We did send Moses aforetime, with Our Signs, to Pharaoh and his Chiefs: He said, "I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds." 46 But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them. 47 And not a sign We showed them, but it was greater than its sister sign; and We seized them with chastisement, that haply they should return. 48 And they said: O magician! call on your Lord for our sake, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely be the followers of the right way. 49 But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word. 50 Pharaoh called to his people, "My people, is the Kingdom of Egypt not mine? And these rivers that flow at my feet, are they not mine? Do you not see? 51 "Am I not better than this (Moses), who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly? 52 Why were then no bracelets of gold shed upon him from above, or angels sent down as a retinue with him?" 53 In this way he fooled his people and they obeyed him: they were a rebellious people. 54 When at length they provoked Us, We exacted retribution from them, and We drowned them all. 55 and made them a thing of the past and an example for those who would come after them. 56