[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said to the chiefs around him: "Verily! This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer. 34 He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you bid?" 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 That they should bring to you every skillful magician. 37 So all the magicians gathered together at the appointed time 38 and the people were asked: 'Will you gather 39 Haply we shall follow the sorcerers if it should be they are the victors.' 40 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? 41 He replied, "You will then be my closest associates". 42 Musa said to them: Cast what you are going to cast. 43 Then they cast their cords and their staves, and said: by the might of Fir'awn, verily we! we shall be the winners. 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 46 saying: "We (now) believe in the Lord of the Universe, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you sorcery! but soon shall ye know! Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross!" 49 They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return. 50 Verily we long that our Lord shall forgive us our faults because we have been the first of the believers 51