.

P: Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord,
which of them shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they
fear His doom. Lo! the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned.

S: Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to
their Lord-- whoever of them is nearest-- and they hope for His mercy
and fear His chastisement; surely the chastisement of your Lord is a
thing to be cautious of.

017.058
Y: There is not a population but We shall destroy it before the Day of
Judgment or punish it with a dreadful Penalty: that is written in the
(eternal) Record.

P: There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of
Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in
the Book (of Our decrees).

S: And there is not a town but We will destroy it before the day of
resurrection or chastise it with a severe chastisement; this is written
in the Divine ordinance.

017.059
Y: And We refrain from sending the signs, only because the men of former
generations treated them as false: We sent the she-camel to the Thamud
to open their eyes, but they treated her wrongfully: We only send the
Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil).

P: Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old
denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to
warn.

S: And nothing could have hindered Us that We should send signs except
that the ancients rejected them; and We gave to Samood the she-camel--
a manifest sign-- but on her account they did injustice, and We do not
send signs but to make (men) fear.

017.060
Y: Behold! We told thee that thy Lord doth encompass mankind round
about: We granted the vision which We showed thee, but as a trial for
men,- as also the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur'an: We put terror
(and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate
transgression!

P: And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth
mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal
for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn
them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.

S: And when We said to you: Surely your Lord encompasses men; and We did
not make the vision which We showed you but a trial for men and the
cursed tree in the Quran as well; and We cause them to fear, but it
only adds to their great inordinacy.

017.061
Y: Behold! We said to