۞ What, is he who knows what is sent down to thee from thy Lord is the truth, like him who is blind? Only men possessed of minds remember; 19 they who are true to their bond with God and never break their covenant; 20 who join together the ties which Allah has bidden to be joined; who fear their Lord and dread lest they are subjected to severe reckoning; 21 Who persevere in seeking the way of their Lord, who fulfil their devotional obligations, and spend of what We have given them, secretly or openly, who repel evil with good: For them is the recompense of Paradise: 22 Gardens of Eden which they enter, along with all who do right of their fathers and their helpmeets and their seed. The angels enter unto them from every gate, 23 Saying: "(Welcome,) peace on you, for you persevered." How excellent the recompense of Paradise! 24 And those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah hath commanded should be joined, and make mischief in the earth: theirs is the curse and theirs the ill abode. 25 God gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases -- [those who deny the truth] rejoice in the life of this world; yet the life of this world is but a fleeting pleasure compared with the life to come. 26