۞ Then is he who knows what is sent down to you from your Lord is the truth like he who is blind? Indeed, only those possessed with minds remember 19 they who are true to their bond with God and never break their covenant; 20 and those who join together what God has commanded to be joined, and fear their Lord and dread the harshness of the reckoning; 21 patient men, desirous of the Face of their Lord, who perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them, secretly and in public, and who avert evil with good -- theirs shall be the Ultimate Abode, 22 They shall enter the eternal Gardens of Eden, along with the righteous from among their fathers, wives and descendants. From every gate the angels will come to them, saying, 23 Saying: "(Welcome,) peace on you, for you persevered." How excellent the recompense of Paradise! 24 But as for those who break their bond with God after it has been established [in their nature,] and cut asunder what God has bidden to be joined, and spread corruption on earth - their due is rejection [by God,] and theirs is a most evil fate [in the life to come]. 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