Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/143

Ⅱ, 116-120. and who read it as it should be read, believe therein ; and whoso disbelieve therein, ’tis they who lose thereby.

O children of Israel ! remember my favours with which I favoured you, and that I have preferred you over the worlds. And fear the day when no soul shall pay a recompense for a soul, nor shall an equivalent be received therefrom, nor any intercession avail ; and they shall not be helped.

And when his Lord tried Abraham with words, and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘ Verily, I will set thee as a high priest for men.’ Said he, ‘ And of my seed ?’ God said, ‘ My covenant touches not the evildoers.’

And when we made the House a place of resort unto men, and a sanctuary, and (said) take the station of Abraham for a place of prayer; and covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael, saying, ‘ Do ye two cleanse my house for those who make the circuit, for those who pay devotions there, for those who bow down, and for those too who adore.’

When Abraham said, ‘ Lord, make this a town of safety, and provide the dwellers there with fruits, such as believe in God and the last day !’ (God) said, ‘ And he who misbelieves, I will give him but little to enjoy, then will I drive him to the torment of the fire, an evil journey will it be.’

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