'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 who seeks to expel you from your land by his sorcery. What is your counsel' 35 They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities 36 “To bring to you every expert great magician.” 37 The sorcerers were gathered at the appointed time on a wellknown day, 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners. 40 When the magicians arrived, they said to the Pharaoh: "Is there a reward for us if we are victorious?" -- 41 "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." 42 Moses said to them: "Cast what you have to cast." 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Then Moses cast his staff and lo, it forthwith swallowed up their lying invention; 45 The magicians therefore fell down prostrate. 46 [and] exclaimed: "We have come to believe in the Sustainer of all the worlds, 47 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: "We do not care, for we are bound to return to our Lord, 50 We hope that our Lord will forgive us for our sins; we were not believers at first." 51