The elders of Pharaoh's people said: 'Surely this man is a skilful magician 109 who seeks to drive you from your land!" Pharaoh said, "What then do you advise?" 110 Others said: 'Put them off a while, he and his brother, and send forth to your cities gatherers 111 to bring together at the Pharaohs court all the skillful magicians. 112 And the sorcerers came to Pharaoh, saying, 'We shall surely have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 113 The Pharaoh replied, "In addition to your rewards, you will become my close friends thereafter." 114 So they said: "O Moses, you may cast your spell first, or we shall cast ours." 115 He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic. 116 And we revealed unto Musa: cast down thy rod. And lo! it was swallowing up that which they had feigned. 117 ۞ Thus the truth prevailed, and that which they had brought vanished. 118 So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small. 119 threw themselves down in prostration 120 and said, "We believe in the Lord of the Universe, 121 the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' 122 Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know. 123 "Surely, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all." 124 They replied: 'We shall surely return to our Lord. 125 for thou takest vengeance on us only because we have come to believe in our Sustainer's messages as soon as they came to us. O our Sustainer! Shower us with patience in adversity, and make us die as men who have surrendered themselves unto Thee!" 126