The Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him: "He is certainly a clever magician. 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect- 36 who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowledge" 37 So the sorcerers were assembled for the appointed time of a fixed day. 38 And the people were also asked to assemble. 39 We may perhaps follow the religion of the magicians if they triumph." 40 And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?" 41 He said: yea; and ye shall verily then be of those brought nigh. 42 Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw." 43 So they threw down their ropes and their staves and exclaimed, “By the honour of Firaun, indeed victory is ours!” 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 so the sorcerers were cast down, prostrating themselves, 46 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' 48 Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you sorcery! but soon shall ye know! Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross!" 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers." 51