Indeed We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He told them: “I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Universe.” 46 But when he brought them Our signs, lo, they laughed at them. 47 And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith]. 48 And [every time] they exclaimed: "O thou sorcerer! Pray for us to thy Sustainer on the strength of the covenant [of prophethood] which He has made with thee: for, verily, we shall now follow the right way!" 49 But lo, each time We removed Our affliction from them, they would go back on their word. 50 And Pharaoh issued a call to his people, saying: "O my people! Does not the dominion over Egypt belong to me, since all these running waters flow at my feet? Can you not, then, see [that I am your lord supreme]? 51 Am I (not) better than him who is contemptible, and cannot even 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 Thus, he made dimwits out of his people and they followed him. They, certainly, were a sinful people. When they invoked Our anger, 54 We took revenge on them by drowning them all together. 55 and We made them a thing past, and We appointed them for an example to later folk. 56