[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers 123 when their brother Hood said to them, 'Will you not be godfearing? 124 I am for you an honest Messenger. 125 "So fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. 126 "No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). 127 Do you build over each high place a sign to amuse yourselves! 128 “And prefer strong palaces, that perhaps you may live for ever?” 129 And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants? 130 So fear Allah, and obey me. 131 "And keep your duty to Him, fear Him Who has aided you with all (good things) that you know. 132 He has given you flocks and sons, 133 "And gardens and springs. 134 indeed, I fear for you the torment of an awful day." 135 They said: "It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach. 136 "This is no other than a customary device of the ancients, 137 And we are not going to be tormented. 138 So they cried him lies; then We destroyed them. Surely in that is a sign, yet most of them are not believers. 139 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. 140