Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)
56 Certainly We showed him all Our signs.
But he denied [them] and refused [to believe them].
57 He said, ‘Have you come to us,
Moses, to expel us from our land with your magic?
58 Yet we [too] will bring you a magic like it!
So fix a tryst between us and you,
which neither we shall fail nor you,
at a middle place.’1
59 He said, ‘Your tryst shall be the Day of Adornment,
and let the people be assembled in early forenoon.’
60 Then Pharaoh withdrew [to consult privately],
summoned up his guile,
and then arrived [at the scene of the contest].
61 Moses said to them, ‘Woe to you!
Do not fabricate a lie against Allah,
lest He should annihilate you with a punishment.
Whoever fabricates lies certainly fails.’
62 So they disputed their matter among themselves,
and kept their confidential talks secret.
63 They said, ‘These two are indeed magicians
who intend to expel you
from your land with their magic,
and to abolish your excellent tradition!2
64 So summon up your ingenuity,
then come in ranks.
Today he who has the upper hand will be saved!’
65 They said, ‘O Moses!
Either you will throw down,
1 Or ‘at a neutral location,’ or ‘on a level ground.’
2 Cf. 40:26.
