وَلَكِنَّا أَنشَأْنَا قُرُونًا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُBut We created generations, and long were the ages that passed over them. وَمَا كُنتَ ثَاوِيًا فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ تَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ ايَاتِنَاAnd you were not a dweller among the people of Madyan, reciting Our Ayat to them.meaning, `you were not living among the people of Madyan reciting Our Ayat to them, when you started to tell about Our Prophet Shu`ayb and what he said to his people and how they responded.' وَلَكِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَBut it is We Who kept sending.means, `but We revealed that to you and sent you to mankind as a Messenger.'