We sat in observatories to listen; but any one who listened found a shooting star in wait for him.

‘And that we sometimes used to sit in some places in the sky, to listen; so whoever now listens finds a fiery comet waiting for him.’

We would sit there on seats to hear; but any listening now finds a meteor in wait for him.

notwithstanding that we were established in positions [which we had thought well-suited] to listening to [whatever secrets might be in] it: and anyone who now [or ever] tries to listen will [likewise] find a flame lying in wait for him!

And we were wont to sit on seats therein to listen; but whosoever listeneth now findeth for him a dartin meteor in wait.

'And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.

We used to take up positions to listen in; but whoever listens now finds a projectile in wait for him.

We used to take up positions to listen in; but whoever listens now finds a projectile in wait for him.

And we used to take up positions to listen in, but whoever listens now finds a flare lying in wait for him.

And we used to take up positions to listen in, but whoever listens now finds a flare lying in wait for him.

We used to take up positions there for eavesdropping, but whoever dares eavesdrop now will find a flare lying in wait for them.

and that “we would take up stations in the heaven to try to hear but anyone who now attempts to listen finds a shooting meteor in wait for him”;

`And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.'

And we used to sit on places (high) therein to listen. But he who listeneth now findeth a flame in wait for him;

We used to sit in its positions to eavesdrop, but anyone listening now finds a flame waiting for him.

There, we would sit to eavesdrop, but now an eavesdropper finds a flame in wait for him.

And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.

We used to sit near by and try to listen to the heavens, but shooting flames now await those who try to do that.

And that we used to sit in some of the sitting-places thereof to steal a hearing, but he who would (try to) listen now would find a flame lying in wait for him:

Waanna kunna naqAAudu minha maqaAAida lilssamAAi faman yastamiAAi alana yajid lahu shihaban rasadan

wa-annā kunnā naqʿudu min'hā maqāʿida lilssamʿi faman yastamiʿi l-āna yajid lahu shihāban raṣadan

we used to take up a position to listen, but whoever listens now finds a flaming fire lying in wait for him --

'We used, indeed, to sit there in (hidden) stations, to (steal) a hearing; but any who listen now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.