~ Not Because You Are Righteous ~

Hear, O Israel.
You are now about to cross the Jordan
to go in and dispossess nations
greater and stronger than you,
with large cities that have walls up to the sky.
The people are strong and tall -- Anakites!
You know about them and have heard it said:
"Who can stand up against the Anakites?"
But be assured today
that the Lord your God is the one
who goes across ahead of you
like a devouring fire.
He will destroy them;
He will subdue them before you.
And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly,
as the Lord has promised you.

After the Lord our God has driven them out before you,
do not say to yourself,
"The Lord has brought me here
to take possession of this land
because of my righteousness."
No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations
that the Lord is going to drive them out before you.
It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity
that you are going in to take possession of their land;
but on account of the wickedness of these nations,
the Lord your God will drive them out before you,
to accomplish what He swore to your fathers,
to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Understand, then, that is is not
because of your righteousness
that the Lord your God is giving you
this good land to possess,
for you are a stiff-necked people.

(Deuteronomy 9:1-6)