but if they come captives unto you, ye redeem them:
yet it is equally unlawful for you to dispossess them.
Do ye therefore believe in part of the book of the
law, and reject other parts thereof? But whoso
among you doth this, shall have no other reward than
shame in this life, and on the day of resurrection
they shall be sent to a most grievous punishment;
for God is not regardless of that which ye do.
These are they who have purchased this present life,
at the price of that which is to come; wherefore their
punishment shall not be mitigated, neither shall they
be helped. We formerly delivered the book of the
law unto Moses, and caused apostles to succeed him,
and gave evident miracles to Jesus the son of Mary,
and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Do
ye therefore, whenever an apostle cometh unto you
with that which your souls desire not, proudly reject
him, and accuse some of imposture, and slay others?
The Jews say, Our hearts are uncircumcised: but
God hath cursed them with their infidelity, therefore
few shall believe. And when a book came unto
them from God, confirming the scriptures which were
with them, although they had before prayed for assistance
against those who believed not, yet when that came
unto them which they knew to be from God, they would
not believe therein: therefore the curse of God
shall be on the infidels. For a vile price have
they sold their souls, that they should not believe
in that which God hath sent down; out of envy, because
God sendeth down his favors to such of his servants
as he pleaseth: therefore they brought on themselves
indignation on indignation; and the unbelievers shall
suffer an ignominious punishment. When one saith
unto them, Believe in that which God hath sent down;
they answer, We believe in that which hath been sent
down unto us: and they reject what hath been
revealed since, although it be the truth, confirming
that which is with them. Say, Why therefore have
ye slain the prophets of God in times past, if ye
be true believers? Moses formerly came unto you
with evident signs, but ye afterwards took the calf
for your god and did wickedly. And when we accepted
your covenant, and lifted the mountain of Sinai over
you, saying, Receive the law which we have given you,
with a resolution to perform it, and hear; they said,
We have heard, and have rebelled: and they were
made to drink down the calf into their hearts for
their unbelief. Say, A grievous thing hath your
faith commanded you, if ye be true believers.
Say, If the future mansion with God be prepared peculiarly
for you, exclusive of the rest of mankind, wish for
death, if ye say truth: but they will never wish
for it, because of that which their hands have sent
before them; God knoweth the wicked doers; and thou
shalt surely find them of all men the most covetous
of life, even more than the idolaters: one of
them would desire his life to be prolonged a thousand
years, but none shall reprieve himself from punishment,
that his life may be prolonged: God seeth that