they have only to wait for one single blast [of punishment]: it shall not be delayed by one whit. 15 They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning. 16 Bear with their words patiently. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us: 17 It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day, 18 and the birds, too, gathered each obedient to him. 19 We made his kingdom strong, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgement. 20 ۞ And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber; 21 When they came before David, he was frightened of them. "Do not be afraid," they said. "The two of us are disputing the wrong one has done the other. So judge between us with equity, and do not be unjust, and guide us to the right path. 22 “This is my brother; he has ninety nine ewes and I have one ewe; and he now says ‘Give that one also to me’ – and he is very demanding in speech.” 23 David said, "He has certainly wronged you by demanding that your ewe be added to his ewes! Thus many partners wrong one another -- [all] save those who believe [in God] and do righteous deeds: but how few are they!" And [suddenly] David understood that We were only putting him to the test, and so he asked his Lord to forgive him his sins; he fell to his knees, and turned to Him in repentance. ۩ 24 So We forgave him this (lapse): he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful place of (Final) Return. 25 'David, behold, We have appointed thee a viceroy in the earth; therefore judge between men justly, and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Surely those who go astray from the way of God -- there awaits them a terrible chastisement, for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning.' 26