The problems of desertification and aridity had been addressed through the reclamation and cultivation of large tracts of land.

We afflicted the people of Pharaoh with famine and dearth of everything that they might take heed .

And indeed We seized the people of Firaun with a famine of several years and with reduction of fruits , so that they may follow advice .

Then seized We Pharaoh 's people with years of dearth , and scarcity of fruits , that haply they might remember .

And assuredly We laid hold of the people of Fir 'awn with lean years and lack of fruits , that haply they might dread .

And indeed We punished the people of Fir 'aun ( Pharaoh ) with years of drought and shortness of fruits ( crops , etc . ) , that they might remember ( take heed ) .

And We afflicted the people of Pharaoh with barren years , and with shortage of crops , that they may take heed .

We afflicted the people of Pharaoh with hard times and with poor harvest that they may heed .

And we straitened Pharaoh 's folk with famine and dearth of fruits , that peradventure they might heed .

Certainly We afflicted Pharaoh s clan with droughts and loss of produce , so that they may take admonition .

We seized Pharaoh 's people with years of drought and scarcity of fruit so that they might remember .

And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and a deficiency in fruits that perhaps they would be reminded .

For years We afflicted Pharaoh 's people with shortages in food so that perhaps they would take heed .

And certainly We overtook Firon 's people with droughts and diminution of fruits that they may be mindful .

We afflicted Pharaoh 's people with shortages of food and famine so that they might take heed ,

We punished the people of Pharaoh with years ( of droughts ) and shortness of crops that they might receive admonition .

But We shall make them taste the affliction of this world before the greater torment , so that they may retract .

And We shall indeed make them taste the smaller punishment before the greater punishment , so that they may return .

And We shall surely let them taste the nearer chastisement , before the greater haply so they will return .

And surely We shall make them taste of the smaller torment prior to the greater torment , that haply they may yet return .

And verily , We will make them taste of the near torment ( i.e. the torment in the life of this world , i.e. disasters , calamities , etc . ) prior to the supreme torment ( in the Hereafter ) , in order that they may ( repent and ) return ( i.e. accept Islam ) .

We will make them taste the lesser torment , prior to the greater torment , so that they may return .

We shall certainly have them taste some chastisement in this world in addition to the greater chastisement ( of the Hereafter ) perhaps they will retract ( from their transgression ) .

And verily We make them taste the lower punishment before the greater , that haply they may return .

We shall surely make them taste the nearer punishment prior to the greater punishment , so that they may come back .

But We will let them taste the nearest punishment ( in this life ) before the greater punishment , so that they may return ( to faith ) .

And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent .

We shall certainly make them suffer worldly torment before suffering the great torment so that perhaps they may return to Us .

And most certainly We will make them taste of the nearer chastisement before the greater chastisement that haply they may turn .

And most surely We will make them taste a lesser punishment before the greater punishment , so that perhaps they may return to Us in repentance .

And indeed We will make them taste of the Penalty of this ( life ) prior to the supreme Penalty , in order that they may ( repent and ) return .

Only then we will know if the trade off at least made sense, even if for many it was unacceptable authentic social justice and progress in exchange for authoritarian rule, international ostracism, and a cultural desert.

When they returned to him , they said ( to Joseph ) O Minister , calamity has befallen us and our people . We have brought but a meagre sum , but give us full measure as alms bestowed .

Then when they reached in the company of Yusuf they said , O governor ! Calamity has struck us and our household , and we have brought goods of little value , so give us the full measure and be generous to us undoubtedly Allah rewards the generous .

So , when they entered unto him , they said , ' O mighty prince , affliction has visited us and our people . We come with merchandise of scant worth .

And when they entered unto him , they said O Aziz ! distress hath touched us and our household , and we have brought poor goods , wherefore give us full measure , and be charitable unto us verily Allah recompenseth the charitable .

Then , when they entered unto him Yusuf ( Joseph ) , they said O ruler of the land ! A hard time has hit us and our family , and we have brought but poor capital , so pay us full measure and be charitable to us .

Then , when they entered into his presence , they said , Mighty governor , adversity has befallen us , and our family . We have brought scant merchandise .

On going to Egypt they presented themselves to Joseph and said to him O chief ! We and our family are struck with distress and have brought only a paltry sum .

And when they came ( again ) before him ( Joseph ) they said O ruler ! Misfortune hath touched us and our folk , and we bring but poor merchandise , so fill for us the measure and be charitable unto us .

Then , when they entered into his presence , they said , O emir ! Distress has befallen us and our family , and we have brought just a meagre sum .

And when they presented themselves before him they said ' O mighty prince , we and our people are afflicted with distress . We have brought but little merchandise .

So when they entered upon Joseph , they said , O ' Azeez , adversity has touched us and our family , and we have come with goods poor in quality , but give us full measure and be charitable to us . Indeed , Allah rewards the charitable .

When they entered Joseph 's court , they said , Noble Prince , hardship has struck us and our people . We have come with a little money , so give us a measure of grain and be charitable to us .

So when they came in to him , they said O chief ! distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money , so give us full measure and be charitable to us surely Allah rewards the charitable .