The Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him: "He is certainly a clever magician. 34 who desires to expel you from your land by his sorcery; what do you command?' 35 They said, 'Put him and his brother off a while, and send among the cities musterers, 36 That they may bring to thee every magician knowing. 37 And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day, 38 and the people were asked: 'Will you gather 39 Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers. 40 And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?" 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Moses said to them: "Throw down whatever you wish to throw." 43 Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners. 44 [But] then Moses threw his staff - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions. 45 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration, 46 saying: "We (now) believe in the Lord of the Universe, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron. 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 'There is no harm' they replied, 'for surely to our Lord we are turning. 50 We hope that our Lord will forgive us for our sins; we were not believers at first." 51