Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/77

ⅩⅫ, 41-50. mentioned much, would be destroyed. But God will surely help him who helps Him; verily, God is powerful, mighty.

Who, if we stablish them in the earth, are steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and bid what is right, and forbid what is wrong ; and God's is the future of affairs.

But if they call thee liar, the people of Noah called him liar before them, as did ʿÂd and Thamûd, and the people of Abraham, and the people of Lot, and the fellows of Midian ; and Moses was called a liar too : but I let the misbelievers range at large, and then I seized on them, and how great was the change !

And how many a city have we destroyed while it yet did wrong, and it was turned over on its roofs, and (how many) a deserted well and lofty palace !

Have they not travelled on through the land ? and have they not hearts to understand with, or ears to hear with ? for it is not their eyes which are blind, but blind are the hearts which are within their breasts.

They will bid thee hasten on the torment, but God will never fail in his promise ; for, verily, a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years of what ye number.

And to how many a city have I given full range while it yet did wrong ! then I seized on it, and unto me was the return.

Say, ‘ O ye folk ! I am naught but a plain warner to you, but those who believe and do right, for them is forgiveness and a generous provision; but those who strive to discredit our signs, they are the fellows of hell !’