Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)

or we shall be the first to throw.’
66 He said, ‘Rather you throw down first.’
Behold, their ropes and staffs appeared to him
by their magic
to wriggle swiftly.
67 Then Moses felt a fear within his heart.
68 We said, ‘Do not be afraid.
Indeed you will have the upper hand.
69 Throw down what is in your right hand,
and it will swallow what they have conjured.
What they have conjured is only a magician’s trick,
and the magician does not fare well
wherever he may show up.’
70 Thereat the magicians fell down prostrating.
They said, ‘We have believed in the Lord of Aaron
and Moses!’
71 He said, ‘Do you profess faith in Him
before I may permit you?
He is indeed your chief who has taught you magic!
Surely I will cut off your hands and feet
from opposite sides,
and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees.
So you will know
which of us can inflict a punishment severer
and more lasting.’
72 They said, ‘We will never prefer you
to the manifest proofs which have come to us
and [to] Him who originated us.
Decide whatever you may.
You can only decide about the life of this world.