The Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him: "He is certainly a clever magician. 34 Who desires to turn you out of your land with his magic; what is it then that you advise? 35 They said: "Detain him and his brother for a while and send forth heralds to the cities 36 That they should bring to you every skillful magician. 37 So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day. 38 The people were asked, 'Will you assemble? 39 Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers. 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 He replied, "Certainly, in that case you will join my inner circle." 42 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!" 43 Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners. 44 Then Musa cast down his staff, and lo! it swallowed up that which they had devised. 45 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 46 [and] exclaimed: "We have come to believe in the Sustainer of all the worlds, 47 and the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Pharaoh said, "Have you come to believe in him, before I have given you permission? He is surely your master who has taught you magic. But you shall see. I will cut off your hands and feet on alternate sides and crucify you all." 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning to our Lord. 50 Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers." 51