And relate to them the signs of the people of the city – when two emissaries came to them. 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, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies." 15 They said, "Our Lord knows that We are Messengers 16 but we are not bound to do more than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to us]." 17 They said, 'We augur ill of you. If you give not over, we will stone you and there shall visit you from us a painful chastisement.' 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 Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man, saying, "O my people! Obey the messengers: 20 Follow those who do not ask you for any reward and who are rightly guided. 21 And what reason have I that I should not serve Him Who brought me into existence? And to Him you shall be brought back; 22 Should I take to worshipping [other] deities beside Him? [But then,] if the Most Gracious should will that harm befall me, their intercession could not in the least avail me, nor could they save me: 23 “Undoubtedly, I am then in open error.” 24 I believe in your Lord, so hear me' 25 It was said to him, “Enter Paradise”; he said, “If only my people knew!” 26 That my Lord hath forgiven me, and hath made me of the honoured ones. 27 ۞ We sent not down against his people after him a host from heaven, nor do We ever send. 28 It was only a single blast which made them extinct. 29 OH, THE REGRETS that [most] human beings will have to bear! Never has an apostle come to them without their deriding him! 30 Do they not see how many of the generations We have destroyed before them? Verily, they will not return to them. 31 And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. 32