The Quran

Preface

أَسبابَ السَّماواتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلىٰ إِلٰهِ موسىٰ وَإِنّي لَأَظُنُّهُ كاذِبًا ۚ وَكَذٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرعَونَ سوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبيلِ ۚ وَما كَيدُ فِرعَونَ إِلّا في تَبابٍ

Yusuf Ali

“The ways and means of (reaching) the heavens, and that I may mount up to the God of Moses: But as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!” Thus was made alluring,¹ in Pharaoh?s eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the Path; and the plot² of Pharaoh led to nothing but perdition (for him).

Pharaoh’s speech shows how his own egotism and haughty arrogance brought him to this pass, that even the evil which he did seemed alluring in his own eyes! His heart was indeed sealed, and his arrogance prevented him from seeing the right path. (With the Kufi Qira'ah I read sudda in the passive voice).
Pharaoh had plotted to slay Moses (40:26) and to kill the Children of Israel (40:25). The plot recoiled on his own head and on the head of his people who joined in the plot; for they were all drowned in the Red Sea.