Ash-Shu'ara Verse 129

and construct castles, as if you are going to live forever,

And do you construct for yourselves palaces, hoping that you will live forever?

and do you take to you castles, haply to dwell forever?

Do you build fortresses because you hope to be immortal?

And take ye for yourselves castles that haply ye may abide.

"And do ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (for ever)?

and erect huge palaces as though you will live for ever,

Erect palaces (thinking) that you will live for ever,

“And prefer strong palaces, that perhaps you may live for ever?”

You set up structures as if you will be immortal,

"And make for yourselves great castles (as if) hoping that you might live for ever;

`And you raise fortresses in the hope that you will abide till long.

And you take factories , maybe/perhaps you be immortal/eternal ?

“And prefer strong palaces, that perhaps you may live for ever?”

"Do you build on every height a monument of vain delight?

"And do you get for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein for ever.

And I ask of you no reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds.

And you make strong fortresses that perhaps you may

And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?

and raise strong mansions as if you were to live forever?

And do you take to yourselves underground reservoirs, in order to live for ever!

"And do you get for yourselves Masani` as if you will live therein forever"

and erect castles hoping that you will live forever.

And you set up fortresses, hoping to live forever?

And you set up structures, for [extracting] water underground, that perhaps you might, as though you will, last forever, therein and not die.

Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah for your amusement!

The scholars of Tafsir differed over the meaning of the word Ri`. In brief, they said that it refers to an elevated location at a well-known crossroads, where they would build a huge, dazzling, sturdy structure, this is why he said;

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ايَةً
(Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah) i.e., a well-known landmark,

تَعْبَثُونَ
(for your amusement), meaning, `you are only doing that for the purpose of frivolity, not because you need it, but for fun and to show off your strength.'

So their Prophet, peace be upon him, denounced them for doing that, because it was a waste of time and exhausted people's bodies for no purpose, and kept them busy with something that was of no benefit in this world or the next.

He said;

وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ