Musa and the magicians

The magicians came to the Pharaoh and said: "Is there reward for us if we succeed?"

"Yes," said he, "you will be among the honoured."

So they said: "O Moses, you may cast your spell first, or we shall cast ours."

"You cast it first," answered Moses. When they cast their spell, they bewitched the eyes of the people and petrified them by conjuring up a great charm.

We said to Moses: "Throw down your staff;" and it swallowed up their conjurations in no time.

Thus the truth was upheld, and the falsehood that they practised was exposed.

Thus there and then they were vanquished and overthrown, humiliated.

The sorcerers fell to the ground in homage,

And said: "We have come to believe in the Lord of all the worlds,

"The Lord of Moses and Aaron."