The Quran

وَما كانَ رَبُّكَ مُهلِكَ القُرىٰ حَتّىٰ يَبعَثَ في أُمِّها رَسولًا يَتلو عَلَيهِم آياتِنا ۚ وَما كُنّا مُهلِكِي القُرىٰ إِلّا وَأَهلُها ظالِمونَ

Muhammad Asad

Yet, withal, thy Sustainer would never destroy a community without having [first] raised in its midst an apostle who would convey unto them Our messages;¹ and never would We destroy a community unless its people are wont to do wrong [to one another].²

Sc., "and thus make them aware of the meaning of right and wrong": cf. 6:130-132 and the corresponding notes 116 and 117.
Cf. in this connection 11:117 and note 149. All the three passages referred to in this as well as the preceding note (i.e., 6:130-132, 11:117 and 28:59) are interdependent and must, therefore, be read side by side. The present passage connects with verse 58 above and its reference to "wanton wealth and ease of life", for the sake of which people so often wrong one another.