1. Sad. By the renowned record,

2. Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.

3. How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they cried out when it was no longer the time for escape!

4. And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.

5. Maketh he the gods One God? Lo! that is an astounding thing.

6. The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.

7. We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.

8. Hath the reminder been unto him alone among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.

9. Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower?

10. Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!

11. A defeated host are all the factions that are there.

12. The folk of Noah before them denied their messenger and so did the tribe of Od, and Pharaoh firmly planted,

13. And the tribe of Shamod, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in the wood: these were the factions.

14. Not one of them but did deny the messengers, therefor My doom was justified,

15. These wait for but one Shout, there will be no second thereto.

16. They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning.

17. Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo! he was ever turning in repentance toward God.

18. Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises of their Lord with him at nightfall and sunrise,

19. And the birds assembled; all were turning unto Him.

20. We made his kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.

21. And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber;

22. How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! We are two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.

23. Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.

24. David said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented.

25. So We forgave him that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey's end.

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