Some of the Pharaoh's nobles considered him to be no more than a skillful magician 109 He intends to turn you out of your land. What counsel do you then give? 110 They said: Put him off and his brother, and send collectors into the cities: 111 That they may bring to thee every magician knowing. 112 And the wizards came to Pharaoh, saying: Surely there will be a reward for us if we are victors. 113 He said, "Yes, and, [moreover], you will be among those made near [to me]." 114 They said: O Moses! Either throw (first) or let us be the first throwers? 115 'Throw' he replied. And when they threw, they bewitched the people's eyes and terrified them, and produced great sorcery. 116 And [then] We inspired Moses, "Throw down thy staff!" - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions: 117 ۞ So the truth came to pass, and false was proved what they were doing. 118 The magicians who were defeated on the spot and were proved to be worthless, 119 And the sorcerers were cast down, bowing themselves. 120 Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 121 the Lord of Moses and Aaron' 122 Fir'awn said: believed ye in him ere I have given you leave? Verily this is a plot ye have plotted in the city that ye may drive forth the people thereof. So presently ye shall know. 123 I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all." 124 They answered: "We have (in any case) to go back to our Lord. 125 Will you punish us just because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us? Our Lord! Shower us with perseverance and cause us to die as those who have submitted [to You].' 126