O you wrapped up in your garment!
Rise to pray in the night except a little (or but not all night),
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
Surely We will make to light upon you (charge you with) a weighty Word (or message).
Surely the vigil of the night is the most potent for the soul (to receive impressions) and the best for framing speech (or the Words of prayer).
Surely you have in the daytime a long occupation (with ordinary affairs of life).
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with exclusive (and wholehearted) devotion.
(He is) The Lord of the East and the West - there is no God but He - therefore, take Him for a protector.
And bear patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance (or leave taking).
And leave Me to deal with the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and bear with them a little.
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
And food that chokes and a painful doom,
On the day when the earth and the mountains shall quake and the mountains shall become (as) heaps of running sand.
Surely We have sent unto you a Messenger, a witness against you, as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh.
But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger, so We seized him with a violent grip.
How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall make children grey-headed (with stress)?
The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to fulfilment.
Surely this is a reminder, let then him, who will, take the way to his Lord.
Your Lord does know that you stand in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, and sometimes half of it, and sometimes a third of it, and so also do a party of those with you; and Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are not able to keep count thereof, so He has turned to you in mercy. Therefore read what is easy of the Quran. He knows that there must be among you sick, and others who travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in Allah´s way, therefore read as much of it as is easy unto you, and keep up regular prayer and pay the poor-rate and lend to Allah a goodly loan, and whatever of good you send on beforehand for your souls, you will find it in the presence of Allah; yea, better and greater in reward; and seek forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.