۞ We created you from the earth and will revert you back to it; and raise you up from it a second time. 55 We showed Pharaoh all Our signs but he rejected them and refused to believe in them. 56 He said: "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land by your sorcery? 57 We shall confront you with a sorcery like your own. So appoint a day when both of us might meet face to face in an open space; an appointment which neither we nor you shall fail to keep." 58 [Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning." 59 So Pharaoh went away, put together his plan, and then came [to Moses]. 60 Moses said to him: Woe to you! Forge not ye a lie against Allah, lest He destroy you (at once) utterly by chastisement: the forger must suffer frustration!" 61 Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept their counsel secret. 62 They said: Lo! these are two wizards who would drive you out from your country by their magic, and destroy your best traditions; 63 So gather your guile; then come in battle-line. Whoever today gains the upper hand shall surely prosper. 64 They said: "O Moses! whether wilt thou that thou throw (first) or that we be the first to throw?" 65 'No,' said Moses. 'Do you cast!' And lo, it seemed to him, by their sorcery, their ropes and their staffs were sliding; 66 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind. 67 [But] We said: "Fear not! Verily, it is thou who shalt prevail! 68 And cast down what is in your right hand; it shall devour what they have wrought; they have wrought only the plan of a magician, and the magician shall not be successful wheresoever he may come from. 69 So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 (Firon) said: You believe in him before I give you leave; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you enchantment, therefore I will certainly cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees, and certainly you will come to know which of us is the more severe and the more abiding in chastising. 71 Their reply was: 'We will not prefer you over the clear signs that have come to us, nor over Him who has created us. So decide upon whatever you decide, you can only decide upon things in this present life. 72 We believe in our Lord, that He may pardon us our offences, and the sorcery thou hast constrained us to practise; God is better, and more abiding.' 73 Gehenna (Hell) awaits whosoever comes before his Lord as a sinner, there he shall neither die nor live. 74 But whoso cometh unto Him a believer, having done good works, for such are the high stations; 75 living for ever in the Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow. Such shall be the recompense of he who purifies himself. 76