And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 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 But they said: 'You are only humans like ourselves. The Merciful has not sent down anything, your speech is but lies' 15 (The messengers) said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. 16 but we are not bound to do more than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to us]." 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 They said: Your evil fortune is with you; what! if you are reminded! Nay, you are an extravagant people. 19 And there came from the farthest part of the town a man running. He said; O my people! follow the sent ones. 20 Follow those who ask not of you any hire, and who are rightly guided. 21 "And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. 22 What, shall I take, apart from Him, gods whose intercession, if the All-merciful desires affliction for me, shall not avail me anything, and who will never deliver me? 23 and so, behold, I would have indeed, most obviously, lost myself in error! 24 Surely I believe in your Lord, therefore hear me. 25 It was said to him, “Enter Paradise”; he said, “If only my people knew!” 26 "For that my Lord has granted me Forgiveness and has enrolled me among those held in honour!" 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 just one scream, and with it they were extinguished. 29 Alas for human beings! They ridicule every messenger that comes to them. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them? They shall never return to them, 31 and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned? 32