Deuteronomy 7:9

Ver. 9. Know, therefore, that the Lord thy God— Moses here reminds them, that as God's choosing them for his peculiar people was a matter of mere favour, to which they had no more right than any other nation of the world, so they should consider the fidelity of God, and beware of abusing their privileges; assuring them, that as the divine goodness and veracity would abundantly appear to them and their posterity if they religiously observed the conditions of the covenant, so would his justice, ver. 10 in making all such as should ungratefully violate them live to see the sad effects of their impiety. Though it be said in general terms, that God repayeth them who hate him—to destroy them; yet the context shews, that it is to be understood chiefly in relation to the Jews, who were under an extraordinary providence, and visited with temporal rewards or punishments, according to their obedience or disobedience. To their face, according to the sense which Onkelos gives it, signifies in this life; "they shall see in this life the just punishment of their idolatry." By the haters of God, ver. 10 are principally meant idolaters. See Exodus 20:5. The history of the world, however, bears this attestation to the justice of Providence, that nations in general are exalted by prosperity, or brought low by adversity, according as the spirit of piety and virtue prevails among them.