And who does greater evil than he who forges against God a lie, or cries lies to His signs? They shall not prosper, the evildoers. 21 On the Day when We gather them all together, We will say to those who associated [others with Us], "Where are those partners that you claimed?" 22 Attempting to answer, they will say, "Lord, we swear by Your Name that we were not pagans". 23 Consider, how they have lied against their own souls and have lost their gods. 24 Some of them listen to you. But We have cast veils over their hearts lest they understand it and in their ears heaviness; and if they see every sign they do not believe in it. When they come to you they argue, the unbelievers say: 'This is nothing but the tales of the ancient ones' 25 As for others, they prevent them from embracing the Truth; and themselves, they flee from it (so as to harm you). But they court their own ruin, although they do not realize it. 26 And couldst thou see what time they shall be held over the Fire, and then they will say: would that we were sent back and now we shall not belie the signs of our Lord and we shall be of the believers. 27 No; that which they were concealing before has now appeared to them; and even if they were returned, they would again commit the very thing they were prohibited; they are truly liars. 28 And they say: there is naught but our life of the world, nor are we to be raised. 29 And if you see when they are placed before their Lord, He will say, “Is this not real (the truth)? They will say, “Yes – why not, by our Lord!” He will say, “So now taste the punishment – the recompense of your disbelief.” 30