HKB
1 Yahya. 2 Jallalo'ddin, al Beidâwi. 3 Idem. 4 Idem.
And his armies were gathered together unto Solomon, consisting of genii,d and men, and birds; and they were led in distinct bands, until they came unto the valley of ants.e And an ant, seeing the hosts approaching, said, O ants, enter ye into your habitations, lest Solomon and his army tread you under foot, and perceive it not. And Solomon smiled, laughing at her words, and said, O LORD, excite me that I may be thankful for thy favor, wherewith thou hast favored me, and my parents; and that I may do that which is right, and well-pleasing unto thee: and introduce me, through thy mercy, into paradise, among thy servants the righteous. 20 And he viewed the birds, and said, What is the reason that I see not the lapwing?f Is she absent? Verily I will chastise her with a severe chastisement,g or I will put her to death; unless she bring me a just excuse. And she tarried not long before she presented herself unto Solomon, and said, I have viewed a country which thou hast not viewed; and I come unto thee from Saba, with a certain piece of news. I found a womanh to reign over them, who is provided with everything requisite for a prince, and hath a magnificent throne.i