۞ Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and therefrom We shall bring you forth once again. 55 And assuredly We shewed him Our signs, all of them, but he belied and refused. 56 He said: "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land by your sorcery? 57 “So we will also produce before you a similar magic, therefore set up an agreed time between us and you, from which neither we nor you shall turn away, at a level place.” 58 Moses said, "Let the contest take place on the Day of Feast so that all the people can come together during the brightness of the day." 59 Thereupon Pharaoh withdrew [with his counsellors] and decided upon the scheme which he would pursue; and then he came [to the tryst]. 60 Moses told them, (the magicians) "Woe to you if you invent falsehood against God; you will be destroyed by the torment. Whoever invents falsehood against God will certainly be lost." 61 They started arguing and whispering to each other 62 and said, "These two people are magicians. They want to expel you from your land through their magic and to destroy your own tradition. 63 Gather your guile and then lineup a rank those who gain the upper hand today shall indeed prosper' 64 They said, 'Moses, either thou wilt cast, or we shall be the first to cast.' 65 He said, “Rather, you may throw”; thereupon their cords and their staves, by the strength of their magic, appeared to him as if they were (serpents) moving fast. 66 Moses became fearful within himself. 67 We said to him: "Fear not. You will certainly be victorious. 68 Throw that which is in your right hand. It will swallow up that which they have made, for that which they made is but the guile of a sorcerer. Wherever he goes the sorcerer does not prosper' 69 Then the wizards were (all) flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses. 70 (Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment. 71 They said: we shall by no means prefer thee to that which hath come to us of the evidences, and Him Who hath created us; so decree thou whatsoever thou shalt decree; thou canst only decree in respect of the life of this world. 72 As for us, behold, we have come to believe in our Sustainer, [hoping] that He may forgive us our faults and all that magic unto which thou hast forced us: for God is the best [to look forward to,] and the One who is truly abiding." 73 The truth is that Hell awaits him who comes to his Lord laden with sin; he shall neither die in it nor live. 74 But whoever comes before Him a believer having done good deeds, will be raised to higher stations -- 75 Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: they will dwell therein for aye: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil). 76