Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
75. So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing.
76. He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me?
77. (Moses) said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not company with me. Thou hast received an excuse from me.
78. So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certain township, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests. And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and he repaired it. (Moses) said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken payment for it.
79. He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.
80. As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river,1 and I wished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship by force.
81. And as for the lad, his parents were believers and We feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.
82. And We intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.
83. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.
1 Or, it might be, “sea.”
