if ye abstain from marrying slaves, it will be better for you; God is gracious and merciful.  God is willing to declare these things unto you, and to direct you according to the ordinances of those who have gone before you, and to be merciful unto you.  God is knowing and wise.  God desireth to be gracious unto you; but they who follow their lusts, desire that ye should turn aside from the truth with great deviation.  God is minded to make his religion light unto you:  for man was created weak.  O true believers, consume not your wealth among yourselves in vanity; unless there be merchandising among you by mutual consent:  neither slay yourselves; for God is merciful towards you:  and whoever doth this maliciously and wickedly, he will surely cast him to be broiled in hell fire; and this is easy with God.  If ye turn aside from the grievous sins,[68] of those which ye are forbidden to commit, we will cleanse you from your smaller faults; and will introduce you into paradise with an honorable entry.  Covet not that which God hath bestowed on some of you preferably to others.[69] Unto the men shall be given a portion of what they shall have gained, and unto the women shall be given a portion of what they shall have gained:  therefore ask God of his bounty; for God is omniscient.  We have appointed unto everyone kindred, to inherit part of what their parents and relations shall leave at their deaths.  And unto those with whom your right hands have made an alliance, give their part of the inheritance; for God is witness of all things.  Men shall have the preeminence above women, because of those advantages wherein God hath caused the one of them to excel the other, and for that which they expend of their substance in maintaining their wives.  The honest women are obedient, careful in the absence of their husbands, for that God preserveth them, by committing them to the care and protection of the men.  But those, whose perverseness ye shall be apprehensive of, rebuke; and remove them into separate apartments, and chastise them.[70] But if they shall be obedient unto you, seek not an occasion of quarrel against them; for God is high and great.  And if ye fear a breach between the husband and wife, send a judge out of his family, and a judge out of her family:  if they shall desire a reconciliation, God will cause them to agree; for God is knowing and wise.  Serve God, and associate no creature with him; and show kindness unto parents, and relations, and orphans, and the poor, and your neighbor who is of kin to you, and also your neighbor who is a stranger, and to your familiar companion, and the traveller, and the captives whom your right hands shall possess; for God loveth not the proud or vain-glorious, who are covetous, and recommend covetousness unto men, and conceal that which God of his bounty hath given them (we have prepared a shameful punishment for the unbelievers); and who bestow their wealth in charity to be observed of men, and believe not in God, nor