This is a small host from among the hosts, which shall be routed here.12 Before them did the people of Noah and 'Ad and the Pharaoh of the stakes,13 and Thamud, and the people of Lot and those of Aiykah reject (the Messengers). Hosts were they. Each one of them treated the Messengers as liars, and justly deserved the decree of My chastisement. These people too await but a single blast after which there will be no other blast!14 And they say; "Our Lord, hasten to us our share even before the Day of Reckoning."15 O Prophet,have patience at what they utter,16 and tell them the story of Our servant David,17 who was a man of great strength.18 He turned to Allah in every matter. We had subdued for him the mountains, which joined with him in praise morning and evening. The birds would gather together: they all turned to his (hymns of) praise.19 We had strengthened his kingdom, had given him wisdom and the ability to pronounce sound judgments.20 Has the story of the litigants, who had entered into his upper chamber by climbing over the wall, reached you?21 When they came before David, he was alarmed to see them.22 They said, "Have no fear: we are two parties in a suit, one of which has wronged the other, so decide between us rightly: do not be unjust and guide us to the right way. This is my brother.23 He has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one ewe. He said to me, `Give this ewe also in my charge, and he has prevailed over me in the dispute'."24 David replied, "This person has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe to be added to his ewes.25 And the fact is that the people who live together often wrong one another; the only exception are those who believe and do good works, and they are few. " (While he said this) David realized that We had, in fact, tried him. So he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down prostrate and turned (to Him).26 Then We forgave him for his error, and certainly he has a place of nearness with Us and an excellent abode!27 (We said:) "O David, We have made you vicegerent in the earth, so rule among the people with justice and do not follow your lust, for it will lead you astray from Allah's Way." For those who go astray from Allah's Way, there is a severe punishment because they forgot the Day of Reckoning."28