[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said to the chiefs around him: "Verily! This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer. 34 who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?" 35 They said: "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to the cities to gather 36 That they may bring to thee every magician knowing. 37 So the sorcerers were gathered on the appointed day 38 And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?- 39 Belike we may follow the magicians if they are the winners? 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 He said, 'Yes indeed; and you shall then be among the near-stationed.' 42 Moses said unto them: Throw what ye 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 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said [Pharaoh]: "Have you come to believe in him ere I have given you permission? Verily, he must be your master who has taught you magic! But in time you shall come to know [my revenge]: most certainly shall I cut off your hands and your feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers, all together!" 49 They said: No harm; surely to our Lord we go back; 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51