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 They vacillate between the two, belonging neither to one side nor the other. But for him whom God allows to go astray you can never find the way for him. 143 O believers, do not hold unbelievers as friends in preference to the faithful. Do you want to proffer a clear proof of your own guilt before God? 144 Undoubtedly the hypocrites are in the deepest segment of hell; and you will never find any supporter for them. 145 Except those who shall yet repent and amend and hold fast by Allah and make their religion exclusive for Allah. These then shall be with the believers, and presently Allah shall give the believers a mighty hire. 146 Why should God punish you if you acknowledge the truth and believe? God is responsive to gratitude and is cognisant. 147 ۞ Allah does not like disclosure of evil matters except by the oppressed; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing. 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 deny God and His apostles by endeavouring to make a distinction between [belief in] God and [belief in] His apostles, and who say: "We believe in the one but we deny the other," and want to pursue a path in-between 150 These it is that are truly unbelievers, and We have prepared for the unbelievers a disgraceful chastisement. 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