(And be not ye) O believers, with regard to sinning, (as those who forgot Allah) as those who shunned the obedience of Allah openly and in private, i.e. the Jews, (therefore He caused them to forget their souls) therefore Allah forsook them such that they left His obedience altogether. (Such are the evil-doers) such are the disbelievers in Allah in private, i.e. the hypocrites; and if it is taken to mean the Jews, this means: such are the disbelievers in Allah openly and in private.