We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He said, "I am the messenger of the Lord of the Universe," 46 But when he brought to them Our signs they laughed at them, 47 although each sign that We showed them was weightier than the preceding one: and [each time] We took them to task through suffering, so that they might return [to Us]. 48 And they said, 'Sorcerer, pray to thy Lord for us by the covenant He has made with thee, and surely we shall be right-guided.' 49 So when We averted the calamity from them, they immediately broke the promise! 50 And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can ye not then discern? 51 Or am I better than this man, who is contemptible and scarcely makes things clear? 52 Why have no armlets of gold been given him, or angels sent down successively with him' 53 He incited his people to levity and they obeyed him. Surely they were an iniquitous people. 54 But when they continued to challenge Us, We inflicted Our retribution on them, and drowned them all: 55 and so We made them a thing of the past, and an example to those who would come after them. 56