Said the Council of the people of Pharaoh, 'Surely this man is a cunning sorcerer 109 "He wishes to drive you away from the land. So what do you advise?" 110 They said: "Put him and his brother off (awhile) and send out heralds to the cities 111 to summon every wellversed sorcerer to you' 112 And the sorcerers came unto Pharaoh [and] said: "Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail." 113 He said: Yes, and you shall certainly be of those who are near (to me). 114 They said: "O Musa (Moses)! Either you throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?" 115 He said: Cast. So when they cast, they deceived the people's eyes and frightened them, and they produced a mighty enchantment. 116 And [then] We inspired Moses, "Throw down thy staff!" - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions: 117 ۞ So, the truth prevailed and what they were doing was annulled; 118 Thus they were overcome and made to look abject. 119 But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration. 120 They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds, 121 the Lord of Moses and Aaron. 122 Fir'awn said: believed ye in him ere I have given you leave? Verily this is a plot ye have plotted in the city that ye may drive forth the people thereof. So presently ye shall know. 123 Surely I will cut off your hands and feet on the opposite sides and thereafter I will crucify you all. 124 They said, "Indeed, to our Lord we will return. 125 "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)! 126