And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, punishment would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].
و اگر سنّت و تقدیر پروردگارت و ملاحظه زمان مقرّر نبود، عذاب الهی بزودی دامان آنان را می‌گرفت!