Give to them a parable; to the people of the village there came Messengers, 13 Lo! We sent unto them two [apostles,] and they gave the lie to both; and so We strengthened [the two] with a third; and thereupon they said: "Behold, we have been sent unto you [by God]!" 14 They said, “You are nothing but mortals like us; the Most Gracious has not sent down anything – you are nothing but liars.” 15 The Messengers said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent as Messengers to you, 16 and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.” 17 They (the people of the city) said, “We think you are ominous; indeed, if you do not desist, we shall surely stone you to death, and you will surely face a grievous torture at our hands.” 18 They said: your evil augury be with you. Call ye it an ill-luck because ye are admonished! Aye! ye are a people extravagant. 19 At that, a man came running from the farthest end of the city, [and] exclaimed: "O my people! Follow these message-bearers! 20 follow those who do not ask any recompense from you and are rightly-guided. 21 Why should I not worship Him who brought me into being, to whom you will be brought back in the end? 22 Shall I take (other) gods in place of Him when, if the Beneficent should wish me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they save? 23 In that case I shall most surely be in clear error: 24 I believe in your Lord; so listen to me.” 25 We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew 26 that my Lord has forgiven me, and caused me to be amongst the receivers of generosity' 27 ۞ And We sent not against his people after him a host from heaven, nor have We been sending down any such. 28 It was naught but a single cry, and lo! they were still. 29 Ah, woe for those servants! Never comes unto them a Messenger, but they mock at him. 30 Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? 31 They shall every one of them be arraigned before Us. 32