And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 When We sent them two messengers, they rejected them both, so We strengthened them with a third. They said, "Truly, we have been sent to you [by God] as messengers." 14 They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies." 15 They said: 'Our Lord knows that we are Messengers to you. 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 17 They (the people of the city) said, “We think you are ominous; indeed, if you do not desist, we shall surely stone you to death, and you will surely face a grievous torture at our hands.” 18 They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded (of the truth)? Nay, but ye are froward folk! 19 At that, a man came running from the farthest end of the city, [and] exclaimed: "O my people! Follow these message-bearers! 20 "Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided. 21 Why should I not worship Him who brought me into being, to whom you will be brought back in the end? 22 What! shall I take besides Him gods whose intercession, If the Beneficent Allah should desire to afflict me with a harm, shall not avail me aught, nor shall they be able to deliver me? 23 Surely, I should then be in clear error. 24 Messengers, listen to me. I believe in your Lord." 25 We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew 26 that my Lord has forgiven me, and caused me to be amongst the receivers of generosity' 27 ۞ After him We did not send down against his people a host from heaven, nor do We send down such hosts: 28 It was just one scream, and with it they were extinguished. 29 Alas for My servants! Never does a Messenger come to them but they mock him. 30 Have they not seen how many nations before them did We destroy? Thereafter they never came back to them. 31 and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned? 32