﴿ أَسْبَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ كَٰذِبًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَصُدَّ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۚ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِى تَبَابٍۢ ﴾

“the means of approach to the heavens - and that [thus] I may have a look at the god of Moses: for, behold, I am indeed certain that he is a liar!” And thus, goodly seemed unto Pharaoh the evil of his own doings, and so he was barred from the path [of truth]: and Pharaoh’s guile did not lead to aught but ruin.”

the routes of the heavens — the paths that lead to it and look upon read indicative fa-attali‘u as a supplement to ablughu ‘I may reach’; or read subjunctive fa-attali‘a as the response to ibni lī ‘build for me’ the God of Moses; for I truly think that he that is Moses is lying’ about his having a god other than me — Pharaoh said this in order to disguise the truth. And that is how the evil nature of his conduct was made to seem fair to Pharaoh and that is how he was barred from the right way the path to guidance read sadda ‘that is how he barred others’ or sudda ‘that is how he was barred’. And Pharaoh’s guile ended only in ruin loss.