The hypocrites seek to outwit God -- but it is He who outwits them. And when they stand up for prayer, they do so reluctantly and to be seen by others, and they hardly remember God at all. 142 (They are) distracted in mind even in the midst of it,- being (sincerely) for neither one group nor for another whom Allah leaves straying,- never wilt thou find for him the way. 143 O ye who believe! Choose not disbelievers for (your) friends in place of believers. Would ye give Allah a clear warrant against you? 144 The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them;- 145 except those who re-pent and mend their ways and hold fast to Allah and make their faith exclusive to Allah. Those people shall be numbered with the believers and Allah will certainly bestow on the believers a great reward. 146 Why should Allah chastise you if you are grateful and believe? And Allah is the Multiplier of rewards, Knowing 147 ۞ Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing. 148 If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent. 149 Those who disbelieve in God and His Messengers try to create differences between God and His Messengers (by rejecting their message). They say, "We believe in some but not in others." Thus, they try to find a middle way 150 Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment. 151 And those who believe in Allah, and His Messengers and do not divide between any of them; to those, We shall surely give them their wages. Allah is the Forgiver, the Most Merciful. 152