S:  They said:  O Musa! will you cast, or shall we be the first who cast down?

020.066 Y:  He said, “Nay, throw ye first!” Then behold their ropes and their rods-so it seemed to him on account of their magic — began to be in lively motion!

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

S:  He said:  Nay! cast down.  Then lo! their cords and their rods—­ it was imaged to him on account of their magic as if they were running.

020.067 Y:  So Moses conceived in his mind a (sort of) fear.

P:  And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.

S:  So Musa conceived in his mind a fear.

020.068 Y:  We said:  “Fear not! for thou hast indeed the upper hand:” 

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

S:  We said:  Fear not, surely you shall be the uppermost,

020.069 Y:  “Throw that which is in thy right hand:  Quickly will it swallow up that which they have faked what they have faked is but a magician’s trick:  and the magician thrives not, (no matter) where he goes.”

P:  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.

S:  And cast down what is in your right hand; it shall devour what they have wrought; they have wrought only the plan of a magician, and the magician shall not be successful wheresoever he may come from.

020.070 Y:  So the magicians were thrown down to prostration:  they said, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses”.

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

S:  And the magicians were cast down making obeisance; they said:  We believe in the Lord of Haroun and Musa.

020.071 Y:  (Pharaoh) said:  “Believe ye in Him before I give you permission?  Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees:  so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!”

P:  (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.

S:  (Firon) said:  You believe in him before I give you leave; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you enchantment, therefore I will certainly cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees, and certainly you will come to know which of us is the more severe and the more abiding in chastising.