۞ From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again. 55 AND, INDEED, We made Pharaoh aware of all Our messages - but he gave them the lie and refused [to heed them]. 56 He said: art thou come unto us that thou mayest drive us out of our land by thy magic, O Musa! 57 "But we can surely produce magic to match thine! So make a tryst between us and thee, which we shall not fail to keep - neither we nor thou - in a place where both shall have even chances." 58 Said (Moses): "Let your meeting be on the day of the Feast, and let people assemble in broad daylight." 59 So Pharaoh withdrew, devised his stratagem and returned. 60 Moses said to them, "Woe to you! Do not invent lies against God, lest He destroy you by some calamity: whoever invents lies is bound to fail." 61 So they disputed, one with another, over their affair, but they kept their talk secret. 62 saying [to one another]: "These two are surely sorcerers intent on driving you from your land by their sorcery, and on doing away with your time-honoured way of life. 63 Therefore settle your plan, then come standing in ranks and he will prosper indeed this day who overcomes. 64 They said:"O Musa (Moses)! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?" 65 Moses replied: 'No, you throw first' And by their sorcery it seemed to him that their ropes and staffs were sliding. 66 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind. 67 but We said, "Do not be afraid. It is you who shall prevail." 68 And [now] throw that [staff] which is in thy right hand - it shall swallow up all that they have wrought: [for] they have wrought only a sorcerer's artifice, and the sorcerer can never come to any good, whatever he may aim at!" 69 So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 Pharaoh said, "Have you believed in him before I permit you? He must be your master who has taught you magic. I will cut your hands and feet off on opposite sides, and have you crucified on the trunks of palm-trees. You shall know whose punishment is more severe 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 As for us, behold, we have come to believe in our Sustainer, [hoping] that He may forgive us our faults and all that magic unto which thou hast forced us: for God is the best [to look forward to,] and the One who is truly abiding." 73 Indeed the one who comes guilty to his Lord – so undoubtedly for him is hell; neither dying nor living in it. 74 But he who comes to Him with faith and righteous works shall be exalted to 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