And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong - so it is [now] fallen into ruin1 - and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.2
Translation: Saheeh International (English)
1 Literally, "fallen in upon its roofs," i.e., after the roofs of its buildings had caved in, the walls collapsed over them.
2 i.e., How many wells have been left inoperative, and how many palaces have been emptied of their occupants in the past.
How many cities, which were unjust because of their disbelief, I destroyed with obliterating punishment. Their homes are ruined and empty of inhabitants. How many wells are there which have nobody to drink from them, due to their being destroyed. How many lofty decorated palaces are there which could not save their residents from the punishment.