Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 “He wishes to expel you out of your land by his magic; so what is your advice?” 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 38 And it was said to the people, "Will you congregate 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 Then, when the sorcerers came to Pharaoh, they said: 'Shall we receive a wage if we win' 41 Answered he: "Yea - and verily, in that case you shall be among those who are near unto me. 42 Musa (Moses) said to them: "Throw what you are going to throw!" 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Then Musa cast down his staff, and lo! it swallowed up that which they had devised. 45 Thereupon the magicians fell down in prostration, 46 Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said (the Pharaoh): "You have come to believe in him before I gave you leave. He is surely your chief, who taught you magic. You will soon come to know: I will have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, and have every one of you crucified." 49 They said: no harm! verily unto our Lord we are to return. 50 and we surely expect that Our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first ones to believe." 51