The hypocrites seek to trick God, but God is tricking them. When they stand up to pray they stand up lazily, showing off to the people and not remembering God save a little; 142 They vacillate between the two, belonging neither to one side nor the other. But for him whom God allows to go astray you can never find the way for him. 143 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya' (protectors or helpers or friends) disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves? 144 Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the Fire; and thou wilt not find for them a helper. 145 But those who repent and mend (their ways), who hold fast to Allah, and make their religion sincerely for Allah they are with the believers, and Allah will certainly give the believers a great wage. 146 Why should God punish you if you acknowledge the truth and believe? God is responsive to gratitude and is cognisant. 147 ۞ Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who hath been wronged. Allah is ever Hearer, Knower. 148 If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent. 149 Those who deny Allah and His messengers, and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His messengers, saying: "We believe in some but reject others": And (those who) wish to take a course midway,- 150 These are the real disbelievers; and for the disbelievers We have kept prepared a disgraceful punishment. 151 To those who believe in God and His messengers, and make no distinction between any of them, to those -- We shall surely give them their rewards. God is most forgiving and merciful. 152