Edward Palmer, The Qur’ân (1880)
we think you liars!’ [30] He said, ‘O my people! let us see! if I stand upon a manifest sign from my Lord, and there come to me mercy from him, and ye are blinded to it; shall we force you to it while ye are averse therefrom?
‘O my people! I do not ask you for wealth in return for it; my hire is only from God; nor do I repulse those who believe; verily, they shall meet their Lord. But I see you, a people who are ignorant. ‘O my people! who will help me against God, were I to repulse you? do ye not then mind? I do not say that I have the treasures of God; nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say, “Verily, I am an angel;” nor do I say of those whom your eyes despise, “God will never give them any good!” — God knows best what is in their souls — verily, then should I be of the unjust.’
They said, ‘O Noah! thou hast wrangled with us, and hast multiplied wranglings with us; bring us then what thou hast threatened us with, if thou art of those who tell the truth.’ [35] Said he, ‘God will only bring it on you if He pleases, nor can ye make Him helpless; nor will my advice profit you, should I wish to advise you, if God wish to lead you into error. He is your Lord, and unto Him shall ye be returned.’
Do they say, ‘He has devised it 1 ?’ Say, ‘If I have devised it, then on me be my sin. But I am clear of that wherein ye sin.’
And Noah was inspired, ‘None shall surely believe amongst thy people but those who have believed already; take not then ill that which they
1 The Qur’ân.
