[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers 123 When their brother Hood said to them: 'Will you not be cautious? 124 Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 125 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah 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 monument on every hill merely for fun 128 And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever? 129 And when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands (like) tyrants; 130 "Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me: 131 Keep your duty toward Him Who hath aided you with (the good things) that ye know, 132 "He has aided you with cattle and children. 133 And orchards and springs. 134 Verily I fear for you the torment of a Mighty Day. 135 They replied: "It is all the same for us whether you admonish us or not. 136 "This is no other than a customary device of the ancients, 137 And we are not to be punished." 138 So they rejected him, and We destroyed them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. 139 And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful. 140