[AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to all [Our] warnings; 23 So they said: What! a single mortal from among us! Shall we follow him? Most surely we shall in that case be in sure error and distress: 24 Has the Reminder been cast upon him alone among us? Nay, rather he is an impudent liar.' 25 "Tomorrow they will know who is the impudent liar! 26 for We are [going to] send the she-camel as a trial for them, so watch them and be patient. 27 And tell them that the water [of the well] is to be divided between them, and that each one should drink in turn." 28 But they called their companion who took a sword and hamstrung her. 29 So how dreadful have been My torment and My warnings. 30 Verily We, We sent upon them one shout, and they became as the stubble of a fold-builder. 31 And assuredly We have made the Qur'an easy for admonition: is there then any one who would be admonished. 32 The folk of Lot rejected warnings. 33 We sent a sandstorm against them which destroyed them all, except the family of Lot, whom We saved at the break of dawn, 34 through Our Mercy. So it is that We recompense the thankful. 35 Lot warned them of Our punishment, but they disputed the warnings -- 36 and even demanded that he give up his guests [to them]: whereupon We deprived them of their sight [and thus told them, as it were]: "Taste, then, the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!" 37 And in truth the punishment decreed befell them early in the morning. 38 We said, "Suffer Our torment of which you were warned". 39 We have made the Quran easy to understand, but is there anyone who would pay attention? 40