[Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician. 34 who seeks to expel you from your land by his sorcery. What is your counsel' 35 They said, 'Put him and his brother off a while, and send among the cities musterers, 36 Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 38 And the people were also asked to assemble. 39 (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners. 40 When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, "Shall we have a reward, if we are the winners?" 41 He said, 'Yes indeed; and you shall then be among the near-stationed.' 42 Moses said to them: "Throw down whatever you wish to throw." 43 So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant." 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 And the magicians were thrown down prostrate; 46 [and] exclaimed: "We have come to believe in the Sustainer of all the worlds, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron. 48 The Pharaoh said, "You believed without my permission? He seems to be your chief who has taught you magic. But you will soon know (the result of what you have done). I shall certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and crucify you all together." 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning to our Lord. 50 Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers. 51