Fir'awn said unto the chiefs around him: verily this is a magician knowing. 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect- 36 Who will bring you every learned, skilled magician." 37 The sorcerers were gathered at the appointed time on a wellknown day, 38 and the people were asked: 'Will you gather 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners? 41 He replied, "You will then be my closest associates". 42 Moses said to them, 'Cast you down what you will cast.' 43 So they cast down their ropes and staffs saying, "By the honor of the Pharaoh we shall certainly become the winners". 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 46 And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 [Pharaoh] said, "You believed Moses before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all." 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51