We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He said, "I am the messenger of the Lord of the Universe," 46 But when he came to them with Our signs, lo! they laughed at them. 47 although each sign that We showed them was weightier than the preceding one: and [each time] We took them to task through suffering, so that they might return [to Us]. 48 And [every time] they exclaimed: "O thou sorcerer! Pray for us to thy Sustainer on the strength of the covenant [of prophethood] which He has made with thee: for, verily, we shall now follow the right way!" 49 But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word. 50 And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people, saying: "O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, (witness) these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What! see ye not then? 51 Am I (not) better than him who is contemptible, and cannot even express himself clearly? 52 "Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along with him?" 53 In this way he fooled his people and they obeyed him: they were a rebellious people. 54 And when they angered Us, We took vengeance on them and drowned all of them, 55 and made them a thing of the past and an example for those who would come after them. 56