The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

176
The Quran 17: 9
9 This Quran does indeed show the straightest way. It gives the
faithful who do right the good news that they will have a great
reward and 10 warns that We have prepared an agonizing punishment
for those who do not believe in the world to come. 11 Yet man
prays for harm, just as he prays for good: man is ever hasty. 12 We
made the night and the day as two signs, then darkened the night
and made the daylight for seeing, for you to seek your Lord’s bounty
and to know how to count the years and calculate. We have
explained everything in detail. 13 We have bound each human
being’s destiny to his neck. On the Day of Resurrection, We shall
bring out a record for each of them, which they will find spread
wide open, 14 ‘Read your record. Today your own soul is enough to
calculate your account.’
15 Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good; whoever
strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden,
nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger. 16 When We
decide to destroy a town, We command those corrupted by wealth
[to reform], but they [persist in their] disobedience; Our sentence is
passed, and We destroy them utterly. 17 How many generations We
have destroyed since Noah! Your Lord knows and observes the sins
of His servants well enough. 18 If anyone desires [only] the fleeting
life, We speed up whatever We will in it, for whoever We wish; in the
end We have prepared Hell for him in which to burn, disgraced and
rejected. 19 But if anyone desires the life to come and strives after it as
he should, as a true believer, his striving will be thanked. 20 To both
the latter and the former, We give some of your Lord’s bounty.
[Prophet], your Lord’s bounty is not restricted – 21 see how We have
given some more than others – but the Hereafter holds greater ranks
and greater favours.
22 Set up a no other god beside God, or you will end up disgraced
and forsaken. 23 Your Lord has commanded that you should worship
none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both
of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience
with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them
respectfully 24 and lower your wing in humility towards them in
kindness and say, ‘Lord, have mercy on them, just as they cared for
me when I was little.’ 25 Your Lord knows best what is in your heart.
a This verb is addressed to mankind as a whole (Razi).