The Thamud accused the messengers of lies. 141 when their brother Salih said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God? 142 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you 143 So fear Allah and obey me. 144 And I ask of you no hire therefor; MY hire is but with the Lord of the worlds. 145 "Do you think that you will remain here peacefully forever 146 among gardens and fountains, 147 And corn-fields and palm-trees whereof the spathes are fine? 148 You hew dwellings in mountains and exult in that. 149 "Be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me, 150 and pay no heed to the counsel of those who are given to excesses 151 and spread mischief in the land rather than set things right." 152 They said: thou art but one of the bewitched; 153 thou art naught but a mortal, like us; then produce a sign, if thou art one 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 ill lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day. 156 But they hamstrung her and then regretted it. 157 So the punishment overtook them. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. 158 And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful. 159