We sent Moses to the Pharaoh and his nobles with Our miracles and he said, "I am the Messenger of the Lord of the Universe". 46 But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them. 47 Every Sign that We showed them was greater than its predecessor; and then We seized them with Our chastisement so that they may return (to the Right Way). 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 whenever We removed the suffering from them, lo! they would break their word. 50 Pharaoh called to his people, "My people, is the Kingdom of Egypt not mine? And these rivers that flow at my feet, are they not mine? Do you not see? 51 Am I (not) better than him who is contemptible, and cannot even express himself clearly? 52 Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him? 53 In this way he fooled his people and they obeyed him: they were a rebellious people. 54 But when they continued to challenge Us, We inflicted Our retribution on them, and drowned them all: 55 And We made them (a people) of the Past and an Example to later ages. 56