(The nation of) Aad belied their Messengers. 123 When their brother Hud said unto them: fear ye not? 124 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust: 125 be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me! 126 And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. 127 Do you build over each high place a sign to amuse yourselves! 128 And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally? 129 When you lay hands upon anyone, you do so as tyrants. 130 So fear God, and obey me; 131 "Yea, fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know. 132 Who has provided you with flocks and children 133 and with gardens and springs. 134 Verily I fear for you the torment of a Mighty Day. 135 They said, 'Alike it is to us, whether thou admonishest, or art not one of the admonishers; 136 this is nothing but the habit of the ancients, 137 "And we are not going to be punished." 138 And they denied him; therefor We destroyed them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers. 139 Yet surely your Lord is mighty and merciful. 140