Galatians 5

1 It is in order that we might live without (being obliged [to/having to]) [obey all the Jewish rituals] that Christ freed us [from God condemning us because of our disobeying those rituals]. So, firmly [reject the false teaching that someone must circumcise you, and] do not [live like] slaves again [MET] [by letting others force you to obey those rules and rituals again].

So bestehet nun in der Freiheit, damit uns Christus befreiet hat, und lasset euch nicht wiederum in das knechtische Joch fangen!

2 Consider very carefully what I, Paul, [an apostle], now tell you: If, [to fulfill Jewish ritual laws], you are permitting yourself to be circumcised {someone to circumcise you}, what Christ [has done for you] will not benefit you at all.

Siehe, ich, Paulus, sage euch: Wo ihr euch beschneiden lasset, so ist euch Christus kein nütze.

3 Instead, I solemnly declare again to every man who is circumcised {has someone circumcise him} [in order for God to accept him], that you must [perfectly] obey all of the laws [that God gave Moses, in order for God to save you].

Ich zeuge abermal einem jeden, der sich beschneiden läßt, daß er noch das ganze Gesetz schuldig ist zu tun.

4 Those of you who are sure that God will erase the record of your sins because you obey the laws [that God gave to Moses], you have separated yourselves from Christ. You have abandoned/rejected [God’s true method of saving you, which was] by kindly erasing the record of your sins, in a way that you did not deserve.

Ihr habt Christum verloren, die ihr durch das Gesetz gerecht werden wollt, und seid von der Gnade gefallen.

5 But we who have a relationship with Christ and who trust in Christ are eagerly waiting to receive what God’s Spirit assures us that we can expect. We can expect to receive it because God has erased the record of our sins.

Wir aber warten im Geist durch den Glauben der Gerechtigkeit, der man hoffen muß.

6 As for us who have a relationship with Christ Jesus, God is not concerned whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. Instead, God is concerned about whether we trust [in] Christ, with the result that we love [other people].

Denn in Christo Jesu gilt weder Beschneidung noch Vorhaut etwas, sondern der Glaube, der durch die Liebe tätig ist.

7 You were progressing well [spiritually] [MET]. You should not have let someone influence you so that [now you] are not believing the true [message about Christ] [RHQ]!

Ihr liefet fein. Wer hat euch aufgehalten, der Wahrheit nicht zu gehorchen?

8 [God], the one who chose you, is not the one who is persuading you to think like this!

Solch Überreden ist nicht von dem, der euch berufen hat.

9 [Remember that this false doctrine that someone is teaching you will affect all of you, just like] [MET] a little yeast causes all of the dough to swell up.

Ein wenig Sauerteig versäuert den ganzen Teig.

10 [Nevertheless], because of my relationship with the Lord, I am certain that you will think only as I do [about forcing people to obey rules and rituals]. Furthermore, [God] will punish anyone who is confusing you [by teaching this false message], even if he is an important person.

Ich versehe mich zu euch in dem HERRN, ihr werdet nicht anders gesinnet sein. Wer euch aber irremacht, der wird sein Urteil tragen, er sei, wer er wolle.

11 But, my fellow believers, [although someone claims that I am proclaiming that men must be circumcised, I certainly am not still proclaiming that. Remember that the Jews are still] ([persecuting me/causing me to suffer]). If I were still proclaiming that men must be circumcised [in order for God to accept them], (the Jews would not be persecuting me./why would the Jews be persecuting me?) [RHQ] [They would] [RHQ] not be [persecuting me]/causing me to suffer [because] then [the Jews] would no longer be offended. [They] ([are offended/do not want to accept what I teach]) [because I proclaim that Christ, the Messiah, died on] the cross [MTY].

Ich aber, liebe Brüder, so ich die Beschneidung noch predige, warum leide ich denn Verfolgung? So hätte das Ärgernis des Kreuzes aufgehöret.

12 I [would even] wish that those who are disturbing you [by insisting that men be circumcised] would also emasculate [EUP] themselves, [with the result that they would be expelled from your congregations]!

Wollte Gott, daß sie auch ausgerottet würden, die euch verstören!

13 My fellow believers, [God] chose you in order that [you might live] without having to [obey rules and rituals]. But [do not assume that because] you are free [from having to obey rules and rituals], [God] permits you to [do whatever your] self-directed nature [desires]. Instead, constantly, as you love [each other], serve each other.

Ihr aber, liebe Brüder, seid zur Freiheit berufen Allein sehet zu, daß ihr durch die Freiheit dem Fleisch nicht Raum gebet, sondern durch die Liebe diene einer dem andern.

14 Keep in mind that we can sum up all of the laws [that God has] given us in one law, which is: “You must love each person you come in contact with, just like [you love] yourself.”

Denn alle Gesetze werden in einem Wort erfüllet, in dem: Liebe deinen Nächsten wie dich selbst.

15 Since you are attacking and injuring [MET] each other [by the things that you say] [MET], I warn you that [if you continue doing that], you will totally ruin each other [spiritually].

So ihr euch aber untereinander beißet und fresset, so sehet zu, daß ihr nicht untereinander verzehret werdet.

16 [So] I tell you this: Constantly let [God’s] Spirit direct you. [If you do that], you will certainly not do the things that your self-directed nature wants [you to do].

Ich sage aber: Wandelt im Geist, so werdet ihr die Lüste des Fleisches nicht vollbringen.

17 Your self-directed nature (opposes [God’s] Spirit/does not [want you to do what] God’s Spirit [wants you to do]), but also his Spirit opposes your self-directed nature. These two are always (fighting with/opposing) each other. The result is that you do not [constantly] do the [good] deeds that you truly desire [to do].

Denn das Fleisch gelüstet wider den Geist und den Geist wider das Fleisch. Dieselbigen sind wider einander, daß ihr nicht tut, was ihr wollt.

18 But when you are led by God’s Spirit {when God’s Spirit directs you}, you [can do what pleases God], now that you are no longer obligated [to obey all] the laws [that God gave Moses].

Regieret euch aber der Geist, so seid ihr nicht unter dem Gesetze.

19 [You already know] how [people think and] act [PRS] because of their self-directed nature. These are [some of the things that they do: People] are sexually immoral. [People] commit unnatural sexual acts. [People] act indecently.

Offenbar sind aber die Werke des Fleisches, als da sind: Ehebruch, Hurerei, Unreinigkeit, Unzucht,

20 [People] worship false gods [and] things [that] represent those gods. [People] perform (rituals in order that evil spirits might act for them/sorcery). [People] are hostile [to others. People] quarrel [with each other. People] are (jealous/resent other people’s status). [People] behave angrily. [People] try (to get others to think highly of them/to exalt themselves) and (do not consider what others want/act selfishly). People do not associate [with others. People] associate only with those who agree [with them].

Abgötterei, Zauberei, Feindschaft, Hader, Neid, Zorn, Zank, Zwietracht, Rotten, Haß, Mord,

21 [People] want what others have. [People] get drunk. [People] (revel/participate in wild parties). And [people do other] things like these. I warn you [now], just like I warned [you previously], that the ones [who constantly] act [and think] like that will not receive [what] God [has for his own people when he begins] to rule over us.

Saufen, Fressen und dergleichen; von welchen ich euch habe zuvor gesagt und sage noch zuvor, daß, die solches tun, werden das Reich Gottes nicht erben.

22 But [God’s] Spirit causes [us to do these things]: We love [others]. We are joyful. We are peaceful. We are patient. We are kind. We are good. We are [ones whom] others can trust.

Die Frucht aber des Geistes ist: Liebe, Freude, Friede, Geduld, Freundlichkeit, Gütigkeit, Glaube, Sanftmut, Keuschheit.

23 We are gentle. We control our behavior. There is no law that says people should not [think and act in such ways].

Wider solche ist das Gesetz nicht.

24 Furthermore, we who belong to Christ Jesus have [stopped obeying] our self-directed nature and [stopped doing] all the evil things that we desire to do [MET]. [It is as though] [MET] we nailed them to the cross!

Welche aber Christo angehören, die kreuzigen ihr Fleisch samt den Lüsten und Begierden.

25 Since [God’s] Spirit has caused us to [be spiritually] alive, we should [conduct our lives the way the] Spirit [directs us].

So wir im Geist leben, so lasset uns auch im Geist wandeln.

26 We should not be saying how great we are. We should not be making ourselves more important than others. We should not envy each other.

Lasset uns nicht eitler Ehre geizig sein, untereinander zu entrüsten und zu hassen!