they have only to wait for one single blast [of punishment]: it shall not be delayed by one whit. 15 They say: 'Our Lord, hasten to us our share before the Day of Recompense' 16 Bear with patience what they say, and remember Our votary David, man of strength. He surely turned to Us in penitence. 17 Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allah] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise. 18 And the birds also, gathering all oft-returning onto Him on his account. 19 And We strengthened his dominion, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment. 20 ۞ And has the news of the litigants reached you? When they climbed over the wall into (his) Mihrab (a praying place or a private room,). 21 How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way. 22 Verily, this my brother (in religion) has ninety nine ewes, while I have (only) one ewe, and he says: "Hand it over to me, and he overpowered 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 that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey's end. 25 "O David, We have made you trustee on the earth. So judge between men equitably, and do not follow your lust lest it should lead you astray from the way of God. Surely for those who go astray from the way of God, is severe punishment, for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning. 26