Strike for them a similitude -- the inhabitants of the city, when the Envoys came to it; 13 Lo! We sent unto them two [apostles,] and they gave the lie to both; and so We strengthened [the two] with a third; and thereupon they said: "Behold, we have been sent unto you [by God]!" 14 They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie! 15 They said: our Lord knoweth that we are surely unto you the sent ones. 16 And on us is naught but manifest preaching. 17 They said: Surely we augur evil from you; if you do not desist, we will certainly stone you, and there shall certainly afflict you a painful chastisement from us. 18 They said, 'Your augury is with you; if you are reminded? But you are a prodigal people.' 19 Then a man came running from the other side of the city. "O my people," he said, "follow the messengers. 20 Follow those who ask no recompense of you and are rightly guided. 21 And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned? 22 What, shall I take, apart from Him, gods whose intercession, if the All-merciful desires affliction for me, shall not avail me anything, and who will never deliver me? 23 Surely in that case I should indeed be in evident error. 24 "For me, I have faith in the Lord of you (all): listen, then, to me!" 25 (But they stoned him to death.) It was said to him: "Enter Paradise;" and he said: "If only my people knew 26 Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored." 27 ۞ After him We did not send down against his people a host from heaven, nor do We send down such hosts: 28 It was just one scream, and with it they were extinguished. 29 Alas for men! No apostle ever came to them but they made fun of him. 30 See they not how many generations before them we destroyed? Not to them will they return: 31 And surely all, every one of them, shall be brought before Us. 32