Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 Who desires to turn you out of your land with his magic; what is it then that you advise? 35 They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers 36 to bring every knowledgeable sorcerer' 37 So the sorcerers were assembled at a fixed time on a day appointed. 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 Haply we shall follow the sorcerers if it should be they are the victors.' 40 "When the magicians came, they asked the Pharaoh, "Will there be any reward for us if we win?" 41 He said, “Yes, and you will then become close to me.” 42 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!" 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and it swallowed up their lying invention, 45 And the wizards were flung prostrate, 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They answered: "No harm [canst thou do to us]: verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn! 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51