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 Fluctuating in the middle; neither here (in faith) nor there (in disbelief); and for one whom Allah sends astray, you will not find a way. 143 Believers, do not make unbelievers your intimate friends and supporters rather than believers. Do you want to establish clear evidence against yourselves before God? 144 Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the Fire; and thou wilt not find for them a helper. 145 But excepted shall be they who repent, and live righteously, and hold fast unto God, and grow sincere in their faith in God alone: for these shall be one with the believers - and in time God will grant to all believers a mighty reward. 146 Why should God punish you if you give thanks and believe in Him? God is All-rewarding and All-forgiving. 147 ۞ Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing. 148 If you do good openly or do it in secret or pardon an evil then surely Allah is Pardoning, Powerful. 149 Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, "We believe in some and disbelieve in others," and wish to adopt a way in between - 150 They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment. 151 But they who believe in Allah and His messengers and do not discriminate between any of them - to those He is going to give their rewards. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. 152