People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 And We have made the night and the day two signs, then We have made the sign of the night to pass away and We have made the sign of the day manifest, so that you may seek grace from your Lord, and that you might know the numbering of years and the reckoning; and We have explained everything with distinctness. 12 We have made every person's actions cling to his neck. On the Day of Judgment, We will bring forth the record of his actions in the form of a wide open book. 13 (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee." 14 Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning). 15 And when We desire to destroy a city, We command its men who live at ease, and they commit ungodliness therein, then the Word is realized against it, and We destroy it utterly. 16 Many a generation has been destroyed by Our command since Noah's time. Your Lord is well aware and fully observant of the sins of His servants. 17 If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them - such things as We will, to such person as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected. 18 But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]. 19 To each these as well as those We bestow from the Bounties of your Lord. And the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. 20 Observe how We have given superiority to some over others; and indeed the Hereafter is the greatest in rank and the highest in excellence. 21 O listener, do not set up another God with Allah, for you will then remain seated condemned, helpless. 22