Sūra XXXVIII.: Ṣād (being one of the Abbreviated Letters).

The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934], at sacred-texts.com

Section 2

15. Wama yanthuru haola-i illa sayhatan wahidatan ma laha min fawaqin

15. These (to-day) only wait
For a single mighty Blast,
Which (when it comes)
Will brook no delay.

16. Waqaloo rabbana AAajjil lana qittana qabla yawmi alhisabi

16. They say: "Our Lord!
Hasten to us our sentence
(Even) before the Day
Of Account!"

17. Isbir AAala ma yaqooloona waothkur AAabdana dawooda tha al-aydi innahu awwabun

17. Have patience at what they
Say, and remember Our Servant
David, the man of strength:
For he ever turned (to God).

18. Inna sakhkharna aljibala maAAahu yusabbihna bialAAashiyyi waal-ishraqi

18. It was We that made
The hills declare,
In unison with him,
Our Praises, at eventide
And at break of day,

19. Waalttayra mahshooratan kullun lahu awwabun

19. And the birds gathered
(In assemblies): all with him
Did turn (to God).

20. Washadadna mulkahu waataynahu alhikmata wafasla alkhitabi

20. We strengthened his kingdom,
And gave him wisdom
And sound judgment
In speech and decision.

21. Wahal ataka nabao alkhasmi ith tasawwaroo almihraba

21. Has the Story of
The Disputants reached thee?
Behold, they climbed over
The wall of the private chamber;

22. Ith dakhaloo AAala dawooda fafaziAAa minhum qaloo la takhaf khasmani bagha baAAduna AAala baAAdin faohkum baynana bialhaqqi wala tushtit waihdina ila sawa-i alssirati

22. When they entered
The presence of David,
And he was terrified
Of them, they said:
"Fear not: we are two
Disputants, one of whom
Has wronged the other:
Decide now between us
With truth, and treat us not
With unjustice, but guide us
To the even Path.

23. Inna hatha akhee lahu tisAAun watisAAoona naAAjatan waliya naAAjatun wahidatun faqala akfilneeha waAAazzanee fee alkhitabi

23. "This man is my brother:
He has nine and ninety
Ewes, and I have (but) one:
Yet he says, "Commit her
To my care," and is (moreover)
Harsh to me in speech."

24. Qala laqad thalamaka bisu-ali naAAjatika ila niAAajihi wa-inna katheeran mina alkhulata-i layabghee baAAduhum AAala baAAdin illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati waqaleelun ma hum wathanna dawoodu annama fatannahu faistaghfara rabbahu wakharra rakiAAan waanaba

24. (David) said: "He has
Undoubtedly wronged thee
In demanding thy (single) ewe
To be added to his (flock
Of) ewes: truly many
Are the Partners (in business)
Who wrong each other:
Not so do those who believe
And work deeds of righteousness,
And how few are they?"…
And David gathered that we
Had tried him: he asked
Forgiveness of his Lord,
Fell down, bowing
(In prostration), and turned
(To God in repentance).

25. Faghafarna lahu thalika wa-inna lahu AAindana lazulfa wahusna maabin

25. So We forgave him
This (lapse): he enjoyed,
Indeed, a Near Approach to Us,
And a beautiful Place
Of (final) Return.

26. Ya dawoodu inna jaAAalnaka khaleefatan fee al-ardi faohkum bayna alnnasi bialhaqqi wala tattabiAAi alhawa fayudillaka AAan sabeeli Allahi inna allatheena yadilloona AAan sabeeli Allahi lahum AAathabun shadeedun bima nasoo yawma alhisabi

26.