Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. Tell us, what do you advise us?" 35 They said: "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to the cities to gather 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 38 And it was said to the people: Will you gather together? 39 so that we may follow the magicians, if they be the winners." 40 Then when the magicians came, they said unto Fir'awn: will there surely be a big hire for us if we are the winners? 41 He replied, "Certainly, in that case you will join my inner circle." 42 Musa (Moses) said to them: "Throw what you are going to throw!" 43 So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!" 44 Then Musa cast down his staff, and lo! it swallowed up that which they had devised. 45 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 46 They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds: 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron' 48 The Pharaoh said, "You believed without my permission? He seems to be your chief who has taught you magic. But you will soon know (the result of what you have done). I shall certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and crucify you all together." 49 They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return. 50 and we surely expect that Our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first ones to believe." 51