bounty and give thanks ˹to Him˺.

  • Taqi Usmani

    And two seas are not alike; this one is sweet, saturating, pleasant to drink, and that one is salt, bitter. But from each, you eat fresh meat, and derive ornaments that you wear. And you see the boats therein cleaving through water, so that you may search for His grace, and that you may be grateful.

  • Abdul Haleem

    The two bodies of water are not alike- one is palatable, sweet, and pleasant to drink, the other salty and bitter- yet from each you eat fresh fish and extract ornaments to wear, and in each you see the ships ploughing their course so that you may seek God’s bounty and be grateful.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Not equal are the two seas; this is sweet, grateful to taste, delicious to drink, and that is salt, bitter to the tongue. Yet of both you eat fresh flesh, and bring forth out of it ornaments for you to wear; and thou mayest see the ships cleaving through it, that you may seek of His bounty, and so haply you will be thankful.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    The two seas are not equal: one is sweet and fresh and pleasant to drink, and the other is salt and pungent; but from each do ye eat fresh flesh, and bring forth ornaments which ye wear; and thou mayest see the ships cleave through it, that ye may search after His grace, and haply ye may give thanks.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And Allah created you of dust, then of the life-germ, then He made you pairs; and no female bears, nor does she bring forth, except with His knowledge; and no one whose life is lengthened has his life lengthened, nor is aught diminished of one's life, but it is all recorded in a Book; surely this is easy for Allah.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way can the two seas be equal; this is sweet, gratifying (to taste) palatable as a drink; and this (other) is salt, bitter (to the tongue); and of each you eat fresh flesh and draw forth ornaments for you to wear. And you see the ships plowing through it that you may seek of His Grace and that possibly you would thank (Him).

  • George Sale

    The two seas are not to be held in comparison: This is fresh and sweet, pleasant to drink; but that is salt and bitter: Yet out of each of them ye eat fish, and take ornaments for you to wear. Thou seest the ships also plowing the waves thereof, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves by commerce, of the abundance of God: Peradventure ye will be thankful.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And the two (seas) kinds of water are not alike (and the same)— One is tasteful, sweet and pleasant to drink, and the other, (tastes of) salt and is bitter. Yet from (both of) them, you eat fresh and tender flesh (fish and foods from the seas); From each (group of water), and you take out ornaments (pearls) to wear; And in there you see the ships that go through the waves, for you to search from the (riches and) bounty of Allah that you may be thankful.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    The two great bodies of water are not alike; this one is palatable, sweet and pleasant to drink while the other is saltish and bitter. Yet (inspite of all this) you take for food fresh and wholesome meat (of fish) from them both; and bring out from them (pearl-like things used in) ornaments for your wear. And you can see the ships cleaving (their way) through it so that you may seek of His bounty (by means of commercial navigation), and so that you may give (Him) thanks.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Not alike are the two seas: this one sweet and agreeable, pleasant to drink, and that one briny and bitter, and from each you eat fresh meat and obtain ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through them, that you may seek of His grace, and so that you may give thanks.