Deuteronomy 1:40-42

New International Reader's Version

⁴⁰ As for you, turn around. Start out toward the desert. Go along the road that leads to the Red Sea.”

⁴¹ Then you replied, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight. We’ll do just as the Lord our God has commanded us.” So all of you got your swords and put them on. You thought it would be easy to go up into the hill country.

⁴² But the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight. I will not be with you. Your enemies will win the battle over you.’ ”