Acknowledge what I have sent down, authenticating what is already with you, and do not be the first to reject it! Moreover, do not purchase with My signs a cheap gain; and of Me you shall be conscientious.
Translation endnotes
[2:41] The Quran mentions Jews frequently; sometimes for their good deeds and accomplishments, and sometimes for their blunders and failures. God knew that the followers of Muhammed would fall for the same trap centuries later. The Quran narrates the history so that we do not repeat the same errors. Unfortunately, those who followed the hearsay stories about prophet Muhammed committed the same sins. For instance, compare these verses with the beliefs and actions of today's Sunni and Shiite mushriks: 2:48; 2:67-71; 2:80; 3:24; 9:31. The Quran was not revealed to dead people, but to the living (36:70). Thus, we should be warned and enlightened by the divine criticisms levied to the previous generations. Some people have problem with the expression "do not purchase with my signs a cheap gain" or "do not trade it with a cheap price" since they commit the fallacy called "accent." The accent should not be on "cheap gain" or "cheap price" rather should be on "do not purchase…" or "do not trade it…"