And (remember) when your Lord called Musa (Moses) (saying): "Go to the people who are Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doing), 10 The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear and take heed?" 11 He said: O my Lord! surely I fear that they will reject me; 12 and then my breast will be straitened and my tongue will not be free: send, then, [this Thy command] to Aaron. 13 And they have a crime against me, therefore I fear that they may slay me. 14 Said He: "Not so, indeed! Go forth, then, both of you, with Our messages: verily, We shall be with you, listening [to your call]! 15 Go to Pharaoh, both of you, and say, 'We are messengers from the Lord of the Worlds: 16 (Saying): Let the Children of Israel go with us. 17 (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life? 18 and you did the deed which you did. You are certainly ungrateful." 19 Musa (Moses) said: "I did it then, when I was an ignorant (as regards my Lord and His Message). 20 So I ran away from you out of fear. But my Lord has given me wisdom, and made me an apostle. 21 "And this is the past favour with which you reproach me, that you have enslaved the Children of Israel." 22 Pharaoh said, "What is this: Lord of the Universe?" 23 Musa (Moses) said: "Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty." 24 (The Pharaoh) said to those around him: "Do you hear?" 25 [And Moses] continued: "[He is] your Sustainer, [too,] as well as the Sustainer of your forefathers of old!" 26 Pharaoh said, "This messenger who has been sent to you is surely possessed!" 27 He said, 'The Lord of the East and West, and what between them is, if you have understanding,' 28 (Pharaoh) said: If thou choosest a god other than me, I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners. 29 Moses asked, "What if I were to bring you clear proof (of the existence of God)?" 30 The Pharaoh replied, "Bring it, if you are telling the truth." 31 So (Moses) cast his staff, and lo, it turned into a living serpent. 32 And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers. 33