We sent Moses to the Pharaoh and his nobles with Our miracles and he said, "I am the Messenger of the Lord of the Universe". 46 But when he came to them with 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 Yet no sooner did We take away the affliction from them than they broke their pledge. 50 And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people: 'O my people, do I not possess the kingdom of Egypt, and these rivers flowing beneath me? What, do you not see? 51 Aye! I am better than this one who is despicable, and well-nigh cannot make himself plain. 52 Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him? 53 So he made his people unsteady, and they obeyed him; surely they were an ungodly people. 54 Then when they provoked Our wrath, We took revenge on them and drowned every one of them. 55 and We made them a thing of the past, and We made them an example to later people. 56