they have only to wait for one single blast [of punishment]: it shall not be delayed by one whit. 15 And they say: our Lord! hasten our portion unto us before the Day of Reckoning 16 [But] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and remember Our servant David, him who was endowed with [so much] inner strength! He, verily, would always turn unto Us: 17 Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him at nightfall and sunrise, 18 And the birds also, gathering all oft-returning onto Him on his account. 19 We made his kingdom strong and gave him Al-Hikmah (Prophethood, etc.) and sound judgement in speech and decision. 20 ۞ Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber; 21 As they came upon David, and he shrank back in fear from them, they said: "Fear not! [We are but] two litigants. One of us has wronged the other: so judge thou between us with justice, and deviate not from what is right, and show [both of] us the way to rectitude. 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 Said Dawud, “He is indeed being unjust to you in that he demands to add your ewe to his ewes; and indeed most partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do good deeds – and they are very few!” Thereupon Dawud realised that We had tested him, so he sought forgiveness from his Lord, and fell prostrate and inclined (towards his Lord). (Command of Prostration # 10) ۩ 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