The Pharaoh said to the people around him, "He is certainly a skillful magician. 34 "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?" 35 They said, "Hold him and his brother off for a while 36 That they should bring to you every skillful magician. 37 So the magicians were gathered at a set time on a day appointed. 38 and the people were asked, "Will you all be there?" 39 so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?" 40 When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, "Shall we have a reward, if we are the winners?" 41 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." 42 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!" 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Thereafter, Moses threw down his rod and behold, it went about swallowing up all the false devices they had contrived. 45 Thereupon the magicians fell down in prostration, 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 The Lord of Musa and Harun. 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 answered: "No harm [canst thou do to us]: verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn! 50 Verily we long that our Lord shall forgive us our faults because we have been the first of the believers 51