Hebrews 4

1 [The Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest]. But [God] has still promised us that we can enter the place of resting [in heaven eternally]. So we must beware [of the possibility] that [God] may consider that some of you have failed to enter the [place of] resting [eternally as the Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest].

So lasset uns nun fürchten, daß wir die Verheißung, einzukommen zu seiner Ruhe, nicht versäumen und unser keiner dahinten bleibe.

2 We have heard the message [about Christ], just like [the Israelites] heard [what God promised]. But [just like] the message did not benefit [most of] those who heard it because they did not believe it as [Joshua and Caleb did, it] will not [benefit us eternally if we do not keep believing it].

Denn es ist uns auch verkündigt gleichwie jenen; aber das Wort der Predigt half jenen nichts, da nicht glaubten die, so es hörten.

3 We who have believed [in Christ] are able to enter the place of resting [eternally. We know there is a place where we will rest eternally] because God said, Because I was angry with them, I solemnly declared, “They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.” [God said that] even though he ceased his work [of creating things] after he created the world.

Denn wir, die wir glauben, gehen in die Ruhe, wie er spricht: “Daß ich schwur in meinem Zorn, sie sollten zu meiner Ruhe nicht kommen.” Und zwar, da die Werke von Anbeginn der Welt gemacht waren,

4 What someone wrote somewhere [in the Scriptures] about the seventh day [after he had spent six days creating the world], supports that: Then, on the seventh day, God rested from his work [of creating everything].

sprach er an einem Ort von dem siebenten Tag also: “Und Gott ruhte am siebenten Tage von allen seinen Werken;”

5 But note again what God said about the Israelites [in the] passage that I quoted previously: They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.

und hier an diesem Ort abermals: “Sie sollen nicht kommen zu meiner Ruhe.”

6 Some people experience entering that [place of resting eternally. But] those [Israelites] who first had the good message preached to them {first heard the good message} [about what God promised them] did not enter [that place of resting], because they refused to believe [God].

Nachdem es nun noch vorhanden ist, daß etliche sollen zu ihr kommen, und die, denen es zuerst verkündigt ist, sind nicht dazu gekommen um des Unglaubens willen,

7 [But God] appointed another time [when we may enter that place of resting]. That time is now! [We know that is true because] much later than when [the Israelites rebelled against God in the desert], he caused [King] David to write what I have already quoted, Now, when you understand what God is saying [to you], do not stubbornly disobey him.

bestimmt er abermals einen Tag nach solcher langen Zeit und sagt durch David: “Heute,” wie gesagt ist, “so ihr seine Stimme hören werdet, so verstocket eure Herzen nicht.”

8 If Joshua had led the Israelites to enter the place of resting, God would not have spoken later about another [time when we could rest] [MET]. [So we know God was speaking about another time when some people would enter that place of resting eternally].

Denn so Josua hätte sie zur Ruhe gebracht, würde er nicht hernach von einem andern Tage gesagt haben.

9 So, just like [God rested on] the seventh day [after he finished making everything], there remains a time when God’s people will rest eternally.

Darum ist noch eine Ruhe vorhanden dem Volke Gottes.

10 Specifically, whoever enters God’s place of resting has ceased doing things [to gain God’s favor], just like God ceased doing his work [of creating everything].

Denn wer zu seiner Ruhe gekommen ist, der ruht auch von seinen Werken gleichwie Gott von seinen.

11 God severely punished the [Israelites because they disbelieved his message]. So we must strive to experience entering that [place of] resting [eternally], in order that he will not severely punish any of us for not believing [his message].

So lasset uns nun Fleiß tun, einzukommen zu dieser Ruhe, auf daß nicht jemand falle in dasselbe Beispiel des Unglaubens.

12 [Beware of being insincere about doing this], because the message God [has given us] very powerfully penetrates our thinking more than a two-edged sword [penetrates flesh] [MET]. It penetrates [deeply] into our souls and spirits, as [a sharp sword can penetrate] into our joints and marrow. That [is, by his message God] [PRS] discerns all that we think about, and he discerns all that we desire [to do] [MTY] (OR, [His message] exposes [to us] all our thoughts and all our desires).

Denn das Wort Gottes ist lebendig und kräftig und schärfer denn kein zweischneidig Schwert, und dringt durch, bis daß es scheidet Seele und Geist, auch Mark und Bein, und ist ein Richter der Gedanken und Sinne des Herzens.

13 God knows everything about everyone. Everything is completely exposed [DOU] to him, [and he is] the one [SYN] who will say whether he approves of what we have done.

Und keine Kreatur ist vor ihm unsichtbar, es ist aber alles bloß und entdeckt vor seinen Augen. Von dem reden wir.

14 We have a great Supreme Priest who ascended through the heavens [when he returned to God’s presence]. He is Jesus, (God’s Son/the man who is also God). So let us firmly profess [what we believe about him].

Dieweil wir denn einen großen Hohenpriester haben, Jesum, den Sohn Gottes, der gen Himmel gefahren ist, so lasset uns halten an dem Bekenntnis.

15 Our Supreme Priest can indeed [LIT] compassionately deal with us who tend to sin easily, because he also was tempted [to sin] in every way that we are [tempted to sin], and yet he did not sin.

Denn wir haben nicht einen Hohenpriester, der nicht könnte Mitleiden haben mit unsern Schwachheiten, sondern der versucht ist allenthalben gleichwie wir, doch ohne Sünde.

16 So, let us come boldly to [Christ] [MTY], who rules [MET] [from heaven] and does for us what we do not deserve, in order that we might experience [his acting] mercifully [toward us], and in order that we might experience his helping us in a kind way whenever we need [help].

Darum laßt uns hinzutreten mit Freudigkeit zu dem Gnadenstuhl, auf daß wir Barmherzigkeit empfangen und Gnade finden auf die Zeit, wenn uns Hilfe not sein wird.