Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you bid?" 35 They said, 'Put him and his brother off a while, and send among the cities musterers, 36 That they may bring to thee every magician knowing. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a set time on a day made known. 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 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? 41 He said, 'Yes indeed; and you shall then be among the near-stationed.' 42 Musa said unto them: cast whatsoever ye have to cast. 43 So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant." 44 [But] then Moses threw his staff - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions. 45 And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 [Pharaoh] said, "You believed Moses before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all." 49 They said: no harm! verily unto our Lord we are to return. 50 and we surely expect that Our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first ones to believe." 51