Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/139

Ⅱ, 89-96. they said, ‘ We hear but disobey ;’ and they were made to drink the calf down into their hearts for their unbelief. Say, ‘ An evil thing is it which your belief bids you do, if ye be true believers.’ Say, ‘ If the abode of the future with God is yours alone and not mankind’s : long for death then if ye speak the truth.’ But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent on before ; but God is knowing as to the wrong doers.

Why, thou wilt find them the greediest of men for life ; and of those who associate others with God one would fain live for a thousand years, — but he will not be reprieved from punishment by being let live, for God seeth what they do.

Say, ‘ Who is an enemy to Gabriel ?’ for he hath revealed to thy heart, with God’s permission, confirmation of what had been before, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers. Who is an enemy to God and His angels and His apostles and Gabriel and Michael ? — Verily, God is an enemy to the unbelievers. We have sent down to thee conspicuous signs, and none will disbelieve therein except the evildoers. Or every time they make a covenant, will a part of them repudiate it? Nay, most of them do not believe.

And when there comes to them an apostle confirming what they have, a part of those who have received the Book repudiate God’s book, casting it behind their backs as though they did not