Fir'awn said unto the chiefs around him: verily this is a magician knowing. 34 Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye? 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a stated time and place on an appointed day. 38 And it was said unto the people: are ye going to assemble. 39 so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?" 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Moses said to the magicians, "Throw down whatever you are going to throw." 43 So they cast down their ropes and staffs, and said, "By Pharaoh's honour, we shall surely win." 44 Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake! 45 And down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves in adoration, 46 They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds: 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 He (Pharaoh) said: 'You have believed him before I have given you permission. He is the chief of you who has taught you sorcery. But you shall know. I will surely cut off on opposite sides a hand and a foot, and crucify you all.' 49 They said, "It does not matter. We shall be returning to our Lord. 50 We hope that our Lord will forgive us for our sins; we were not believers at first." 51