38.21 . And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber ;

38.22 . How they burst in upon David , and he was afraid of them . They said Be not afraid ( We are ) two litigants , one of whom hath wronged the other , therefor judge aright between us ; be not unjust ; and show us the fair way .

38.23 . Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe ; and he said : Entrust it to me , and he conquered me in speech .

38.24 . ( David ) said : He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes , and lo! many partners oppress one another , save such as believe and do good works , and they are few . And David guessed that We had tried him , and he sought forgiveness of his Lord , and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented .

38.25 . So We forgave him that ; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey ' s end .

38.26 . ( And it was said unto him ) : O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth ; therefor judge aright between mankind , and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah . Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom , forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning .

38.27 . And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain . That is the opinion of those who disbelieve . And woe unto those who disbelieve , from the Fire!

38.28 . Shall We treat those who believe and do good works as those who spread corruption in the earth ; or shall We treat the Pious as the wicked?

38.29 . ( This is ) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee , full of blessing , that they may ponder its revelations , and that men of understanding may reflect .

38.30 . And We bestowed on David , Solomon . How excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance ( toward Allah ) .

38.31 . When there were shown to him at eventide light footed coursers

38.32 . And he said : Lo! I have preferred the good things ( of the world ) to the remembrance of my Lord ; till they were taken out of sight behind the curtain .

38.33 . ( Then he said ) : Bring them back to me , and fell to slashing ( with his sword their ) legs and necks .

38.34 . And verily We tried Solomon , and set upon his throne a ( mere ) body . Then did he repent .

38.35 . He said : My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such shall not belong to any after me . Lo! Thou art the Bestower .

38.36 . So We made the wind subservient unto him , setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended .

38.37 . And the unruly , every builder and diver ( made We subservient ) ,

38.38 . And others linked together in chains ,

38.39 . ( Saying ) : This is Our gift , so bestow thou , or withhold , without reckoning .

38.40 . And lo! he hath favor with Us , and a happy journey ' s end .