And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 when We sent unto them two men, but they cried them lies, so We sent a third as reinforcement. They said, 'We are assuredly Envoys unto you. 14 "You are only men like us," they replied; "Ar-Rahman has not sent down any thing. You are speaking only lies." 15 They said: Our Lord knows that we are most surely apostles to you. 16 "And our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)." 17 They said: verily we augur ill of you; if ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and there will befall you from us a torment afflictive. 18 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 19 And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, "O my people, follow the messengers. 20 follow those who do not ask any recompense from you and are rightly-guided. 21 Why should I not worship Him who has originated me and to whom you shall all be returned? 22 Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me? 23 In that case I shall most surely be in clear error: 24 Verily I believe now in your Lord; so hearken unto me. 25 It was said (to him): 'Enter Paradise' and he said: 'Would that my people knew 26 how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones!" 27 ۞ After him We did not send down against his people a host from heaven, nor do We send down such hosts: 28 It was only one Cry and lo, they were silent and still. 29 Alas for My servants! Never does a Messenger come to them but they mock him. 30 Behold they not how many We have destroyed before them of the generations! verily unto them they shall not return. 31 all shall be arraigned before Us. 32