كَأَن لَم يَغنَوا فيها ۗ أَلا بُعدًا لِمَديَنَ كَما بَعِدَت ثَمودُ

As if they had never flourished there. So, away with Midian, just as Thamud was done away with.

وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا موسىٰ بِآياتِنا وَسُلطانٍ مُبينٍ

We sent Moses with Our signs and a clear mandate.

إِلىٰ فِرعَونَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَاتَّبَعوا أَمرَ فِرعَونَ ۖ وَما أَمرُ فِرعَونَ بِرَشيدٍ

To Pharaoh and his nobility, but they followed Pharaoh’s dictates, although Pharoah’s dictates weren’t rational.

يَقدُمُ قَومَهُ يَومَ القِيامَةِ فَأَورَدَهُمُ النّارَ ۖ وَبِئسَ الوِردُ المَورودُ

On the Day of Resurrection, he will lead his people into the Fire—a horrendous place to be led to.

وَأُتبِعوا في هـٰذِهِ لَعنَةً وَيَومَ القِيامَةِ ۚ بِئسَ الرِّفدُ المَرفودُ

They were pursued by a curse in this life—and on Resurrection Day. What a horrid gift they chose!

وَما ظَلَمناهُم وَلـٰكِن ظَلَموا أَنفُسَهُم ۖ فَما أَغنَت عَنهُم آلِهَتُهُمُ الَّتي يَدعونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ مِن شَيءٍ لَمّا جاءَ أَمرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَما زادوهُم غَيرَ تَتبيبٍ

We didn’t wrong them, but they wronged themselves. Their gods, which they invoked besides God, availed them nothing when your Lord’s command arrived; they only added to their ruin.

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَخذُ رَبِّكَ إِذا أَخَذَ القُرىٰ وَهِيَ ظالِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخذَهُ أَليمٌ شَديدٌ

Such is your Lord’s grip when He seizes the communities while they are immersed in wrongdoing. Indeed, His grip is painful and severe.

إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِمَن خافَ عَذابَ الآخِرَةِ ۚ ذٰلِكَ يَومٌ مَجموعٌ لَهُ النّاسُ وَذٰلِكَ يَومٌ مَشهودٌ

This is a warning for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter. That’s a Day for which the people will be gathered, and that’s a Day witnessed.

وَما نُؤَخِّرُهُ إِلّا لِأَجَلٍ مَعدودٍ

We only delay it for a determined period.

يَومَ يَأتِ لا تَكَلَّمُ نَفسٌ إِلّا بِإِذنِهِ ۚ فَمِنهُم شَقِيٌّ وَسَعيدٌ

When that day arrives, no soul will speak except by His leave. Some will be miserable, while others will be happy.