Others like them have schemed in the past, and consequently, God destroyed their building at the foundation, causing the roof to fall on them. The retribution struck them when they least expected.
قَد مَكَرَ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنيٰنَهُم مِنَ القَواعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيهِمُ السَّقفُ مِن فَوقِهِم وَأَتىٰهُمُ العَذابُ مِن حَيثُ لا يَشعُرونَ
qad makaral lazeena min qablihim fa atal laahu bunyaa nahum minal qawaa’idi fakharra ‘alaihimus saqfu min fawqihim wa ataahumul ‘azaabu min haisu laa yash’uroon