These (today) only wait for a single mighty Blast, which (when it comes) will brook no delay. 15 They say: "Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning." 16 Bear with patience what they say, and remember Our votary David, man of strength. He surely turned to Us in penitence. 17 We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us in the evening and in the morning. 18 We made the birds assemble around him in flocks. 19 We strengthened his kingdom, giving him wisdom and the power of sound Judgment. 20 ۞ AND YET, has the story of the litigants come within thy ken - [the story of the two] who surmounted the walls of the sanctuary [in which David prayed]? 21 and entered where David was (praying). He was frightened, so they said, "Do not be afraid. We are only two disputing parties of which one of us has transgressed against the other. Judge between us with truth and justice and guide us to the right path". 22 Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech." 23 He said: Surely he has been unjust to you in demanding your ewe (to add) to his own ewes; and most surely most of the partners act wrongfully towards one another, save those who believe and do good, and very few are they; and Dawood was sure that We had tried him, so he sought the protection of his Lord and he fell down bowing and turned time after time (to Him). ۩ 24 Accordingly We forgave him that, and he has a near place in Our presence and a fair resort. 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