And man prayeth for evil the prayer he should make for good, and man is ever hasty. 11 We have made night and day as two signs. We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and made the sign of the day radiant that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the computation of years and numbers. Thus We have expounded everything in detail to keep everything distinct from the other. 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 'Read thy book! Thy soul suffices thee this day as a reckoner against thee.' 14 Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger. 15 When We decide to destroy a town, We command the affluent section of its people, but they transgress therein; thus the word [sentence of punishment] is justified, then We destroy the town utterly. 16 How many generations have We destroyed after Noah? and enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants. 17 Unto him who cares for [no more than the enjoyment of] this fleeting life We readily grant thereof as much as We please, [giving] to whomever it is Our will [to give]; but in the end We consign him to [the suffering of] hell; which he will have to endure disgraced and disowned! 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 We help these and those, a gift from your Lord; and your Lord's gift is not restricted. 20 Behold how We bestow [on earth] more bounty on some of them than on others: but [remember that] the life to come will be far higher in degree and far greater in merit and bounty. 21 "Do not set up another god with God, or you will remain disgraced and destitute. 22