Fir'awn said unto the chiefs around him: verily this is a magician knowing. 34 Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye? 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 And bring the ablest magicians to you." 37 And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day, 38 and the people were told: "Will you join the assembly? 39 The people said, “Perhaps we may follow the magicians if they are victorious.” 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Moses said to them: "Cast what you have to cast." 43 So they cast their ropes and rods, and said: "By the glory of Pharaoh, we shall be victorious." 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 so the sorcerers were cast down, bowing themselves. 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 Pharaoh said, "Have you come to believe in him, before I have given you permission? He is surely your master who has taught you magic. But you shall see. I will cut off your hands and feet on alternate sides and crucify you all." 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning to our Lord. 50 We certainly hope our Lord will forgive our sins as we are the first to believe." 51