Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, "Surely this man is a skilful sorcerer. 34 He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you bid?" 35 They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities 36 "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer." 37 And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day, 38 and the people were asked: Are you all present, 39 Haply we shall follow the sorcerers if it should be they are the victors.' 40 Then when the magicians came, they said unto Fir'awn: will there surely be a big hire for us if we are the winners? 41 He said: yea; and ye shall verily then be of those brought nigh. 42 Moses said to them, 'Cast you down what you will cast.' 43 Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners. 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 so the sorcerers were cast down, bowing themselves. 46 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 The Pharaoh said, "You believed without my permission? He seems to be your chief who has taught you magic. But you will soon know (the result of what you have done). I shall certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and crucify you all together." 49 They said: "We do not care, for we are bound to return to our Lord, 50 and we surely expect that Our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first ones to believe." 51