We also sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his Council, and he said, 'Surely, I am the Messenger of the Lord of all Being.' 46 But when he brought to them Our signs they laughed at them, 47 We showed them Sign after Sign, each greater than its fellow, and We seized them with Punishment, in order that they might turn (to Us). 48 And [every time] they exclaimed: "O thou sorcerer! Pray for us to thy Sustainer on the strength of the covenant [of prophethood] which He has made with thee: for, verily, we shall now follow the right way!" 49 But lo, each time We removed Our affliction from them, they would go back on their word. 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 Or am I better than this man, who is contemptible and scarcely makes things clear? 52 and why have not armlets of gold been bestowed on him and why is there not a train of angels accompanying him?" 53 So when he had brainwashed his people, they followed him; indeed they were a disobedient nation. 54 But when they continued to challenge Us, We inflicted Our retribution on them, and drowned them all: 55 We made them a precedent, an example for later peoples. 56