Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it. 15 They say: "Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning." 16 Bear with patience what they say, and remember Our votary David, man of strength. He surely turned to Us in penitence. 17 Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allah] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise. 18 And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah). 19 And We strengthened his dominion, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment. 20 ۞ And hath the tidings of the contending parties reached thee, when they walled the apartment? 21 How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way. 22 This man here is my brother. He has ninety and nine ewes while I have only one. He demands that I should give him my ewe, and wants to get the better of me in argument." 23 [David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]. ۩ 24 So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return. 25 [And We said:] "O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!" 26