Deuteronomy 9:1–5

Not Because of Israel’s Righteousness

9Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan^h to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you,ⁱ with large cities^j that have walls up to the sky.^{k 2}The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?”^{l 3}But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you^m like a devouring fire.ⁿ He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly,^o as the Lord has promised you.

⁴After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself,^p “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness^q of these nations^r that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. ⁵It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity^s that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness^t of these nations,^u the Lord your God will drive them out^v before you, to accomplish what he swore^w to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.^x