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the evil of their deeds will become plain to them, and they will be overwhelmed by that at which they used to laugh.

When man suffers some affliction, he cries out to Us, but when We favour him with Our blessing, he says, ‘All this has been given to me because of my knowledge’- it is only a test, though most of them do not know it.

Those who lived before them said the same. What they did was of no use to them;

they suffered its evil effects. Today’s wrongdoers will also suffer the evil effects of their deeds: they will not escape.

Do they not know that God provides abun-dantly for anyone He will and gives sparingly to anyone He will? There truly are signs in this for those who believe.

Say, ‘[God says], My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own excess, do not despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Turn to your Lord. Submit to Him before the punishment overtakes you and you can no longer be helped.

Follow the best teaching sent down to you from your Lord, before the punishment suddenly takes you, unawares,

and your soul says, “Woe is me for having neglected what is due to God, and having been one of those who scoffed!”