Give to them a parable; to the people of the village there came Messengers, 13 When We sent two of them they called them liars; so We sent a third to strengthen them. "We have been sent to you," they said. 14 They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie! 15 They said: Our Lord knows that we are most surely apostles to you. 16 "And our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)." 17 but they answered, "We see an evil omen in you. If you do not stop, we shall certainly stone you, and you will suffer a painful punishment at our hands." 18 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 19 And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent! 20 Follow him who does not ask you for reward, and they are the followers of the right course; 21 "[As for me,] why should I not worship Him who has brought me into being, and to whom you all will be brought back? 22 What, shall I take, apart from Him, gods whose intercession, if the All-merciful desires affliction for me, shall not avail me anything, and who will never deliver me? 23 (Had I worshipped things besides God, I would have been in manifest error). 24 I believe in your Lord, so hear me' 25 It was said (unto him): Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew 26 Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored." 27 ۞ And We sent not down upon his people, after him, any host out of heaven; neither would We send any down. 28 It was not but one shout, and immediately they were extinguished. 29 Ah, woe for those servants! Never comes unto them a Messenger, but they mock at him. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, which will not return to them? 31 They shall every one of them be arraigned before Us. 32