Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said, "Hold him and his brother off for a while 36 to mobilise all skilled magicians." 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 38 and the people were asked: Are you all present, 39 Belike we may follow the magicians if they are the winners? 40 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? 41 He said: "Yes, you will then become those near-stationed to me." 42 Moses said to them, 'Cast you down what you will cast.' 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 his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified. 45 And the wizards were flung prostrate, 46 They said: we believe in the Lord of the worlds. 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They said: no harm! verily unto our Lord we are to return. 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51