HENCE, [remember how it was] when thy Sustainer summoned Moses: "Go unto those evil doing people. 10 The people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh). Will they not fear Allah and become righteous?" 11 He replied, "Lord, I am afraid that they will call me a liar. 12 My heart is constrained, my tongue falters, so delegate Aaron; 13 "And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me." 14 (It was) said: "By no means. Go with My signs, both of you. I am verily with you and I hear. 15 "And when you both come to Fir'aun (Pharaoh), say: 'We are the Messengers of the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists), 16 Let the children of Israel go with us!'" 17 (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life? 18 You spent many years of your life among us and then you committed that deed of yours. You are very ungrateful indeed." 19 Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error. 20 and I fled from you because I feared you. But [since] then my Sustainer has endowed me with the ability to judge [between right and wrong,] and has made me one of [His] message-bearers. 21 That is a blessing thou reproachest me with, having enslaved the Children of Israel.' 22 Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the Worlds? 23 Musa (Moses) said: "Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty." 24 [Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Do you not hear?" 25 Moses continued, "He is the Lord and the Lord of your forefathers." 26 Said he, 'Surely your Messenger who was sent to you is possessed!' 27 [But Moses] went on: "[He of whom I speak is] the Sustainer of the east and the west and of all that is between the two - as you would know]" if you would but use your reason!" 28 (The Pharaoh) said: "If you took another god apart from me I will have you incarcerated." 29 He said: Even though I show thee something plain? 30 Pharaoh said, "Show it then, if you are telling the truth!" 31 Then he flung down his staff and it became a serpent manifest, 32 And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it was white unto the beholders. 33