And he had recited it to them, they had not believed.

In such sort have we influenced19 the heart of the wicked ones,

That they will not believe it till they see the grievous chastisement?

And it shall come upon them on a sudden when they look not for it: 

And they will say, “Can we be respited?”

What! will they seek to hasten on our chastisement?

How thinkest thou?  If after we have given them their fill for years,

That with which they are menaced come upon them at last,

Of what avail will their enjoyments be to them?

We never destroyed a city which had not first its warners

With admonition; nor did we deal unjustly.

The Satans were not sent down with this Koran: 

It beseemed them not, and they had not the power,

For they are far removed from hearing it.20

Call not thou on any other god but God, lest thou be of those consigned to torment: 

But warn thy relatives of nearer kin,21

And kindly lower thy wing over the faithful who follow thee.

And if they disobey thee, then say:  “I will not be answerable for your doings;"-

And put thy trust in Him that is the Mighty, the Merciful,

Who seeth thee when thou standest in prayer,

And thy demeanour amongst those who worship;

For He heareth, knoweth all.

Shall I tell you on whom Satan descend?

They descend on every lying, wicked person: 

They impart what they have heard;22-but most of them are liars.

It is the poets23 whom the erring follow: 

Seest thou not how they rove distraught in every valley?

And that they say that which they do not?

Save those who believe and do good works, and oft remember God;

And who defend themselves when unjustly treated.  But they who treat them unjustly shall find out what a lot awaiteth them.

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1 This Sura belongs to about the seventh year of Muhammad’s prophetic life.

2 See Sura 1xviii.  I, p. 32.

3 Lit. to which their necks would humble themselves.

4 Lit. my tongue is not free.  This verse appears to be a studied simplification of Ex. iv. 10-13.

5 The murder of the Egyptian.  See Geiger, 159.

6 Lit. and thou hast done thy deed which thou hast done.  See xxviii. 15.

7 Thus Pirke R. Elieser § 48.  “He placed his hand in his bosom, and drew it forth, white as snow with leprosy.”

8 “The Pharaoh who lived in the days of Moses was a great magician.”  Mid.  Jalkut, c. 182.  Comp.  Sura xxviii. 38, where, in accordance with the Rabbinic traditions Pharaoh claims to be a God.

9 See ii. 58, and Midr.  Jalkut on Ex. xii. c. 208.

10 Lit. except.

11 Lit. a tongue of truth, i.e. high repute.  Or, grant that my words may be believed among posterity.  See [lviii.] xix. 47.