Said the Council of the people of Pharaoh, 'Surely this man is a cunning sorcerer 109 who desires to expel you from your land; what do you command?' 110 Then they advised Pharaoh: 'Put off Moses and his brother for a while, and send forth heralds to your cities 111 who shall bring before thee every sorcerer of great knowledge." 112 And the magicians came to Pharaoh and asked, "Shall we have a reward, if we should prevail?" 113 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." 114 They said, "Moses, will you first throw, or shall we?" 115 He [Musa (Moses)] said: "Throw you (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic. 116 And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying. 117 ۞ Thus was the Truth vindicated and that which they were doing was made vain. 118 Thus they were overcome and made to look abject. 119 threw themselves down in prostration 120 saying: 'We believe in the Lord of the universe, 121 "The Lord of Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron)." 122 Said Pharaoh: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which ye have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (the consequences). 123 "Surely, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all." 124 The magicians said, "We will certainly return to Our Lord. 125 Will you punish us just because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us? Our Lord! Shower us with perseverance and cause us to die as those who have submitted [to You].' 126