Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 who seeks to expel you from your land by his sorcery. What is your counsel' 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 “To bring to you every expert great magician.” 37 So the sorcerers were gathered on the appointed day 38 and the people were told: "Will you join the assembly? 39 (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners. 40 So when the magicians came, they said to Firaun, “Will we get some reward if we are victorious?” 41 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." 42 (Moses) asked the magicians, "Cast down what you want to". 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 And the wizards were flung prostrate, 46 saying, "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 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 harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return. 50 Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers. 51