Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, "Surely this man is a skilful sorcerer. 34 He wants to expel you from your land through his magic. What is your opinion?" 35 They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities 36 who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowledge" 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 replied, "You will then be my closest associates". 42 Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw." 43 So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!" 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 Then the magicians flung themselves prostrate. 46 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 The Lord of Musa and Haroun. 48 He (Pharaoh) said: 'You have believed him before I have given you permission. He is the chief of you who has taught you sorcery. But you shall know. I will surely cut off on opposite sides a hand and a foot, and crucify you all.' 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning to our Lord. 50 Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers." 51