Save he who having done amiss shall afterwards exchange the evil for good; for I am Forgiving, Merciful.

Put now thy hand into thy bosom:  it shall come forth white, yet free from hurt:2 one of nine signs to Pharaoh and his people; for a perverse people are they.”

And when our signs were wrought in their very sight,3 they said, “This is plain magic.”

And though in their souls they knew them to be true, yet in their wickedness and pride they denied them.  But see what was the end of the corrupt doers!

And of old we gave knowledge to David and Solomon:  and they said, “Praise be to God, who hath made us to excel many of his believing servants!”

And in knowledge Solomon was David’s heir.  And he said, “O men, we have been taught the speech of birds,4 and are endued with everything.  This is indeed a clear boon from God.”

And to Solomon were gathered his hosts of Djinn5 and men and birds, and they were marched on in bands,

Till they reached the Valley of Ants.  Said an ant, “O ye ants, enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his army crush you and know it not.”

Then smiled Solomon, laughing at her words, and he said, “Stir me up, O Lord, to be thankful for thy favour which thou hast shewed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness that shall be well pleasing to thee, and bring me in, by thy mercy, among thy servants the righteous.”

And he reviewed the birds, and said, “How is it that I see not the lapwing?  Is it one of the absent?

Surely, with a severe chastisement will I chastise it, or I will certainly slaughter it, unless it bring me a clear excuse.”

Nor tarried it long ere it came and said, “I have gained the knowledge that thou knowest not, and with sure tidings have I come to thee from Saba: 

I found a woman reigning over them, gifted with everything, and she hath a splendid throne;

And I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of God; and Satan hath made their works fair seeming to them, so that he hath turned them from the Way:  wherefore they are not guided,

To the worship of God, who bringeth to light the secret things of heaven and earth, and knoweth what men conceal and what they manifest: 

God! there is no god but He! the lord of the glorious throne!”

He said, “We shall see whether thou hast spoken truth, or whether thou art of them that lie.

Go with this my letter and throw it down to them:  then turn away from them and await their answer.”

She said, “O my nobles! an honourable letter hath been thrown down to me: 

It is from Solomon; and it is this:  ’In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful!

Set not up yourselves against me, but come to me submitting (Muslims).’ "

She said, “O my nobles, advise me in mine affair:  I decide it not without your concurrence."6