M. H. Shakir, The Holy Quran; Arabic Text and English Translation; Foot-notes by M. H. Shakir (1974)

would chastise with a severe chastisement? They said: To be free from blame before your Lord, and that haply they may guard (against evil).

165. So when they neglected what they had been reminded of, We delivered those who forbade evil and We overtook those who were unjust with an evil chastisement because they transgressed.

166. Therefore when they revoltingly persisted in what. they had been forbidden, We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.

167. And when your Lord announced that He would certainly send against (hem to the day of resurrection those who would subject them to severe torment; most surely your Lord is quick to requite (evil) and most surely He is Forgiving, Merciful.

168. And We cut them up on the earth into parties, (some) of them being righteous and (others) of them falling short of that, and We tried them with blessings and misfortunes that they might turn.

169. Then there came after them an evil posterity who inherited the Book, taking only the frail good of this low life and saying: It will be forgiven us. And if the like good came