فَأَلقىٰ عَصاهُ فَإِذا هِيَ ثُعبانٌ مُبينٌ

So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذا هِيَ بَيضاءُ لِلنّاظِرينَ

And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.

قالَ المَلَأُ مِن قَومِ فِرعَونَ إِنَّ هـٰذا لَساحِرٌ عَليمٌ

Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician

يُريدُ أَن يُخرِجَكُم مِن أَرضِكُم ۖ فَماذا تَأمُرونَ

Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"

قالوا أَرجِه وَأَخاهُ وَأَرسِل فِي المَدائِنِ حاشِرينَ

They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

وَجاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرعَونَ قالوا إِنَّ لَنا لَأَجرًا إِن كُنّا نَحنُ الغالِبينَ

And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."

قالَ نَعَم وَإِنَّكُم لَمِنَ المُقَرَّبينَ

He said, "Yes, and, [moreover], you will be among those made near [to me]."

قالوا يا موسىٰ إِمّا أَن تُلقِيَ وَإِمّا أَن نَكونَ نَحنُ المُلقينَ

They said, "O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first]."

قالَ أَلقوا ۖ فَلَمّا أَلقَوا سَحَروا أَعيُنَ النّاسِ وَاستَرهَبوهُم وَجاءوا بِسِحرٍ عَظيمٍ

He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.

وَأَوحَينا إِلىٰ موسىٰ أَن أَلقِ عَصاكَ ۖ فَإِذا هِيَ تَلقَفُ ما يَأفِكونَ

And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.