People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 And We have made the night and the day two signs, then We have made the sign of the night to pass away and We have made the sign of the day manifest, so that you may seek grace from your Lord, and that you might know the numbering of years and the reckoning; and We have explained everything with distinctness. 12 Round each man's neck We have hung his ledger of deeds, and on the Day of Resurrection will present it as a book spread out (and say): 13 Read thine book; sufficeth today thy soul against thee as a reckoner. 14 Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever goes astray, goes but astray to his own hurt; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden. Moreover, We would never chastise [any community for the wrong they may do] ere We have sent an apostle [to them]. 15 And when We will to destroy a township We send the commands to its prosperous people, thereupon they do not obey them, and so the Word is proved upon it – We therefore destroy and ruin it. 16 "How many generations have We laid low after Noah, for your Lord knows and notices well enough the sins of His creatures. 17 Whosoever intendeth the quick passing world, We hasten to him therein whatsoever We please unto whomsoever We intend; thereafter We shall appoint for him Hell wherein he shall roast, reproved, rejected. 18 "But he who desires the Hereafter, and strives for it with a will, and is a believer, will be favoured for his endeavour. 19 All do We aid-- these as well as those-- out of the bounty of your Lord, and the bounty of your Lord is not confined. 20 Behold how We bestow [on earth] more bounty on some of them than on others: but [remember that] the life to come will be far higher in degree and far greater in merit and bounty. 21 "Do not set up another god with God, or you will remain disgraced and destitute. 22