[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers 123 When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)? 124 Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 125 So keep your duty to Allah and obey me. 126 And I do not ask you any reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds 127 Do you build over each high place a sign to amuse yourselves! 128 And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever? 129 And when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands (like) tyrants; 130 "Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me: 131 fear Him who has aided you with all that you know -- 132 "He has aided you with cattle and children. 133 “And with gardens and water-springs.” 134 Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful Day' 135 They said: "It is the same to us if you warn us or do not warn. 136 this is nothing but a habit of the ancients: 137 And we are not going to be punished. 138 So they rejected him, and We destroyed them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. 139 And verily thy Lord? He is the Mighty, the Merciful. 140