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 to us our share (of chastisement) before the Day of Reckoning.” 16 [But] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and remember Our servant David, him who was endowed with [so much] inner strength! He, verily, would always turn unto Us: 17 Indeed We subjected the hills to say the praise with him, at night and at morn. 18 And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises]. 19 We made his kingdom strong and gave him Al-Hikmah (Prophethood, etc.) and sound judgement in speech and decision. 20 ۞ And hath the tidings of the contending parties reached thee, when they walled the apartment? 21 When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, "Do not be afraid. We are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly, do not be unjust, and guide us to the right path. 22 One of them said, "This is my brother who has ninety-nine ewes when I have only one. He has demanded me to place that one in his custody; he had the stronger argument". 23 David said, "He has certainly been unjust in demanding your ewe from you. Most partners transgress against each other except for the righteously striving believers who are very few." David realized that it was a test from Us so he asked forgiveness from his Lord and knelt down before him in repentance. ۩ 24 We forgave him for this. In Our eyes he certainly has a good position and the best share (of the world to come). 25 [And We said:] "O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!" 26