(Pharaoh) said unto the chiefs about him: Lo! this is verily a knowing wizard, 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowledge" 37 So the sorcerers were gathered on the appointed day 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers. 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 'Yes, indeed' he answered, 'and you shall become among those who are near stationed' 42 Moses said to them: "Cast what you have to cast." 43 So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!" 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 Then the magicians flung themselves prostrate. 46 And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning 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