2: 212

Asad Unto those who are bent on denying the truth the life of this world [alone] seems goodly [note 195]; hence, they scoff at those who have attained to faith: but they who are conscious of God shall be above them on Resurrection Day. And God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckoning [196].

Yusuf Ali The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith and they scoff at those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the Day of Resurrection; for Allah bestows His abundance without measures on whom He will.

Pickthall Beautified is the life of the world for those who disbelieve; they make a jest of the believers. But those who keep their duty to Allah will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.

Transliteration Zuyyina lillazina kafarul haya_tud dunya_ wa yaskharu_na minal lazina a_manu_, wallazinat taqau fauqahum yaumal qiya_mah(ti), walla_hu yarzuqu may yasya_'u bi gairi hisa_b(in).

[ Ruby’s note – Attempting to or desiring to make this life beautiful is not prohibited or discouraged here as bad. To the contrary, the prayer that is mentioned in the Quran -- to ask God to give the best in this life and in the Hereafter-- is endorsing the idea that one should desire and ask God to make this life beautiful also. However, here this verse is making the distinction between that desire and the desire of the disbelievers who focus on this life only at the exclusion of the eternal life. In their desire they want the rewards and glory of this world and they neither believe nor care for the Hereafter. In a believer’s desire to make this life fulfilled consists of a desire of spiritual progress through pure and wholesome achievements that would also benefit the Hereafter. Whereas the desire of a disbeliever consists of the transitory gain and rewards of this life only. ]

[ Asad’s note 195 – Lit., “has been made beauteous”.]

[ Asad’s note 196 – I.e., He cannot be called to account for the way in which He distributes worldly benefits, sometimes granting them to the morally deserving and sometimes to sinners. ]

[ Ali’s note 234 God's gifts in this world seem unequal, and sometimes those get them who seem to deserve them least. God's bounty is unlimited to the just as well as the unjust. In His wisdom He may give to whomsoever He pleases. The account is not taken now, but will be taken in the end, when the balance will be redressed. (2.212) ]