'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye? 35 They said: Put him off, (him) and his brother, and send into the cities summoners 36 That they may bring to thee every magician knowing. 37 So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day. 38 And it was said unto the people: are ye going to assemble. 39 That we might follow the magicians if they are the predominant?" 40 "When the magicians came, they asked the Pharaoh, "Will there be any reward for us if we win?" 41 He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near (to me). 42 Musa said to them: Cast what you are going to cast. 43 So they threw their ropes and their sticks, and said: "By the might of Fir'aun (Pharaoh), it is we who will certainly win!" 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 The magicians therefore fell down prostrate. 46 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 Pharaoh said: "You accepted the word of Moses even before I granted you the leave to do so. Surely he is your chief who has taught you magic. Soon shall you come to know. I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and shall crucify all of you." 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers. 51