The unbelievers said to their Messengers, 'We will assuredly expel you from our land, or you will surely return into our creed.' Then did their Lord reveal unto them: 'We will surely destroy the evildoers, 13 and settle you on the land to succeed them. That is [in store] for anyone who is in awe of meeting Me, and who heeds My warnings." 14 And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was bought to naught; 15 with hell awaiting him; and he shall be made to drink of the water of most bitter distress, 16 gulping it [unceasingly,] little by little, and yet hardly able to swallow it. And death will beset him from every quarter - but he shall not die: for [yet more] severe suffering lies ahead of him. 17 The likeness of those who disbelieve in their Lord: their works are as ashes, whereon the wind blows strong upon a tempestuous day; they have no power over that they have earned - that is the far error! 18 Hast thou not seen that God created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He will, He can put you away and bring a new creation; 19 That is not at all difficult for Allah. 20 And all [mankind] will appear before God [on the Day of Judgment]; and then the weak will say unto those who had gloried in their arrogance: "Behold, We were but your followers: can you, then, relieve us of something of God's chastisement?" [And the others] will answer: "If God would but show us the way [to salvation,] we would indeed guide you [towards it]. It is [now] all one, as far as we are concerned, whether we grieve impatiently or endure [our lot] with patience: there is no escape for us!" 21