People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 We have appointed the night and the day as two signs; then We have blotted out the sign of the night, and made the sign of the day to see, and that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years, and the reckoning; and everything We have distinguished very distinctly. 12 Round each man's neck We have hung his ledger of deeds, and on the Day of Resurrection will present it as a book spread out (and say): 13 (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account 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 warn the rich ones therein who commit evil. Thus it becomes deserving to destruction and We destroy its very foundations. 16 How many generations We have destroyed after Noah! Thy Lord suffices as one who is aware of and sees the sins of His servants. 17 We give whatever We will to whoever desires immediate gains; but then We have prepared Hell for him which he will enter, disgraced and rejected. 18 And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. do righteous deeds of Allah's Obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded (by Allah). 19 Each We succour, these and those, from thy Lord's gift; and thy Lord's gift is not confined. 20 "See, how We favour one over the other; and in life to come are higher ranks and favours greater still. 21 "Do not set up another god with God, or you will remain disgraced and destitute. 22