ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ
"Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ
And say to him, 'Would you [be willing to] purify yourself
وَأَهۡدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ
And let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?'"
فَأَرَىٰهُ ٱلۡأٓيَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ
And he showed him the greatest sign,[1]
1- i.e., the miracle of his staff becoming a great snake.
فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ
But he [i.e., Pharaoh] denied and disobeyed.
ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ يَسۡعَىٰ
Then he turned his back, striving [i.e., plotting].[1]
1- An alternative meaning is "running [from the snake]."
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ
And he gathered [his people] and called out.
فَقَالَ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ
And said, "I am your most exalted lord."
فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
So AllŒh seized him in exemplary punishment for the last and the first [transgression].[1].
1- i.e., for Pharaoh's setting himself up as a deity and for his previous oppression of the people and denial of Moses.
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبۡرَةٗ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰٓ
Indeed in that is a lesson [i.e., warning] for whoever would fear [AllŒh].