Some of the Pharaoh's nobles considered him to be no more than a skillful magician 109 who desires to expel you from your land; what do you command?' 110 They answered: "Let him and his brother wait awhile, and send unto all cities heralds 111 to bring together at the Pharaohs court all the skillful magicians. 112 And the sorcerers came unto Pharaoh [and] said: "Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail." 113 The Pharaoh replied, "In addition to your rewards, you will become my close friends thereafter." 114 They said: O Musa! either thou cast down, or we shall be the ones to cast down. 115 He answered: "You throw [first]." And when they threw down [their staffs,] they cast a spell upon the people's eyes, and struck them with awe, and produced mighty sorcery. 116 And We revealed to Moses: 'Cast thy staff!' And lo, it forthwith swallowed up their lying invention. 117 ۞ Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect. 118 So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small. 119 And the wizards fell down prostrate, 120 They said: we believe in the Lord of the worlds. 121 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 122 But Pharaoh said: "You have come to accept belief in Him without my permission! This surely is a plot you have hatched to expel the people from the land. You will soon come to know. 123 I shall cut off your hands and feet on the opposite sides, and then crucify you all.' 124 The magicians said, "We will certainly return to Our Lord. 125 "The only reason you have to hate us is that we believed in the signs of our Lord as they came to us. O our Lord, give us sufficient endurance that we may die submitting (to You)." 126