James 1
1 [I], James, am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. [I am writing this letter] to [all] the Jewish people [who trust in Christ] (OR, to all God’s people) who are scattered throughout the world. [I send my] greetings to [you all].
Jakobus, ein Knecht Gottes und des HERRN Jesu Christi, den zwölf Geschlechtern, die da sind hin und her: Freude zuvor!
2 My fellow believers, rejoice greatly, [even] when you experience various kinds of difficulties/troubles.
Meine lieben Brüder, achtet es eitel Freude, wenn ihr in mancherlei Anfechtung fallet,
3 [God sometimes allows you to experience difficulties in order to] test whether or not you will continue to trust [him. Whenever that happens, you need to] realize more and more that [if you continue to trust him], you will be able to bravely/patiently endure difficulties.
und wisset, daß euer Glaube, so er rechtschaffen ist, Geduld wirket.
4 Keep on enduring difficulties [bravely/patiently by trusting God more and more firmly] [PRS], in order that you may become all that he intends you to be [DOU] (OR, [spiritually] mature and complete), not lacking (any [good quality/anything you need to conduct your lives as God wants you to]).
Die Geduld aber soll festbleiben bis ans Ende, auf daß ihr seid vollkommen und ganz und keinen Mangel habet.
5 If anyone of you does not know how to act wisely [in order to endure difficulties/trials well], he should ask God [to show him what he should do, because] God wholeheartedly/gladly helps all people [who ask] and does not scold [anyone for asking. Those who ask], God will give them wisdom to know [what they should do].
So aber jemand unter euch Weisheit mangelt, der bitte von Gott, der da gibt einfältiglich jedermann und rücket es niemand auf; so wird sie ihm gegeben werden.
6 But [when you] ask [God], you should firmly trust him. You should not doubt [that he wants to help you always], because people who keep doubting God are [unstable/changeable] [SIM] like a wave of the sea that is blown back and forth by the wind {that goes back and forth when the wind blows} [DOU, SIM].
Er bitte aber im Glauben und zweifle nicht; denn wer da zweifelt, der ist gleich wie die Meereswoge, die vom Winde getrieben und gewebet wird.
7 Indeed, people [who doubt] should not think that the Lord [God] will do anything [that they request him to do],
Solcher Mensch denke nicht, daß er etwas von dem HERRN empfangen werde.
8 [because they are] people who cannot decide [whether they will commit themselves to God, and they are] unstable/undecided in everything that they do.
Ein Zweifler ist unbeständig in allen seinen Wegen.
9 Believers who are poor should be happy [that God] considers them very valuable (OR, has exalted them [spiritually]) [MTY].
Ein Bruder aber, der niedrig ist, rühme sich seiner Höhe,
10 And [believers] who are rich should be happy [that] they have humbled themselves [in order to trust in Jesus Christ] (OR, but rich people [can only] take pride [in the fact that God] will humble them [when he judges everyone] [IRO]), because they [and their riches] [MTY] will pass away, just like wild flowers [wither] [SIM].
und der da reich ist, rühme sich seiner Niedrigkeit; denn wie eine Blume des Grases wird er vergehen.
11 When the sun rises, the scorching hot wind dries plants, and their flowers fall and are no longer beautiful. Similarly, rich people will die [MET] while they are busy working, [leaving behind their riches].
Die Sonne gehet auf mit der Hitze, und das Gras verwelket, und die Blume fällt ab und seine schöne Gestalt verdirbet; also wird der Reiche in seiner Habe verwelken.
12 [God] is pleased with people who bravely/patiently endure difficulties. And when, [by bravely enduring difficulties], they have proved [that they truly trust him], he will give them [eternal] life. That is the reward [MET] that he has promised to give to those who love him.
Selig ist der Mann, der die Anfechtung erduldet; denn nachdem er bewähret ist, wird er die Krone des Lebens empfangen, welche Gott verheißen hat denen, die ihn liebhaben.
13 If people are tempted to do something that is evil, they should not think that it is God who is tempting them, because [God is totally/completely good]. He never tempts anyone [to do what is evil], nor can he ever be tempted to [do anything] evil.
Niemand sage, wenn er versuchet wird, daß er von Gott versucht werde; denn Gott ist nicht ein Versucher zum Bösen; er versuchet niemand;
14 But people strongly desire to do evil [PRS] things, [and as a result] they are tempted by those desires {those desires stimulate them} to do something evil [PRS, DOU].
sondern ein jeglicher wird versucht, wenn er von seiner eigenen Lust gereizet und gelocket wird.
15 Then, [because] they have desired [MET] to do evil [PRS] things, they begin to [MET] do [PRS] them. And when they have become ones who [habitually] do what is evil [MET], [if they do not turn away from their sinful behavior], they will be separated from God forever.
Danach, wenn die Lust empfangen hat, gebieret sie die Sünde; die Sünde aber, wenn sie vollendet ist, gebieret sie den Tod.
16 My fellow believers whom I love, stop deceiving yourselves, [thinking that God does evil things].
Irret nicht, liebe Brüder!
17 [The truth is that God], our heavenly Father [MTY], does only good [DOU] things [for us, in order to help us become] all that he intends us to be. He is not like all the things [in the sky] that he created to give light, [because they] change; [that is, they do not shine the same all the time]. But God never changes. [He is always good].
Alle gute Gabe und alle vollkommene Gabe kommt von oben herab, von dem Vater des Lichts, bei welchem ist keine Veränderung noch Wechsel des Lichts und Finsternis.
18 [And because] he wanted [to help us], he gave us [spiritual] life as a result of our [trusting in his] true message. So now we have become the first ones of [all the people] [MET] that he created [to] ([be totally dedicated to/completely belong to]) [him].
Er hat uns gezeuget nach seinem Willen durch das Wort der Wahrheit, auf daß wir wären Erstlinge seiner Kreaturen.
19 My fellow believers whom I love, you know (OR, I want you to now) that every one of you should be eager to pay attention to [God’s true message]. Don’t speak [without thinking], nor get angry easily,
Darum, liebe Brüder, ein jeglicher Mensch sei schnell zu hören, langsam aber zu reden und langsam zum Zorn;
20 because when any one [of you gets] angry, you will not be doing the righteous things that God [wants] you [to do].
denn des Menschen Zorn tut nicht, was vor Gott recht ist.
21 So stop doing all kinds of evil [DOU] things, and humbly obey (OR, submit to) the message that [God] put in your (inner beings/hearts), [because] he is able to save you [SYN] [if you accept his message].
Darum so leget ab alle Unsauberkeit und alle Bosheit und nehmet das Wort an mit Sanftmut, das in euch gepflanzet ist, welches kann eure Seelen selig machen.
22 Do [what God commands in] his message. Do not only listen [to it, because people who only listen to it and do not obey it] are wrong when they think [that God will save them].
Seid aber Täter des Worts und nicht Hörer allein, damit ihr euch selbst betrüget.
23 Some people hear God’s message but do not do [what it says] [MET]. They are like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [SIM].
Denn so jemand ist ein Hörer des Worts und nicht ein Täter, der ist gleich einem Mann, der sein leiblich Angesicht im Spiegel beschauet;
24 Although he looks at himself, he goes away [from the mirror] and immediately forgets what he looks like.
denn nachdem er sich beschauet hat, gehet er von Stund' an davon und vergisset, wie er gestaltet war.
25 But other people look closely at [God’s] message, which is perfect and which sets people free [to voluntarily do what God wants them to do]. And if they continue [to examine God’s message] and do not just hear it and then forget it, but do [what God tells them to do], God will bless them because of what they do.
Wer aber durchschauet in das voll kommene Gesetz der Freiheit und darinnen beharret und ist nicht ein vergeßlicher Hörer, sondern ein Täter, derselbige wird selig sein in seiner Tat.
26 Some people think that they worship God in the right way, but they habitually say evil things [MTY]. Those people are wrong in thinking [SYN] [that they worship God rightly]. The fact is [that they] worship God (in vain/uselessly).
So aber sich jemand unter euch lässet dünken, er diene Gott, und hält seine Zunge nicht im Zaum, sondern verführet sein Herz, des Gottesdienst ist eitel.
27 [One of the things that God has told us to do] is to take care of orphans and widows who suffer hardship. [Those who do that and] who do not think or act immorally like those who do not obey God [MTY] truly [DOU] worship God, [who is our] Father, and God approves of them.
Ein reiner und unbefleckter Gottesdienst vor Gott dem Vater ist der: die Waisen und Witwen in ihrer Trübsal besuchen und sich von der Welt unbefleckt behalten.
