They await but a single blast which will not be repeated. 15 They say: "Our Lord! Hasten to us Qittana (i.e. our Record of good and bad deeds so that we see it) before the Day of Reckoning!" 16 Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent. 17 Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him at nightfall and sunrise, 18 And the birds assembled; all were turning unto Him. 19 And We made his dominion strong and vouchsafed him wisdom and decisive speech. 20 ۞ Have you heard of the litigants who jumped over the wall into his chamber? 21 When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path. 22 This man here is my brother. He has ninety and nine ewes while I have only one. He demands that I should give him my ewe, and wants to get the better of me in argument." 23 (David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented. ۩ 24 We therefore forgave him this; and indeed for him in Our presence are, surely, proximity and an excellent abode. 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