[20:65]

They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw ?

[20:66]

He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran.

[20:67]

And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.

[20:68]

We said: Fear not! Lo! thou art the higher.

[20:69]

Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard’s artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain.

[20:70]

Then the wizards were (all) flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.

[20:71]

(Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.

[20:72]

They said: We choose thee not above the clear proofs that have come unto us, and above Him Who created us. So decree what thou wilt decree. Thou wilt end for us only this life of the world.

[20:73]

Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting.

[20:74]

Lo! whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There he will neither die nor live.

[20:75]

But whoso cometh unto Him a believer, having done good works, for such are the high stations;

[20:76]

Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the reward of him who groweth.