THUS, INDEED, have We sent Moses with Our messages unto Pharaoh and his great ones; and he said: "Behold, I am an apostle of the Sustainer of all the worlds!" 46 Then when he came unto them with Our signs, behold! at them they were laughing. 47 And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith]. 48 And they said: O magician! call on your Lord for our sake, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely be the followers of the right way. 49 But when We removed from them the chastisement, lo! they broke the pledge. 50 And Fir'aun (Pharaoh) proclaimed among his people, saying: "O my people! Is not mine the dominion of Egypt, and these rivers flowing underneath me. See you not then? 51 "Am I not better than this (Moses), who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly? 52 "Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him, or (why) come (not) with him angels accompanying him in procession?" 53 In this way he fooled his people and they obeyed him: they were a rebellious people. 54 So when they vexed Us, We took vengeance on them, and We drowned them all. 55 And We made them a thing past, and an example for those after (them). 56