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 Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to the believers nor to the disbelievers. And whoever Allah leaves astray - never will you find for him a way. 143 O believers, take not the unbelievers as friends instead of the believers; or do you desire to give God over you a clear authority? 144 Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the Fire; and thou wilt not find for them a helper. 145 save such as repent, and make amends, and hold fast to God, and make their religion sincerely God's; those are with the believers, and God will certainly give the believers a mighty wage. 146 What, would Allah do with punishing you if you thank and believe! Allah is the Thanker, the Knower. 147 ۞ Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who hath been wronged. Allah is ever Hearer, Knower. 148 If you do good openly or do it in secret or pardon an evil then surely Allah is Pardoning, Powerful. 149 Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, "We believe in some but reject others," and wish to adopt a way in between. 150 those in truth are the unbelievers, and We have prepared for the unbelievers a humiliating punishment. 151 To those who believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of the messengers, we shall soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. 152