'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said: "Put him off and his brother (for a while), and send callers to the cities 36 "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer." 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 38 And it was said to the people: Will you gather together? 39 so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?" 40 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? 41 He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]." 42 Moses said to the magicians, "Throw down whatever you are going 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 Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake! 45 The magicians fell down prostrate, 46 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 The Lord of Musa and Haroun. 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 said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return. 50 Surely we hope that our Lord will forgive us our wrongs because we are the first of the believers. 51