Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/112

96 be believers. And, verily, thy Lord is mighty, merciful.

Thamûd called the apostles liars ; when their brother Zâliʿh said to them, ‘ Do ye not fear ? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle ; so fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire ; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Shall ye be left here in safety with gardens and springs, and corn-fields and palms, the spathes whereof are fine ? and ye hew out of the mountains houses skilfully. But fear God and obey me; and obey not the bidding of the extravagant, who do evil in the earth and do not act aright !’

They said, ‘ Thou art only of the infatuated ; thou art but mortal like ourselves ; so bring us a sign, if thou be of those who speak the truth !’ He said, ‘ This she-camel shall have her drink and you your drink on a certain day; but touch her not with evil, or there will seize you the torment of a mighty day !’ But they hamstrung her, and on the morrow they repented; and the torment seized them; verily, in that is a sign ; but most of them will never be believers : but verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful.

The people of Lot called the apostles liars ; when their brother Lot said to them, ‘ Do ye not fear ? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle ; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire ; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye approach males of all the world arid leave what God your Lord has created for you of your wives ? nay, but ye are people who transgress !’