People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail. 12 We have tied the fate of every man about his neck; and We shall produce a book for him on Resurrection Day that he will find spread open. 13 It will say, "Read your record, today there will be none but yourself to call you to account!" 14 Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it for his own good; and whoever goes astray, goes astray at his own peril; no bearer of burdens shall bear the burdens of another. Nor do We punish until We have sent forth a messenger to forewarn them. 15 When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly. 16 "How many generations have We laid low after Noah, for your Lord knows and notices well enough the sins of His creatures. 17 Whoever desires this present life, We hasten to him therein what We please for whomsoever We desire, then We assign to him the hell; he shall enter it despised, driven away. 18 But he who desires the Hereafter and strives for it in the manner he should, and is a true believer, his striving will come to fruition. 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 Consider how We have given preference to some people above others, yet the life to come has more honor and respect. 21 Do not set up with Allah another god, or you will sit condemned and forsaken. 22