By evening, as the air raids died down, the city lay shrouded in fire and smoke.

By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.

By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

Images of the Beijing skyline seemingly bathed in a soup of smog and haze have been a common sight on the world s TV screens in recent days and weeks.

Do they wait for any thing but the Hour ( of change ) , that it may come upon them suddenly ? Its signs have already appeared .

So what are they waiting for , except that the Last Day suddenly come upon them ? For its signs have already appeared so when it does come , of what use is their realising it ?

Are they looking for aught but the Hour , that it shall come upon them suddenly ? Already its tokens have come so , when it has come to them , how shall they have their Reminder ?

Await they but the Hour , that it should come upon them on a sudden ? Tokens thereof are already come , so how shall it be with them when there cometh Unto them their admonition !

Do they then await ( anything ) other than the Hour , that it should come upon them suddenly ? But some of its portents ( indications and signs ) have already come , and when it ( actually ) is on them , how can they benefit then by their reminder ?

Are they just waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly ? Its tokens have already come .

Already some of its tokens have come . But when it does actually come upon them , where will any time be left for them to take heed ?

Await they aught save the Hour , that it should come upon them unawares ? And the beginnings thereof have already come .

Its portents have already come . When it overtakes them of what avail will the admonitions they were given ?

Are they looking except for the Hour to overtake them suddenly ? Its signs have come .

Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly ? But already there have come some of its indications .

Its signs have already appeared . How will they then come to their senses when the Hour itself will approach them ?

Do they then wait for aught but the hour that it should come to them all of a sudden ? Now indeed the tokens of it have ( already ) come , but how shall they have their reminder when it comes on them ?

Its signs have already come . But of what avail will their admonition be to them when it has actually come upon them ?

Do they then only wait for the Hour , that it should come on them of a sudden ? But already have come some tokens thereof , and when it ( actually ) is on them , how can they benefit then by their admonition ?