[AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to [one of God's] message-hearers 141 when their brother Salih said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God? 142 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. 143 So keep your duty to Allah and obey me. 144 'I ask of you no wage for this; my wage falls only upon the Lord of all Being. 145 "Do you think that you will be left secure [forever] in the midst of what you have here and now? 146 In gardens and watersprings. 147 And corn-fields and palm-trees whereof the spathes are fine? 148 "And you carve houses out of mountains with great skill. 149 So fear Allah, and obey me. 150 "And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant,- 151 Who corrupt the land and do not reform it." 152 They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched; 153 You are but a human like ourselves. Produce for us a sign, if you are of the truthful' 154 Salih said: "This is a she-camel. There is a day set for her to drink and there is a day set for you to drink. 155 "And touch her not with harm, lest the torment of a Great Day seize you." 156 Yet they hamstrung her, and in the morning they were remorseful, 157 and the chastisement seized them. Surely in that is a sign, yet most of them are not believers. 158 Yet verily your Lord is mighty and merciful. 159