<p>18:18 <i>And cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying: What city is like the great city?- </i>They are connected with faithful Abraham observing Sodom's burning; but although the great city is no more, they speak in the present tense as though it is still existing. This is a reflection of their grief at how much has been lost, both to them and in general terms. This is how stubbornly materialistic they are. </p>