27. Neml · verses 20–22

وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيۡرَ فَقَالَ مَالِيَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلۡهُدۡهُدَ أَمۡ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَآئِبِينَ

Watafaqqada alttayra faqala ma liya la ara alhudhuda am kana mina alghaibeena

And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُۥ عَذَابٗا شَدِيدًا أَوۡ لَأَاْذۡبَحَنَّهُۥٓ أَوۡ لَيَأۡتِيَنِّي بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖ

LaoAAaththibannahu AAathaban shadeedan aw laathbahannahu aw layatiyannee bisultanin mubeenin

"I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."

فَمَكَثَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٖ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ وَجِئۡتُكَ مِن سَبَإِۭ بِنَبَإٖ يَقِينٍ

Famakatha ghayra baAAeedin faqala ahattu bima lam tuhit bihi wajituka min sabain binabain yaqeenin

But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.