'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: "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to the cities to gather 36 who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowledge" 37 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known, 38 And it was said to the people: "Are you (too) going to assemble? 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win? 41 Answered he: "Yea - and verily, in that case you shall be among those who are near unto me. 42 [And] Moses said unto them: "Throw whatever you are going to throw!" 43 Then they cast their cords and their staves, and said: by the might of Fir'awn, verily we! we shall be the winners. 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration, 46 And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Pharaoh said: "You accepted the word of Moses even before I granted you the leave to do so. Surely he is your chief who has taught you magic. Soon shall you come to know. I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and shall crucify all of you." 49 They answered: "No harm [canst thou do to us]: verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn! 50 We are eager that Our Lord should forgive us our offenses, for we are the first of the believers' 51