People pray as earnestly to gain evil as one should to gain virtue. But people are hasty. 11 We have made night and day as two signs. We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and made the sign of the day radiant that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the computation of years and numbers. Thus We have expounded everything in detail to keep everything distinct from the other. 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, “Read your ledger; this day you are sufficient to take your own account.” 14 Whoever came to guidance, has come for his own good; and whoever went astray, has strayed for his own ruin; and no burdened soul will bear another’s burden; and We never punish until We have sent a Noble Messenger. 15 And when We intend that We shall destroy a town We command the affluent people thereof, then they transgress therein; wherefore the word is justified on them; then We annihilate it with utter annihilation. 16 How many generations have We destroyed after Noah? and enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants. 17 Whoever desires this present life, We hasten to him therein what We please for whomsoever We desire, then We assign to him the hell; he shall enter it despised, driven away. 18 But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah]. 19 "We bestow from the gifts of your Lord on these and on those, for the gifts of your Lord are not restricted. 20 Behold how We bestow [on earth] more bounty on some of them than on others: but [remember that] the life to come will be far higher in degree and far greater in merit and bounty. 21 DO NOT set up any other deity side by side with God, lest thou find thyself disgraced and forsaken: 22