Then smiled Solomon, laughing at her words, and he said, "Stir me up, O Lord, to be thankful for thy favour which thou hast shewed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness that shall be well pleasing to thee, and bring me in, by thy mercy, among thy servants the righteous."
And he reviewed the birds, and said, "How is it that I see not the lapwing?
Is it one of the absent?
Surely, with a severe chastisement will I chastise it, or I will certainly slaughter it, unless it bring me a clear excuse."
Nor tarried it long ere it came and said, "I have gained the knowledge that thou knowest not, and with sure tidings have I come to thee from Saba:
I found a woman reigning over them, gifted with everything, and she hath a splendid throne;
And I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of God; and Satan hath made their works fair seeming to them, so that he hath turned them from the Way: wherefore they are not guided,
To the worship of God, who bringeth to light the secret things of heaven and earth, and knoweth what men conceal and what they manifest:
God! there is no god but He! the lord of the glorious throne!"
He said, "We shall see whether thou hast spoken truth, or whether thou art of them that lie.
Go with this my letter and throw it down to them: then turn away from them and await their answer."