Give to them a parable; to the people of the village there came Messengers, 13 When We sent to them two, they rejected both of them, then We strengthened (them) with a third, so they said: Surely we are apostles to you. 14 [The others] answered: "You are nothing but mortal men like ourselves; moreover, the Most Gracious has never bestowed aught [of revelation] from on high. You do nothing but lie!" 15 (The messengers) said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. 16 Our duty is to convey the message clearly." 17 (The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands. 18 They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded (of the truth)? Nay, but ye are froward folk! 19 Then a man came running from the other side of the city. "O my people," he said, "follow the messengers. 20 Follow such as ask no wage of you, that are right-guided. 21 Why should I not serve the One Who created me and to Whom all of you shall be sent back? 22 Shall I take others besides Him as gods? If the Gracious God should intend me any harm, their intercession will be of no avail, nor can they deliver me. 23 "I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in manifest Error. 24 I believe in your Lord, so listen to me." 25 It was said (unto him): Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew 26 “The manner in which my Lord has pardoned me and made me of the honoured ones!” 27 ۞ And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so. 28 it was but one great blast and they fell down lifeless. 29 Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, which will not return to them? 31 all shall be arraigned before Us. 32