Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate unto thee: There came indeed to them their messengers with clear (signs): But they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus doth Allah seal up the hearts of those who reject faith.

Hath not the story reached them of those before them?- the People of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud; the People of Abraham, the men of Midian, and the cities overthrown. To them came their messengers with clear signs. It is not Allah Who wrongs them, but they wrong their own souls.

Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their messengers came to them with clear-signs, but they would not believe! thus do We requite those who sin!

Has not the story reached you, (O people!), of those who (went) before you? - of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud? - And of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came messengers with Clear (Signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths, and said: "We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent, and we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which ye invite us."

Their messengers said: "Is there a doubt about Allah, The Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said: "Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority."

Their messengers said to them: "True, we are human like yourselves, but Allah doth grant His grace to such of his servants as He pleases. It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits. And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.

Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their messengers with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.

And if they reject thee, so did their predecessors, to whom came their messengers with Clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of Enlightenment.

That was because there came to them their messengers with Clear (Signs), but they rejected them: So Allah called them to account: for He is Full of Strength, Strict in Punishment.

For when their messengers came to them with Clear Signs, they exulted in such knowledge (and skill) as they had; but that very (Wrath) at which they were wont to scoff hemmed them in.

That was because there came to them messengers with Clear Signs, but they said: "Shall (mere) human beings direct us?" So they rejected (the Message) and turned away. But Allah can do without (them): and Allah is free of all needs, worthy of all praise.

这些城市，我已把它们的部分故事告诉了你。各民族的使者，确已用许多明证昭示本族的人；但他们不会相信自己以前所否认的。真主就这样封闭不信道者的心。

在他们以前逝去的民族，有努哈的宗族，阿德人和赛莫德人，易卜拉欣的宗族，麦德彦的居民和被倾覆的城市的居民，难道那些人的消息没有来临他们吗？那些人的使者们昭示他们许多明证，故真主不致于亏枉他们，但他们自欺了。

在你们之前曾有许多世代，他们族中的使者既昭示了他们许多明证，而他们仍行不义，不肯信道，我就毁灭了他们，我这样报应犯罪的民众。

你们以前的民族--努哈的宗族、阿德人、赛莫德人和他们以后的人，只有真主能知道他们--难道这等人的消息没有来临你们吗？他们族中的使者昭示他们许多明证，但他们把自己的手指插入口内，说：“我们必定不信你们所奉的使命，我们对于你们所宣传的事情，确是在使人不安的疑惑之中。”

他们族中的使者说：“难道对于真主--天地的创造者--还有怀疑吗？他号召你们行善，以便他饶恕你们的罪过，并对你们缓刑到一个定期。”他们说：“你们只是像我们一样的凡人，你们欲阻止我们崇拜我们的祖先所崇拜的（偶像），你们昭示我们一个明证吧！”

他们族中的一个使者对他们说：“我们只是像你们一样的凡人，但真主施恩于他所意欲的仆人。我们不该昭示你们任何明证，除非奉真主的命令，信道者只信托真主。

难道他们没有在大地上旅行而观察前人的结局是怎样的吗？前人比他们努力更大，前人于地方的恳植和建设，胜过他们。他们族中的使者来临他们，真主不致亏枉他们，但他们亏枉了自己，

如果他们否认你，那末，在他们之前逝去者，已否认了；他们族中的使者曾昭示他们明证、天经和灿烂的经典。

那是因为我的众使者曾带着许多明证来临他们，但他们不归信，故真主惩罚了他们。他确是至刚的。他的刑罚确是严厉的，

当他们族中的众使者昭示他们许多明证的时候，他们因自己所有的学问而洋洋得意，他们所嘲笑的刑罚，遂降临他们。

这是因为他们族中的使者显示他们许多明证，他们却说：“难道凡人也能引道我们？”故他们不信道而违背之。真主曾表示无求於他们的信仰，真主是无求的，是可颂的。