27لا يَسبِقونَهُ بِالقَولِ وَهُم بِأَمرِهِ يَعمَلونَMuhammad Asadthey speak not until He has spoken unto them,1 and [whenever they act,] they act at His behest.Lit., "they do not precede Him in speech" - meaning that they proclaim only what He has revealed to them and bidden them to proclaim.