Nor do these await aught but a single cry, there being no delay in it. 15 They say: “Our Lord, hasten to us our share (of chastisement) before the Day of Reckoning.” 16 [But] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and remember Our servant David, him who was endowed with [so much] inner strength! He, verily, would always turn unto Us: 17 We subjected the mountains to exalt (Me) with him in the evening and at sunrise, 18 And (so did) the birds assembled: all with him [Dawud (David)] did turn (to Allah i.e. glorified His Praises). 19 And We strengthened his dominion, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment. 20 ۞ And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber - 21 when they entered upon David, and he took fright at them; and they said, 'Fear not; two disputants we are -- one of us has injured the other; so judge between us justly, and transgress not, and guide us to the right path.' 22 Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech. 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 And thereupon We forgave him that [sin]: and verily, nearness to Us awaits him [in the life to come,] and the most beauteous of all goals! 25 We said, "David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God's path: those who wander from His path will have a severe punishment, because they ignore the Day of Reckoning." 26