فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

EnglishSaheeh International: And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
TamilJan Trust Foundation: இன்னும், நாம் இதனை அக்காலத்தில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கும், அதற்குப் பின் வரக்கூடியவர்களுக்கும் படிப்பினையாகவும்; பயபக்தியுடையவர்களுக்கு நல்ல உபதேசமாகவும் ஆக்கினோம்.
SinhalaRuwwad Center: මෙය (එවකට) ඔවුන් අවට සිටියවුන්ට හා පසුව පැවත එන්නන්ට පාඩමක් වශයෙන් ද, බිය බැතිමතුන්ට උපදෙසක් වශයෙන් ද අපි පත් කළෙමු.
UrduMaulana Muhammad Junagarhi: اسے ہم نے اگلوں پچھلوں کے لئے عبرت کا سبب بنا دیا اور پرہیزگاروں کے لئے وعظ ونصیحت کا۔
JapaneseRyoichi Mita: われはこうしてあなたがたの時代，また後代の者ヘの見せしめとし，また主を畏れる者への訓戒とした。
ChineseMa Jian: 我以这种刑罚为前人和後人的戒与敬畏者的教训。

Tafsir of 2:66

The Jews breach the Sanctity of the Sabbath Allah said, وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ (And indeed you knew). This Ayah means, O Jews! Remember that Allah sent His torment on the village that disobeyed Him and broke their pledge and their covenant to observe the sanctity of the Sabbath. They began using deceitful means to avoid honoring the Sabbath by placing nets, ropes, and artificial pools of water for the purpose of fishing before the Sabbath. When the fish came in abundance on Saturday as usual, they were caught in the ropes and nets for the rest of Saturday. During the night, the Jews collected the fish after the Sabbath ended. When they did that, Allah changed them from humans into monkeys, the animals having the form closest to humans. Their evil deeds and deceit appeared lawful on the surface, but they were in reality wicked. This is why their punishment was compatible with their crime.…

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged)