5
they killed children without mercy and ate the flesh and blood of human beings. They were initiated into secret rituals
6
in which parents murdered their own defenseless children. It was your will for our ancestors to destroy these people,
7
so that the land which you consider the most precious of all lands would be a suitable home for your people.
8
But even in this you showed mercy toward their enemies, since they were only human beings. You sent hornets ahead of your army, to destroy the enemy gradually.
9
You could have allowed the righteous to destroy those ungodly people in battle; you could have wiped them out immediately with wild animals or with one harsh command.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.