Indeed We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He told them: “I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Universe.” 46 But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them. 47 yet there was not a sign that We showed them that was not greater than its sister, and We seized them with the punishment so that they might return. 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 but when We relieved them of the torment, they broke their word. 50 And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can ye not then discern? 51 Am I not better than this contemptible (man), who can scarcely make things clear (because of the impediment of his speech)? 52 Why were then no bracelets of gold shed upon him from above, or angels sent down as a retinue with him?" 53 Thus, he made dimwits out of his people and they followed him. They, certainly, were a sinful people. When they invoked Our anger, 54 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. 55 and so We made them a thing of the past, and an example to those who would come after them. 56