Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye? 35 They said: put off him and his brother, and send unto the cities callers. 36 "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer." 37 So the magicians were brought together on a particular day at a set time 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 (They said): "We may haply follow the magicians if they are victorious." 40 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Fir'aun (Pharaoh): "Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners?" 41 He replied, "You will then be my closest associates". 42 Musa (Moses) said to them: "Throw what you are going to throw!" 43 So they cast down their ropes and staffs, and said, "By Pharaoh's honour, we shall surely win." 44 Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake! 45 The magicians fell down prostrate, 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 The Lord of Musa and Harun. 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They said: "We do not care, for we are bound to return to our Lord, 50 We are eager that Our Lord should forgive us our offenses, for we are the first of the believers' 51