THUS, INDEED, have We sent Moses with Our messages unto Pharaoh and his great ones; and he said: "Behold, I am an apostle of the Sustainer of all the worlds!" 46 But as soon as he came before them with Our [miraculous] signs, lo! they derided them, 47 And not a sign We showed them, but it was greater than its sister sign; and We seized them with chastisement, that haply they should 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 eased them of the torment, behold! they broke their word. 50 And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people, saying: "O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, (witness) these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What! see ye not then? 51 "Am I not better than this (Moses), who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly? 52 and why have not armlets of gold been bestowed on him and why is there not a train of angels accompanying him?" 53 Thus he incited his people to levity, and they obeyed him: for, behold, they were people depraved! 54 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. 55 And made them a precedent and example for posterity. 56