The elders of Pharaoh's people said: 'Surely this man is a skilful magician 109 who seeks to drive you out from your land. What would you have us do?' 110 They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers 111 And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed." 112 And so the sorcerers came to Fir'aun (Pharaoh). They said: "Indeed there will be a (good) reward for us if we are the victors." 113 He said: yea! and verily ye shall be of those brought nigh. 114 They said: "O Moses! wilt thou throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?" 115 He replied, "Throw yours first." Their great magic bewitched people's eyes and terrified them. 116 And [then] We inspired Moses, "Throw down thy staff!" - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions: 117 ۞ So the truth was proved and their works were disproved. 118 Pharaoh and his men were defeated and utterly humiliated. 119 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 120 saying, "We declare our belief in the Lord of the Universe, 121 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 122 The Pharaoh said to the magicians, "You declared your belief in him (Moses) without my permission. This is a plot to throw my people out of their city. But you will soon know. 123 "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross." 124 They answered: "We have (in any case) to go back to our Lord. 125 "And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims." 126