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 came to them with Our signs, lo! they laughed at them. 47 (Even though) each miracle that We showed them was greater than the other. So We seized them with chastisement so that they may turn back. 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 Then Pharaoh made a proclamation to his people: 'My people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine and these rivers which flow beneath me? What, can you not see? 51 Nay! I am better than this fellow, who is contemptible, and who can hardly speak distinctly: 52 Why were then no bracelets of gold shed upon him from above, or angels sent down as a retinue 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 precedent (as a lesson for those coming after them), and an example to later generations. 56