[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 a trustworthy messenger for you: 125 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) 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 on every height a monument? Vain is it that you do: 128 and raise strong mansions as if you were to live forever? 129 And when you strike, you strike as tyrants. 130 So fear Allah and obey me. 131 And be careful of (your duty to) Him Who has given you abundance of what you know. 132 He has given you abundance of cattle and children 133 And gardens and watersprings. 134 "Verily, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day." 135 They said, 'Alike it is to us, whether thou admonishest, or art not one of the admonishers; 136 this is nothing but the habit of the ancients, 137 "And we are not the ones to receive Pains and Penalties!" 138 And they belied him; so We destroyed them. Verily herein is a sign, yet most of them are not believers. 139 Yet surely your Lord is mighty and merciful. 140