'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 who desires to expel you from your land by his sorcery; what do you command?' 35 They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities 36 "And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed." 37 And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day, 38 The people were asked, 'Will you assemble? 39 We may perhaps follow the religion of the magicians if they triumph." 40 "When the magicians came, they asked the Pharaoh, "Will there be any reward for us if we win?" 41 He said, 'Yes indeed; and you shall then be among the near-stationed.' 42 Musa said unto them: cast whatsoever ye have to cast. 43 So they threw down their ropes and their staves and exclaimed, “By the honour of Firaun, indeed victory is ours!” 44 Then Musa cast down his staff and lo! it swallowed up the lies they told. 45 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration, 46 saying: "We (now) believe in the Lord of the Universe, 47 "The Lord of Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron)." 48 Fir'awn said: ye believed in him ere I gave you leave. Verily he is your chief who hath taught you magic, so ye shall surely come to know. Surely I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and surely I shall crucify you all. 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 We hope that our Lord will forgive us for our sins; we were not believers at first." 51