۞ out of this [earth] have We created you, and into it shall We return you, and out of it shall We bring you forth once again. 55 So We showed him all Our signs, but he denied them and refused, 56 He said: art thou come unto us that thou mayest drive us out of our land by thy magic, O Musa! 57 We shall certainly meet you with like magic. So make an appointment when we and you could meet on common ground, which neither we nor you should fail to keep." 58 Moses said, "The day of the encounter will be the day of the festival, and let the people assemble when the sun has risen high." 59 Then Pharaoh went and gathered his strength, then came (to the appointed tryst). 60 Moses told them, (the magicians) "Woe to you if you invent falsehood against God; you will be destroyed by the torment. Whoever invents falsehood against God will certainly be lost." 61 So they discussed their strategy among themselves and conferred privately, 62 saying: 'These two are sorcerers whose aim is to drive you from your land by their sorcery and destroy your noble ways. 63 So arrange your plan, and come in battle line. Whoso is uppermost this day will be indeed successful. 64 They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw? 65 He said: nay, cast ye down. And lo! their cords and their staves were made to appear to him by their magic as though they were running. 66 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind. 67 We (Allah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. 68 Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain. 69 The magicians then prostrated themselves. They said, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 Pharaoh said, 'Have you believed him before I gave you leave? Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you upon the trunks of palm-trees; you shall know of a certainty which of us is more terrible in chastisement, and more abiding.' 71 The magicians answered: "By Him Who has created us, we shall never prefer you to the Truth after manifest Signs have come to us. So decree whatever you will. Your decree will pertain, at the most, to the present life of the world. 72 Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting. 73 Surely for him who comes before his Lord a sinner shall be Hell, where he will neither die nor live. 74 One who comes into the presence of his Lord with faith and righteous deeds 75 Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the reward of him who groweth. 76