Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it. 15 They say, 'Our Lord, hasten to us our share before the Day of Reckoning.' 16 Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent. 17 It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day, 18 And the birds gathered together; all joined in singing with him. 19 And We strengthened his dominion, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment. 20 ۞ AND YET, has the story of the litigants come within thy ken - [the story of the two] who surmounted the walls of the sanctuary [in which David prayed]? 21 As they came upon David, and he shrank back in fear from them, they said: "Fear not! [We are but] two litigants. One of us has wronged the other: so judge thou between us with justice, and deviate not from what is right, and show [both of] us the way to rectitude. 22 This, my brother has ninety nine ewes, but I have only one ewe (a female sheep). He said: "Give her into my keeping" and overcame me in the argument' 23 Said [David]: "He has certainly wronged thee by demanding that thy ewe be added to his ewes! Thus, behold, do many kinsmen wrong one another [all] save those who believe [in God] and do righteous deeds: but how few are they!" And [suddenly] David understood that We had tried him: and so he asked his Sustainer to forgive him his sin, and fell down in prostration, and turned unto Him in repentance. ۩ 24 So, We forgave him that, and he has a near place with Us and a fine return. 25 [We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account. 26