Not because of your righteousness (as in verse 4) or the uprightness of your heart: this second qualification has to do with right moral and spiritual attitudes, as contrasted with right conduct. Revised English Bible and New International Version use “integrity”; something like “It is not because you are a good [or, moral] people” gives the meaning of the phrase.

Confirm the word: this refers to God’s promise (see 8.18).

The LORD swore to your fathers: see 1.8.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .