Indeed We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He told them: “I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Universe.” 46 But when he came to them with Our signs, lo! they laughed at them. 47 although each sign that We showed them was weightier than the preceding one: and [each time] We took them to task through suffering, so that they might return [to Us]. 48 And they said: O magician! call on your Lord for our sake, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely be the followers of the right way. 49 Yet no sooner did We take away the affliction from them than they broke their pledge. 50 The Pharaoh shouted to his people, "My people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine? and can you not see that the streams flow from beneath my palace? 51 I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable and can hardly make (his meaning) plain! 52 and why have not armlets of gold been bestowed on him and why is there not a train of angels accompanying him?" 53 He (Pharaoh) intimidated his nation, so they obeyed him, for they were a sinning nation. 54 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. 55 We made them a precedent, an example for later peoples. 56