[WrinnaArraple]

I think there's a problem with the language, not the content. I'll be honest. I'm a very English-minded person. To read a translation of the Qur'an as-is with no background knowledge whatsoever (like a non-Muslim or a Muslim who knows nothing) would probably turn me off. The English sounds kind of strange if you don't know what the original Arabic is supposed to be like.

But this has never happened to me. I've been inspired countless times just stumbling around into random verses. The impact of it kind of does carry over somewhat if you know how to read it. When I read additional context, like the Ma'ariful Qur'an for example, it just completely blows me away.

I'm not sure how to put it... but if you don't know that the Qur'an is in "classical Arabic", that it has its own style of Arabic which is not like normal speech or prose yet rhymes anyway. Once you understand that "style" then understanding the translation can be easier because you look past the literal arrangement of words to the meaning. There should be some kind of small guide to introduce new people to the Qur'an like this.

That said I'm still amazed by the number of non-Muslims who turn to Islam just from reading these barebones literal translations. The text is amazing. Even if the wording can seem weird in a different language people can still sense the nature of what they're reading.

One thing which works for me is reading verses on Islamawakened.com (where they have all English translations lined up).