Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it. 15 They scornfully said, "Lord, show us the record of our deeds before the day when everyone must present the account of their deeds.". 16 Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent. 17 We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise; 18 and the birds, duly mustered, every one to him reverting; 19 And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech. 20 ۞ Has the tiding of the dispute come to thee? When they scaled the Sanctuary, 21 they went to David whereupon he was afraid of them, but they said: 'Do not be afraid, we are two that have a dispute, one of us has wronged the other. Judge between us justly, and do not transgress, and guide us to the Right Path. 22 "This brother of mine has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one. He said, "Let me have charge of it," and got the better of me with his words." 23 David said, "He has certainly wronged you by demanding that your ewe be added to his ewes! Thus many partners wrong one another -- [all] save those who believe [in God] and do righteous deeds: but how few are they!" And [suddenly] David understood that We were only putting him to the test, and so he asked his Lord to forgive him his sins; he fell to his knees, and turned to Him in repentance. ۩ 24 So We forgave him that, and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of (final) return (Paradise). 25 [And We said:] "O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!" 26