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026.009 And verily, thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
026.010 Behold, thy Lord called Moses: "Go to the people of iniquity,-
026.011 "The people of the Pharaoh: will they not fear God?"
026.012 He said: "O my Lord! I do fear that they will charge me with falsehood:
026.013 "My breast will be straitened. And my speech may not go (smoothly): so send unto Aaron.
026.014 "And (further), they have a charge of crime against me; and I fear they may slay me."
026.015 God said: "By no means! proceed then, both of you, with Our Signs; We are with you, and will listen (to your
call).
026.016 "So go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh, and say: 'We have been sent by the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds;
026.017 "'Send thou with us the Children of Israel.'"
026.018 (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years
of thy life?
026.019 "And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!"
026.020 Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error.
026.021 "So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom)
and appointed me as one of the apostles.
026.022 "And this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!"
026.023 Pharaoh said: "And what is the 'Lord and Cherisher of the worlds'?"
026.024 (Moses) said: "The Lord and Cherisher of the heavens and the earth, and all between,- if ye want to be quite
sure."
026.025 (Pharaoh) said to those around: "Did ye not listen (to what he says)?"
026.026 (Moses) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers from the beginning!"
026.027 (Pharaoh) said: "Truly your apostle who has been sent to you is a veritable madman!"
026.028 (Moses) said: "Lord of the East and the West, and all between! if ye only had sense!"
026.029 (Pharaoh) said: "If thou dost put forward any god other than me, I will certainly put thee in prison!"
026.030 (Moses) said: "Even if I showed you something clear (and) convincing?"
026.031 (Pharaoh) said: "Show it then, if thou tellest the truth!"
026.032 So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)!
026.033 And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!
026.034 (Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well- versed:
026.035 "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?"
026.036 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect-
026.037 "And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."
026.038 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known,
026.039 And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?-
026.040 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?"
026.041 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win?
026.042 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."
026.043 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!"
026.044 So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!"
026.045 Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake!
026.046 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration,
026.047 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
026.048 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
026.049 Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you
sorcery! but soon shall ye know!
026.050 "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross!"
026.051 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord!
026.052 "Only, our desire is that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become foremost among the