[38:1] Suad, I swear by the Quran, full of admonition.

[38:2] Nay! those who disbelieve are in self-exaltation and opposition.

[38:3] How many did We destroy before them of the generations, then they cried while the time of escaping had passed away.

[38:4] And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say: This IS an enchanter, a liar.

[38:5] What! makes he the gods a single Allah? A strange thing is this, to be sure!

[38:6] And the chief persons of them break forth, saying: Go and steadily adhere to your gods; this is most surely a thing sought after.

[38:7] We never heard of this in the former faith; this is nothing but a forgery:

[38:8] Has the reminder been revealed to him from among us? Nay! they are in doubt as to My reminder. Nay! they have not yet tasted My chastisement!

[38:9] Or is it that they have the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Mighty, the great Giver?

[38:10] Or is it that theirs is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend by any

[38:11] A host of deserters of the allies shall be here put to flight.

[38:12] The people of Nuh and Ad, and Firon, the lord of spikes, rejected (messengers) before them.

[38:13] And Samood and the people of Lut and the dwellers of the thicket; these were the parties.

[38:14] There was none of them but called the messengers liars, so just was My retribution.

[38:15] Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it.

[38:16] And they say: O our Lord! hasten on to us our portion before the day of reckoning.

[38:17] Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant Dawood, the possessor of power; surely he was frequent m returning (to Allah).

[38:18] Surely We made the mountains to sing the glory (of Allah) in unison with him at the evening and the sunrise,

[38:19] And the birds gathered together; all joined in singing with him.

[38:20] And We strengthened his kingdom and We gave him wisdom and a clear judgment.

[38:21] And has there come to you the story of the litigants, when they made an entry into the private chamber by ascending over the walls?

[38:22] When they entered in upon Dawood and he was frightened at them, they said: Fear not; two litigants, of whom one has acted wrongfully towards the other, therefore decide between us with justice, and do not act unjustly, and guide us to the right way.

[38:23] Surely this is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes and I have a single ewe; but he said: Make it over to me, and he has prevailed against me in discourse.

[38:24] He said: Surely he has been unjust to you in demanding your ewe (to add) to his own ewes; and most surely most of the partners act wrongfully towards one another, save those who believe and do good, and very few are they; and Dawood was sure that We had tried him, so he sought the protection of his Lord and he fell down bowing and turned time after time (to Him).

[38:25] Therefore We rectified for him this, and most surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent resort.

[38:26] o Dawood ! surely We have made you a ruler in the land; so judge between men with justice and do not follow desire, lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah; (as for) those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning.

[38:27] And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them in vain; that is the opinion of those who disbelieve then woe to those who disbelieve on account of the fire.

[38:28] Shall We treat those who believe and do good like the mischief-makers in the earth? Or shall We make those who guard (against evil) like the wicked?

[38:29] (It is) a Book We have revealed to you abounding in good that they may ponder over its verses, and that those endowed with understanding may be mindful.

[38:30] And We gave to Dawood Sulaiman, most excellent the servant! Surely he was frequent in returning (to Allah).

[38:31] When there were brought to him in the evening (horses) still when standing, swift when running--

[38:32] Then he said: Surely I preferred the good things to the remembrance of my Lord-- until the sun set and time for Asr prayer was over, (he said):

[38:33] Bring them back to me; so he began to slash (their) legs and necks.

[38:34] And certainly We tried Sulaiman, and We put on his throne a (mere) body, so he turned (to Allah).

[38:35] He said: My Lord! do Thou forgive me and grant me a kingdom which is not fit for (being inherited by) anyone after me;

[38:36] Then We made the wind subservient to him; it made his command to run gently wherever he desired,

[38:37] And the shaitans, every builder and diver,

[38:38] And others fettered in chains.

[38:39] This is Our free gift, therefore give freely or withhold, without reckoning.

[38:40] And most surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent resort.

[38:41] And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord: The Shaitan has afflicted me with toil and torment.

[38:42] Urge with your foot; here is a cool washing-place and a drink.

[38:43] And We gave him his family and the like of them with them, as a mercy from Us, and as a reminder to those possessed of understanding.

[38:44] And take in your hand a green branch and beat her with It and do not break your oath; surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he was frequent m returning (to Allah).

[38:45] And remember Our servants Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub, men of power and insight.

[38:46] Surely We purified them by a pure quality, the keeping m mind of the (final) abode.

[38:47] And most surely they were with Us, of the elect, the best.

[38:48] And remember Ismail and Al-Yasha and Zulkifl; and they were all of the best.

[38:49] This is a reminder; and most surely there is an excellent resort for those who guard (against evil),

[38:50] The gardens of perpetuity, the doors are opened for them.

[38:51] Reclining therein, calling therein for many fruits and drink.

[38:52] And with them shall be those restraining their eyes, equals in age.

[38:53] This is what you are promised for the day of reckoning.

[38:54] Most surely this is Our sustenance; it shall never come to an end;

[38:55] This (shall be so); and most surely there is an evil resort for the inordinate ones;

[38:56] Hell; they shall enter it, so evil is the resting-place.

[38:57] This (shall be so); so let them taste it, boiling and intensely cold (drink).

[38:58] And other (punishment) of the same kind-- of various sorts.

[38:59] This is an army plunging in without consideration along with you; no welcome for them, surely they shall enter fire.

[38:60] They shall say: Nay! you-- no welcome to you: you did proffer it to us, so evil is the resting-place.

[38:61] They shall say: Our Lord! whoever prepared it first for us, add Thou to him a double chastisement in the fire.

[38:62] And they shall say: What is the matter with us that we do not see men whom we used to count among the vicious?

[38:63] Was it that we (only) took them in scorn, or have our eyes (now) turned aside from them?

[38:64] That most surely is the truth: the contending one with another of the inmates of the fire.

[38:65] Say: I am only a warner, and there is no god but Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all):

[38:66] The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, the Mighty, the most Forgiving.

[38:67] Say: It is a message of importance,

[38:68] (And) you are turning aside from it:

[38:69] I had no knowledge of the exalted chiefs when they contended:

[38:70] Naught is revealed to me save that I am a plain warner.

[38:71] When your Lord said to the angels; Surely I am going to create a mortal from dust:

[38:72] So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down making obeisance to him.

[38:73] And the angels did obeisance, all of them,

[38:74] But not Iblis: he was proud and he was one of the unbelievers.

[38:75] He said: O Iblis! what prevented you that you should do obeisance to him whom I created with My two hands? Are you proud or are you of the exalted ones?

[38:76] He said: I am better than he; Thou hast created me of fire, and him Thou didst create of dust.

[38:77] He said: Then get out of it, for surely you are driven away:

[38:78] And surely My curse is on you to the day of judgment.

[38:79] He said: My Lord! then respite me to the day that they are raised.

[38:80] He said: Surely you are of the respited ones,

[38:81] Till the period of the time made known.

[38:82] He said: Then by Thy Might I will surely make them live an evil life, all,

[38:83] Except Thy servants from among them, the purified ones.

[38:84] He said: The truth then is and the truth do I speak:

[38:85] That I will most certainly fill hell with you and with those among them who follow you, all.

[38:86] Say: I do not ask you for any reward for it; nor am I of those who affect:

[38:87] It is nothing but a reminder to the nations;

[38:88] And most certainly you will come to know about it after a time.