'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?" 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 That they should bring to you every skillful magician. 37 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known, 38 and the people were asked: 'Will you gather 39 so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?" 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 He said, “Yes, and you will then become close to me.” 42 Moses said to them: 'Cast down what you cast' 43 So they cast their ropes and their staffs, and said, 'By the might of Pharaoh we shall be the victors.' 44 Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified. 45 Thereupon the magicians fell down in prostration, 46 saying: "We (now) believe in the Lord of the Universe, 47 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Pharaoh said, "Have you come to believe in him, before I have given you permission? He is surely your master who has taught you magic. But you shall see. I will cut off your hands and feet on alternate sides and crucify you all." 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 We are eager that our Lord should forgive us our offences, for that we are the first of the believers.' 51