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 'Sorcerer' they said, 'pray to your Lord for us in accordance to the covenant He has made with you, and surely we shall be rightly guided' 49 But lo, each time We removed Our affliction from them, they would go back on their word. 50 And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can ye not then discern? 51 Am I not better than this lowly man who can barely express himself? 52 Why were then no bracelets of gold shed upon him from above, or angels sent down as a retinue with him?" 53 He (Pharaoh) intimidated his nation, so they obeyed him, for they were a sinning nation. 54 Then when they displeased Us, We inflicted a retribution on them, so We drowned them all together, 55 and We made them a thing past, and We appointed them for an example to later folk. 56