'Ad (people) belied the Messengers. 123 Recall, when their brother Hud said to them: "Have you no fear? 124 Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust: 125 “Therefore fear Allah and obey me.” 126 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds. 127 Build ye on every eminence a landmark in vanity? 128 and erect huge palaces as though you will live for ever, 129 "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power? 130 So fear Allah and obey me. 131 fear Him who has aided you with all that you know -- 132 He has given you abundance of cattle and children 133 and with gardens and springs. 134 Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day." 135 They replied: 'It is the same to us whether you admonish or whether you are not one of the admonishers. 136 This is but a custom of the ancients. 137 And we are not going to be punished. 138 So they belied him, so We destroyed them. Surely, in that there is a sign; yet most of them do not believe. 139 Yet surely your Lord is mighty and merciful. 140