Indeed We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He told them: “I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Universe.” 46 But when he brought them Our tokens, behold! they laughed at them. 47 even though each sign We showed them was greater than the previous one. We afflicted them with torment so that they might return [to the right path]. 48 And they said, 'Sorcerer, pray to thy Lord for us by the covenant He has made with thee, and surely we shall be right-guided.' 49 Then when We had removed from them the torment, behold they were breaking their promise. 50 And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? 51 Am I not better than this contemptible man who can hardly make his meaning clear: 52 "Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along with him?" 53 Thus he incited his people to levity, and they obeyed him: for, behold, they were people depraved! 54 But when they continued to challenge Us, We inflicted Our retribution on them, and drowned them all: 55 We made them become of the people of the past and an example for the coming generations. 56