۞ Say: 'O my people who have been prodigal against yourselves, do not despair of God's mercy; surely God forgives sins altogether; surely He is the All-forgiving, the All-compassionate. 53 And return to your Lord time after time and submit to Him before there comes to you the punishment, then you shall not be helped. 54 Follow the best aspect of what is sent down to you from your Lord, before the scourge comes upon you unawares, 55 So that no soul may say, “Alas! The failures that I committed regarding Allah – and indeed I used to mock!” 56 Or say: "If only God had guided me I would have been a man of fear and piety;" 57 Or say on seeing the punishment: "If I could only return I would be among the good." 58 It will be said to him, “Surely yes, why not?* My signs did come to you, so you denied them and you were haughty and you were a disbeliever.” (They will be mocked at.) 59 On the Day of Judgment you will see the faces of those who had invented falsehood against God blackened. Is not hell the dwelling of the arrogant ones? 60 And Allah will deliver those who are the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2) to their places of success (Paradise). Evil shall touch them not, nor shall they grieve. 61 Allah is Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over all things. 62 For Him only are the keys of the heavens and the earth; and those who denied the signs of Allah – it is they who are the losers. 63