And man prayeth for evil the prayer he should make for good, and man is ever hasty. 11 We have made night and day as two signs. We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and made the sign of the day radiant that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the computation of years and numbers. Thus We have expounded everything in detail to keep everything distinct from the other. 12 And We have made every man's actions to cling to his neck, and We will bring forth to him on the resurrection day a book which he will find wide open: 13 Read your book; your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you this day. 14 Whoever goes aright, for his own soul does he go aright; and whoever goes astray, to its detriment only does he go astray: nor can the bearer of a burden bear the burden of another, nor do We chastise until We raise an apostle. 15 And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who are given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction. 16 Many a generation has been destroyed by Our command since Noah's time. Your Lord is well aware and fully observant of the sins of His servants. 17 Whoever desires this present life, We hasten to him therein what We please for whomsoever We desire, then We assign to him the hell; he shall enter it despised, driven away. 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 Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up. 20 See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence. 21 O listener, do not set up another God with Allah, for you will then remain seated condemned, helpless. 22