Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)

when the sky brings on a manifest smoke,
11 enveloping the people.
[They will cry out:] ‘This is a painful punishment.
12 Our Lord! Remove from us this punishment.
Indeed we have believed!’
13 What will the admonition avail them,
when a manifest apostle had already come to them,
14 but they turned away from him,
and said, ‘A tutored madman?’
15 Indeed We will withdraw the punishment a little;
but you will indeed revert [to your earlier ways].
16 The day We shall strike with the most terrible striking,
We will indeed take vengeance [on them].

17 Certainly We tried
the people of Pharaoh before them,
when a noble apostle came to them,
18 [saying,] ‘Give over the servants of Allah sup>1 to me;
indeed I am a trusted apostle [sent] to you.
19 Do not defy Allah.
Indeed I bring you a manifest authority.
20 I seek the protection of my Lord and your Lord,
lest you should stone me.
21 And if you do not believe me,
keep out of my way.’
22 Then he invoked his Lord,
[saying,] ‘These are indeed a guilty lot.’
23 [Allah told him,] ‘Set out with My servants by night;
for you will indeed be pursued.