And thus We set up in every city its leading wicked sinners, to conspire in it, but they conspire only against themselves, and they do not realize it.
Al-An'am 6:123
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وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا ۖ وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
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And thus We set up in every city its leading wicked sinners, to conspire in it, but they conspire only against themselves, and they do not realize it.
In every town, We let the biggest troublemakers plan bad things. But they're only hurting themselves, and they don't even realize it.
And that's how We placed in every town its worst criminals, so they could plot there — but they're only plotting against themselves, though they don't realize it.
And so We placed in every town its greatest criminals to scheme therein. Yet they scheme only against themselves, and they do not realize it.
And so We placed in every town its leading criminals, to conspire in it, but they conspire only against themselves, though they are unaware.
And so We placed in every town its leading criminals, to conspire in it, but they conspire only against themselves, though they are unaware.
And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein. But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not.
And thus We have set up in every town great ones of its wicked people to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not.
Thus We have placed in every city the most wicked ones to conspire in it, yet they only conspire against themselves, without even realizing it.
Thus have We placed leaders in every town, its wicked men, to plot (and burrow) therein: but they only plot against their own souls, and they perceive it not.
And thus have We made in every city great ones of its wicked ones, that they should plot therein. They do but plot against themselves, though they perceive not.
Thus We have placed leaders of the wicked in every town to plot therein. Yet it is only against themselves that they scheme, though they may not perceive it.
Thus We have appointed the leaders of the wicked ones in every land to weave their plots; but in truth they plot only to their own harm, without even realizing it.
Thus have We installed in every town its major criminals that they may plot therein. Yet they do not plot except against their own souls, but they are not aware.
Wakathalika jaAAalna fee kulli qaryatin akabira mujrimeeha liyamkuroo feeha wama yamkuroona illa bianfusihim wama yashAAuroona