۞ We have created you from the earth to which We will return you and will bring you back to life again. 55 And We certainly showed Pharaoh Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused. 56 He said: art thou come unto us that thou mayest drive us out of our land by thy magic, O Musa! 57 We will certainly bring you magic to match it. So appoint a time between us and you, in an open space, which neither we nor you will fail to keep." 58 Said (Moses): "Let your meeting be on the day of the Feast, and let people assemble in broad daylight." 59 Pharaoh went back and concerted all his stratagem and returned for the encounter. 60 Moses said to them, "Woe to you! Do not invent lies against God, lest He destroy you by some calamity: whoever invents lies is bound to fail." 61 Then they wrangled about their affair among themselves, and kept secret their private counsel. 62 (And) said: "These two are surely magicians. They want to deprive you of your land with their magic, and eradicate your distinct way (of life). 63 Wherefore devise your stratagem, and then come in a row; and prospered today is he who overcometh. 64 They said to Moses: 'Will you throw down or shall we be the first? 65 Moses replied: "No, let it be you to throw first." Then suddenly it appeared to Moses, owing to their magic, as if their ropes and staffs were running. 66 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind. 67 We said: Fear not, surely you shall be the uppermost, 68 Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain. 69 Then the magicians were cast down prostrate; they said: we believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun. 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 They replied: "We cannot choose you in the face of the clear testimony we have received, and over Him who created us. So do what you are determined to do. All that you would do will only be confined to our life on earth. 72 Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting. 73 Indeed, he who comes to his Lord a sinner shall be consigned to Hell; he shall neither die therein nor live. 74 whereas he who shall appear before Him as a believer who has done righteous deeds - it is such that shall have lofty stations [in the life to come]: 75 he will abide forever in the Gardens of eternity, through which rivers flow. That is the recompense for those who purify themselves. 76