قالَ لَقَد ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤالِ نَعجَتِكَ إِلىٰ نِعاجِهِ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثيرًا مِنَ الخُلَطاءِ لَيَبغي بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ إِلَّا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ وَقَليلٌ ما هُم ۗ وَظَنَّ داوودُ أَنَّما فَتَنّاهُ فَاستَغفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ راكِعًا وَأَنابَ ۩

He responded, “He wronged you by demanding your single ewe be added to his flock. Indeed, many associates wrong one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, and they are few.” Then David realized that We were testing him, so he asked forgiveness from his Lord, fell prostrate, and he turned in repentance.

فَغَفَرنا لَهُ ذٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنا لَزُلفىٰ وَحُسنَ مَآبٍ

We forgave him for that. He holds a position of closeness to Us and a beautiful destination.

يا داوودُ إِنّا جَعَلناكَ خَليفَةً فِي الأَرضِ فَاحكُم بَينَ النّاسِ بِالحَقِّ وَلا تَتَّبِعِ الهَوىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَضِلّونَ عَن سَبيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُم عَذابٌ شَديدٌ بِما نَسوا يَومَ الحِسابِ

“O David, We made you a successor on earth, so judge between people with justice, and don’t follow desire, lest it diverts you from God’s way. Those who stray from God’s way will face a severe punishment for forgetting the Day of Account.”

وَما خَلَقنَا السَّماءَ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما باطِلًا ۚ ذٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا ۚ فَوَيلٌ لِلَّذينَ كَفَروا مِنَ النّارِ

We didn’t create the heavens, the earth, and everything between them in vain. That’s the misconception of those who disbelieve—woe to the unbelievers from the Fire.

أَم نَجعَلُ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ كَالمُفسِدينَ فِي الأَرضِ أَم نَجعَلُ المُتَّقينَ كَالفُجّارِ

Shall We treat those who believe and perform righteous deeds the same as those who spread corruption on earth? Or should We treat the devout as the wicked?

وَوَهَبنا لِداوودَ سُلَيمانَ ۚ نِعمَ العَبدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوّابٌ

To David, We granted Solomon—a good servant, deeply devoted.

إِذ عُرِضَ عَلَيهِ بِالعَشِيِّ الصّافِناتُ الجِيادُ

One evening, fine horses were paraded before him.

فَقالَ إِنّي أَحبَبتُ حُبَّ الخَيرِ عَن ذِكرِ رَبّي حَتّىٰ تَوارَت بِالحِجابِ

He said, “I have loved material wealth over the remembrance of my Lord—until they disappeared from sight.

رُدّوها عَلَيَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسحًا بِالسّوقِ وَالأَعناقِ

Bring them back to me.” And he began to stroke their legs and necks.

وَلَقَد فَتَنّا سُلَيمانَ وَأَلقَينا عَلىٰ كُرسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنابَ

We tested Solomon, and We placed a figure on his throne. Then he turned back.