57. And We gave you the shade of clouds and sent down to you Manna and quails,
saying: "Eat of the good things We have provided for you:" (But they rebelled);
to us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.
58. And remember We said: "Enter this town, and eat of the plenty therein as ye
wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words, and We shall
forgive you your faults and increase (the portion of) those who do good."
59. But the transgressors changed the word from that which had been given them;
so We sent on the transgressors a plague from heaven, for that they infringed
(Our command) repeatedly.
60. And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: "Strike the
rock with thy staff." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group
knew its own place for water. So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by
Allah, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.
61. And remember ye said: "O Moses! we cannot endure one kind of food (always);
so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth groweth, -its
pot-herbs, and cucumbers, Its garlic, lentils, and onions." He said: "Will ye
exchange the better for the worse? Go ye down to any town, and ye shall find
what ye want!" They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on
themselves the wrath of Allah. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of
Allah and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled
and went on transgressing.
62. Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish
(scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and
the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord;
on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
63. And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (The towering
height) of Mount (Sinai) : (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you and
bring (ever) to remembrance what is therein: Perchance ye may fear Allah."
64. But ye turned back thereafter: Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of
Allah to you, ye had surely been among the lost.
65. And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the
Sabbath: We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."
66. So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a
lesson to those who fear Allah.
Translation by Abdullah Yusufali