۞ Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring you forth a second time. 55 And We certainly showed Pharaoh Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused. 56 He said, "Have you come to us to turn us out of our land by means of your magic, Moses? 57 In that case, we shall most certainly produce before thee the like thereof! Appoint, then, a tryst between us and thee - which we shall not fail to keep, nor [mayest] thou - at a suitable place!" 58 He (Moses) replied: 'Your meeting shall be on the day of the feast, and let the people be assembled by midmorning' 59 After this the Pharaoh withdrew and settled his stratagem, then came back. 60 (At the time of the encounter) Moses said to them: "Woe to you! Do not invent falsehoods against Allah lest He destroy you with a scourge. Surely those who invent lies shall come to grief." 61 So they debated among themselves as to what to do; but they kept their counsel secret, 62 They said: Lo! these are two wizards who would drive you out from your country by their magic, and destroy your best traditions; 63 Gather your guile and then lineup a rank those who gain the upper hand today shall indeed prosper' 64 They said: "Either you cast (your spell), O Moses, or we shall cast it first." 65 He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran. 66 and in his heart Moses became apprehensive, 67 We said to him: "Fear not. You will certainly be victorious. 68 And cast down what is in your right hand; it shall devour what they have wrought; they have wrought only the plan of a magician, and the magician shall not be successful wheresoever he may come from. 69 Then the wizards were (all) flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses. 70 Fir'awn said; believed ye in him ere I gave you leave! verily he is your chief who hath taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on the opposite sides, and will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm-trees, and ye shall surely know whichever of us is severer in torment and more lasting. 71 The magicians answered: "By Him Who has created us, we shall never prefer you to the Truth after manifest Signs have come to us. So decree whatever you will. Your decree will pertain, at the most, to the present life of the world. 72 We believe in our Lord, that He may pardon us our offences, and the sorcery thou hast constrained us to practise; God is better, and more abiding.' 73 Surely for him who comes before his Lord a sinner shall be Hell, where he will neither die nor live. 74 And the one who presents himself as a believer before Him, having done good deeds – so for them are the high ranks. 75 Everlasting Gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow, abiding in them for ever; and this is the reward of one who became pure. 76