We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his Council, and he said: 'I am the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds' 46 But when he brought them Our signs, lo, they laughed at them. 47 Of all the miracles which We showed to them the latter ones were greater than the former. We struck them with torment so that perhaps they would return to Us. 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 Yet no sooner did We take away the affliction from them than they broke their pledge. 50 And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? 51 Am I not better than this lowly man who can barely express himself? 52 Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?" 53 Then he incited his people and they obeyed him; verily they were ever a transgressing people. 54 But when they roused Our anger We inflicted retributive punishment and drowned them all, 55 and We made them a thing past, and We appointed them for an example to later folk. 56