P:  Then we fulfilled the promise unto them.  So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.

S:  Then We made Our promise good to them, so We delivered them and those whom We pleased, and We destroyed the extravagant.

021.010 Y:  We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you:  will ye not then understand?

P:  Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder.  Have ye then no sense?

S:  Certainly We have revealed to you a Book in which is your good remembrance; what! do you not then understand?

021.011 Y:  How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples?

P:  How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised up after them another folk!

S:  And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!

021.012 Y:  Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.

P:  And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!

S:  So when they felt Our punishment, lo! they began to fly

021.013 Y:  Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account.

P:  (But it was said unto them):  Flee not, but return to that (existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned.

S:  Do not fly (now) and come back to what you were made to lead easy lives in and to your dwellings, haply you will be questioned.

021.014 Y:  They said:  “Ah! woe to us!  We were indeed wrong-doers!”

P:  They cried:  Alas for us! we were wrong-doers.

S:  They said:  O woe to us! surely we were unjust.

021.015 Y:  And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.

P:  And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct.

S:  And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut

021.016 Y:  Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!

P:  We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play.

S:  And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.

021.017 Y:  If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)!

P:  If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence — if We ever did.

S:  Had We wished to make a diversion, We would have made it from before Ourselves:  by no means would We do (it).

021.018 Y:  Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish!  Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).