'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 “He wishes to expel you out of your land by his magic; so what is your advice?” 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard. 37 So the magicians were gathered at a set time on a day appointed. 38 and the people were told: "Will you join the assembly? 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, "Shall we have a reward, if we are the winners?" 41 He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]." 42 Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw." 43 Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners. 44 [But] then Moses threw his staff - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions. 45 And the magicians were thrown down prostrate; 46 saying: 'We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' 48 Said he: You believe in him before I give you permission; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you the magic, so you shall know: certainly I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and certainly I will crucify you all. 49 They said, “No harm (in it), we will return to our Lord.” 50 "Only, our desire is that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become foremost among the believers!" 51