وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَـٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ
waqālū aālihatunā khayrun am huwa mā ḍarabūhu laka illā jadalan bal hum qawmun khaṣimūna
And they said, "Are our gods better, or is he?" They did not present it [i.e., the comparison] except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.
— Saheeh International
saying, ‘Are our gods better or him?’- they cite him only to challenge you: they are a contentious people-
— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem
And say: "Are our âlihah (gods) better or is he [‘Îsâ (Jesus)]?" They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people. (See V. 21:98-101)
— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali