The Pharaoh said to the people around him, "He is certainly a skillful magician. 34 "He wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery, then what is it your counsel, and what do you command?" 35 They said, "Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds into the cities, 36 That they should bring to you every skillful magician. 37 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known, 38 and the people were asked, "Will you all be there?" 39 We may perhaps follow the religion of the magicians if they triumph." 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." 42 [And] Moses said unto them: "Throw whatever you are going to throw!" 43 Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners. 44 Then Moses cast his staff and lo, it forthwith swallowed up their lying invention; 45 And down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves in adoration, 46 They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all Being, 47 and the Lord 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 harm! Surely, to our Lord (Allah) we are to return; 50 Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers. 51