Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 Who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. Now what do you advise?" 35 They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers 36 “To bring to you every expert great magician.” 37 The sorcerers were gathered at the appointed time on a wellknown day, 38 and the people were told: "Will you join the assembly? 39 so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?" 40 When the magicians arrived, they said to the Pharaoh: "Is there a reward for us if we are victorious?" -- 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Musa said unto them: cast whatsoever ye have to cast. 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 cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 The magicians therefore fell down prostrate. 46 And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron. 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return. 50 “We hope that our Lord will forgive us our mistakes, as we are the first to believe.” 51