(68) If not for a decree from Allāh that preceded,[458] you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
[458]- Three interpretations of the "decree" are given: that by which the companions of Badr were forgiven, that by which indeliberate errors in judgement by believers are not punished, and that which made lawful the spoils of war.
— الترجمة الإنجليزية - صحيح انترناشونال
 68. Were it not a previous ordainment from Allâh, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.
— الترجمة الإنجليزية
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had it not been for a prescription (Literally: a Book) that has gone before from Allah, a tremendous torment for what you have taken would indeed have touched you.
— Dr. Ghali - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Were it not a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.
— Muhsin Khan - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had it not been for an ordinance of Allah which had gone before, an awful doom had come upon you on account of what ye took.
— Pickthall - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.
— Yusuf Ali - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
— Sahih International - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

(8:68) Had there not been a previous decree from Allah, a stern punishment
would have afflicted you for what you have taken.
— Abul Ala Maududi(With tafsir) - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

and had it not been preordained by God, a severe punishment would have come upon you for what you have taken.
— Abdul Haleem - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had there not been a decree from Allah that came earlier, a great punishment would have overtaken you because of what you have taken.
— Mufti Taqi Usmani - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, you would have certainly been disciplined with a tremendous punishment for whatever ˹ransom˺ you have taken.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran - English translation
لَّوۡلَا كِتَٰبٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمۡ فِيمَآ أَخَذۡتُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ

Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah,1 you would have certainly been disciplined with a tremendous punishment for whatever ˹ransom˺ you have taken.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab - English translation
Were it not for a prior decree from Allah, you would have surely been afflicted with a great punishment for what you have taken [of ransom].
— الترجمة الإنجليزية - مركز رواد الترجمة
68. Were it not for a decree from Allah – in which it had already been decided that He would make the gains of war lawful for you and permit you to ransom captives – a severe punishment from Allah would have afflicted you because of the gains of war and ransom you took from the captives at Badr before the coming of revelation from Allah that permitted it.
— الترجمة الإنجليزية للمختصر في تفسير القرآن الكريم
Had it not been for a decree from God that had already gone forth, you would have been severely punished for what you have taken.
— ترجمة معاني القرآن الكريم - عادل صلاحي