وَالشَّفعِ وَالوَترِ

And [by] the even [number] and the odd

وَاللَّيلِ إِذا يَسرِ

And [by] the night when it passes,

هَل في ذٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذي حِجرٍ

Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception?

أَلَم تَرَ كَيفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعادٍ

Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad -

إِرَمَ ذاتِ العِمادِ

[With] Iram - who had lofty pillars,

وَثَمودَ الَّذينَ جابُوا الصَّخرَ بِالوادِ

And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley?

وَفِرعَونَ ذِي الأَوتادِ

And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes? -

الَّذينَ طَغَوا فِي البِلادِ

[All of] whom oppressed within the lands

فَأَكثَروا فيهَا الفَسادَ

And increased therein the corruption.

فَصَبَّ عَلَيهِم رَبُّكَ سَوطَ عَذابٍ

So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.