[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers 123 when their brother Hud said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God? 124 I am for you an honest Messenger. 125 "So fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. 126 I ask of you no wage for this; my wage falls only upon the Lord of all Being. 127 “What! You build a structure on every height, to laugh at the passers-by?” 128 “And prefer strong palaces, that perhaps you may live for ever?” 129 "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power? 130 So fear Allah and obey me. 131 And fear He who provided you with that which you know, 132 “He aided you with cattle and sons.” 133 and gardens, and springs: 134 "Truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day." 135 They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors. 136 This is but a custom of the ancients. 137 and we shall not be chastised.' 138 So they belied him, and We destroyed them. Verily! In this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. 139 And indeed your Lord – only He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. 140