[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.
اردو — مودودی
(ہم نے اس سے کہا) "اے داؤدؑ، ہم نے تجھے زمین میں خلیفہ بنایا ہے، لہٰذا تو لوگوں کے درمیان حق کے ساتھ حکومت کر اور خواہش نفس کی پیروی نہ کر کہ وہ تجھے اللہ کی راہ سے بھٹکا دے گی جو لوگ اللہ کی راہ سے بھٹکتے ہیں یقیناً اُن کے لیے سخت سزا ہے کہ وہ یوم الحساب کو بھول گئے"
Bahasa Indonesia — Kemenag
Hai Daud, sesungguhnya Kami menjadikan kamu khalifah (penguasa) di muka bumi, maka berilah keputusan (perkara) di antara manusia dengan adil dan janganlah kamu mengikuti hawa nafsu, karena ia akan menyesatkan kamu dari jalan Allah. Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang sesat darin jalan Allah akan mendapat azab yang berat, karena mereka melupakan hari perhitungan.
Ibn Kathir
Advice to Rulers and Leaders
This is advice from Allah, may He be exalted, to those who are in positions of authority. They should rule according to the truth and justice revealed from Him, they should not turn away from it and be led astray from the path of Allah. Allah has issued a stern warning of a severe punishment to those who go astray from His path and forget the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibrahim Abu Zur`ah, who read the Scripture, reported that Al-Walid bin `Abd Al-Malik said to him: "Does anyone have the right to question the Khalifah You have read the first Scripture and the Qur'an, and you have understood them." He replied, "May I speak, O Commander of the faithful" He said, "Speak, for you are under the protection of Allah." I said, "O Commander of the faithful, are you more dear to Allah, or Dawud, peace be upon him For Allah gave him both prophethood and rulership, then He warned him in His Book:
يدَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(O Dawud ! Verily, We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire -- for it will mislead you from the path of Allah)." `Ikrimah said:
لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدُ بِمَا نَسُواْ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ
((Those shall) have a severe torment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.) "They will have a severe punishment on the Day of Reckoning because of what they forgot. " As-Suddi said, "They will have a severe punishment because of what they neglected to do for the sake of the Day of Reckoning." This interpretation is more in accordance with the apparent meaning of the Ayah. And Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Guide to the Truth.
المُيَسَّر
يا داود إنا استخلفناك في الأرض وملَّكناك فيها، فاحكم بين الناس بالعدل والإنصاف، ولا تتبع الهوى في الأحكام، فيُضلك ذلك عن دين الله وشرعه، إن الذين يَضِلُّون عن سبيل الله لهم عذاب أليم في النار؛ بغفلتهم عن يوم الجزاء والحساب. وفي هذا توصية لولاة الأمر أن يحكموا بالحق المنزل من الله، تبارك وتعالى، ولا يعدلوا عنه، فيضلوا عن سبيله.