Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it. 15 They say: "Our Lord! Hasten to us Qittana (i.e. our Record of good and bad deeds so that we see it) before the Day of Reckoning!" 16 Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent. 17 Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him at nightfall and sunrise, 18 and [likewise] the birds in their assemblies: [together] they all would turn again and again unto Him [who had created them]. 19 We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision. 20 ۞ AND YET, has the story of the litigants come within thy ken - [the story of the two] who surmounted the walls of the sanctuary [in which David prayed]? 21 When they entered in upon Dawood and he was frightened at them, they said: Fear not; two litigants, of whom one has acted wrongfully towards the other, therefore decide between us with justice, and do not act unjustly, and guide us to the right way. 22 "This man is my brother: He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one: Yet he says, 'commit her to my care,' and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech." 23 [David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]. ۩ 24 So We forgave him. He has surely a high rank with Us and an excellent place of return. 25 [We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account. 26