Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day;" but they do not (really) believe. 8 They (try to) deceive God and those who believe, yet deceive none but themselves although they do not know. 9 A sickness exists in their hearts to which God adds more sickness. Besides this, they will suffer a painful punishment as a result of the lie which they speak. 10 And when they are told, "Do not spread corruption on earth," they answer, "We are but improving things!" 11 Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not. 12 When asked to believe as others do, they say: "Should we believe like fools?" And yet they are the fools, even though they do not know. 13 When they meet those who believe, they say, 'We, too believe.' But when they are alone with their devils, they say to them: 'We follow none but you, we were only mocking 14 But God will turn the joke against them and allow them to sink deeper into evil and wander perplexed in their wickedness. 15 These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction, 16 Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire, but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness-- they do not see. 17 Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path]. 18 Or like a rainstorm from the sky, in which are darkness, thunder and lightning; they thrust their fingers in their ears due to the thunderclaps, fearing death; and Allah has the disbelievers encompassed. 19 The lightning well-nigh takes away their sight; whenever it gives them light, they advance therein, and whenever darkness falls around them, they stand still. And if God so willed, He could indeed take away their hearing and their sight: for, verily, God has the power to will anything. 20