[Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician. 34 He wants to expel you from your land through his magic. What is your opinion?" 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer." 37 The sorcerers were gathered at the appointed time on a wellknown day, 38 And it was said to the people, "Will you congregate 39 in order that we shall follow the sorcerers if they are the victors' 40 Now when the sorcerers came, they said unto Pharaoh: "Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail. 41 He said: "Yes, and you shall then verily be of those brought near (to myself)." 42 Moses said to them: "Cast what you have to cast." 43 So they cast their ropes and staffs, saying: 'By Pharaoh's might, we shall be the victors' 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 The magicians fell down prostrate, 46 And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron' 48 Said [Pharaoh]: "Have you come to believe in him ere I have given you permission? Verily, he must be your master who has taught you magic! But in time you shall come to know [my revenge]: most certainly shall I cut off your hands and your feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers, all together!" 49 They said, "No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return. 50 Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers." 51