Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you bid?" 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were brought together on a particular day at a set time 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 When the magicians arrived, they said to the Pharaoh: "Is there a reward for us if we are victorious?" -- 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Moses said unto them: Throw what ye are going to throw! 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 cast down his staff and it swallowed up their lying invention, 45 The magicians therefore fell down prostrate. 46 Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 He (Pharaoh) said: 'You have believed him before I have given you permission. He is the chief of you who has taught you sorcery. But you shall know. I will surely cut off on opposite sides a hand and a foot, and crucify you all.' 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51