Although they were, before it was sent down upon them - before (30:49)

﴿وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمُبْلِسِينَ﴾
[ الروم: 49]

30:49 Although they were, before it was sent down upon them - before that, in despair.

While just previously, they had been losing hope in any rain falling upon them.

And verily before that (rain), just before it was sent down upon them, they were in despair!

phonetic Transliteration

Wain kanoo min qabli an yunazzala AAalayhim min qablihi lamubliseena

Abdullah Yusuf Ali - Translation

Even though, before they received (the rain) - just before this - they were dumb with despair!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And verily, before that -- just before it was sent down upon them -- they were in despair!

Page 409 English transliteration