ثُمَّ بَدَّلنا مَكانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الحَسَنَةَ حَتّىٰ عَفَوا وَقالوا قَد مَسَّ آباءَنَا الضَّرّاءُ وَالسَّرّاءُ فَأَخَذناهُم بَغتَةً وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ

Then, We replaced their hardship with ease until they multiplied and said, “Our ancestors, too, experienced hardship and ease.” Suddenly, We seized them unawares.

وَلَو أَنَّ أَهلَ القُرىٰ آمَنوا وَاتَّقَوا لَفَتَحنا عَلَيهِم بَرَكاتٍ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ وَلـٰكِن كَذَّبوا فَأَخَذناهُم بِما كانوا يَكسِبونَ

Had the residents of the towns believed and been righteous, We would’ve opened upon them blessings from the sky and the earth. But they denied the truth, so We seized them on account of their misdeeds.

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهلُ القُرىٰ أَن يَأتِيَهُم بَأسُنا بَياتًا وَهُم نائِمونَ

Are the people of the towns feeling secure from Our punishment coming upon them suddenly at night while they sleep?

أَوَأَمِنَ أَهلُ القُرىٰ أَن يَأتِيَهُم بَأسُنا ضُحًى وَهُم يَلعَبونَ

Are the townsfolk carefree that Our punishment won’t come to them in the daytime while they play?

أَفَأَمِنوا مَكرَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَلا يَأمَنُ مَكرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا القَومُ الخاسِرونَ

Do they feel safe from God’s scheme? None feel secure from God’s scheme except the losers.

تِلكَ القُرىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيكَ مِن أَنبائِها ۚ وَلَقَد جاءَتهُم رُسُلُهُم بِالبَيِّناتِ فَما كانوا لِيُؤمِنوا بِما كَذَّبوا مِن قَبلُ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ يَطبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ قُلوبِ الكافِرينَ

These are the towns; We tell you their stories. Their messengers came to them with evident signs, but they would not believe in what they had already rejected. Thus, God seals the hearts of the unbelievers.

وَما وَجَدنا لِأَكثَرِهِم مِن عَهدٍ ۖ وَإِن وَجَدنا أَكثَرَهُم لَفاسِقينَ

We found most of them not true to their commitments; We found most of them sinful.

ثُمَّ بَعَثنا مِن بَعدِهِم موسىٰ بِآياتِنا إِلىٰ فِرعَونَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَظَلَموا بِها ۖ فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ المُفسِدينَ

Then, after them, We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them. See, then, how was the end of the corrupters.

وَقالَ موسىٰ يا فِرعَونُ إِنّي رَسولٌ مِن رَبِّ العالَمينَ

Moses said, “O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.”

حَقيقٌ عَلىٰ أَن لا أَقولَ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الحَقَّ ۚ قَد جِئتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِن رَبِّكُم فَأَرسِل مَعِيَ بَني إِسرائيلَ

“Rightly so, I can’t say anything other than the truth about God. I’ve come to you with clear proof from your Lord, so release the Children of Israel with me.”