1 Thessalonians 5
1 My fellow believers, [I want to tell you more] about the time or period [when the Lord Jesus will come back. Really], you do not need me to you about that,
Was aber Zeit und Stunde (der Wiederkunft des Herrn) betrifft, liebe Brüder, so habt ihr darüber keine weitere Belehrung nötig.
2 because you yourselves know accurately [what will happen! You know] that the Lord [Jesus will return] [MTY] [unexpectedly] (OR, [when some people are unprepared]). [People will not expect him, just like no one knows when] a thief [comes unexpectedly] at night [SIM].
Denn es ist euch wohlbekannt, daß der Tag des Herrn kommt wie ein Dieb in der Nacht.
3 [At a future time] many people will say, “[All is] peaceful and [we are] safe!” Then suddenly the Lord Jesus will come to punish people severely! Just like a pregnant woman who [experiences] birth pains [cannot stop those pains], those people will definitely not [have any way to] escape [their punishment].
Gerade wenn die Leute sagen: "Jetzt ist Friede und Sicherheit!", — dann überfällt sie ganz plötzlich das Verderben, gleichwie der Schmerz ein Weib, wenn ihre Stunde kommt, und es gibt kein Entrinnen für sie.
4 [Just like people] in the dark [are unaware of what is happening around them, most people will not be aware of what is about to happen to them] [MET, PRS]. Just like a thief [comes unexpectedly for people who are unaware, that time of punishment will come when people are not expecting it] [SIM]. But you, my fellow believers, are people who are very much aware [LIT] of what is going to happen. As a result, you will be expecting [LIT] those things [MTY] to happen [PRS]. All of us [believers] are people [IDM] [who do what is right, as people usually do in] the daytime [MET] [when their actions can be seen]. We are not [people who do evil things, as some people do when it is] dark [MET].
Ihr aber, Brüder, seid nicht in Finsternis, so daß euch jener Tag nicht wie ein Dieb überraschen kann.
Ihr seid alle Lichteskinder und Tageskinder. Wir haben nichts mit Nacht und Finsternis zu schaffen.
6 So we believers must be aware of what is happening. We must be watching carefully, [as people who are awake watch for a thief] [MET]. We must be self-controlled, as people who are (sober/not drunk) are able to control what they do [MET]. People who sleep [MET] [are unaware of what is happening, and unbelievers are like that].
So laßt uns denn nicht schlafen wie die anderen, sondern laßt uns wachen und nüchtern sein!
7 It is at night when people become drunk [and they do very wrong actions/things, and are unaware of what is happening because they] are asleep.
Denn die da schlafen, die schlafen des Nachts, und die sich berauschen, die berauschen sich des Nachts.
8 But we believers are people who [should do what is right] [MET], so we must be self-controlled, [as people] in the daytime [are usually not drunk and are able to control what they do] [MET]. [As Roman soldiers protect themselves by] putting on breastplates and helmets [MET], we [believers] must [protect ourselves by continuing to] trust and love [the Lord Jesus] and by continuing to confidently expect that he will save [us from God’s punishing us at the time when he will punish other people].
Wir aber, die Kinder des Tages, wollen nüchtern sein; dabei sollen Glaube und Liebe unser Panzer sein und unser Helm die Hoffnung auf Errettung.
9 When God chose us, he did not plan for us to [be people whom he will severely] punish [MTY]. On the contrary, [he decided] that he would save us because of [our trusting in what] our Lord Jesus Christ [has done for us].
Denn Gott hat uns nicht dazu bestimmt, einem Zorngericht anheimzufallen, sondern Errettung zu erlangen durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus.
10 Jesus died [to atone/pay] for our [sins] in order that we might be able to live together with him, whether we are alive [MET] or whether we are dead [EUP] [when he returns to earth].
Der ist zu unserem Heil gestorben, damit wir, mögen wir wachen oder schlafen, zugleich mit ihm leben.
11 Because [you know that this is true], continue to encourage/comfort each other, as indeed you now are doing.
Deshalb ermahnt einander und fördert einer den anderen, wie ihr es ja schon tut!
12 My fellow believers, we [three] ask that you recognize/honor [as leaders] those people who work hard for you. [Specifically], respect those who lead you as fellow believers who (have a close relationship with/are united to) the Lord [Jesus]. They warn you [to stop doing what is wrong] (OR, they teach you [to do what is right]).
Wir bitten euch, Brüder: Schätzt alle hoch, die sich unter euch (im Dienst des Herrn) abmühen und die eure Vorsteher sind in dem Herrn und euch zurechtweisen!
13 That is, we [ask that you] consider those leaders to be very important and that you love them, because they work [hard to help you]. We also urge you to live peacefully with each other.
Haltet sie ihrer Arbeit wegen der größten Liebe wert! Lebt unter ihrer Leitung in Frieden und Eintracht!
14 My fellow believers, we urge that you warn [believers] who will not work [in order to] ([obtain/earn the money to buy]) [things that they need to live. Tell them that they are behaving wrongly]. We urge you that you encourage [believers] who are fearful (OR, discouraged), and that you help all people who are weak [in any way]. We also urge you to be patient with everyone.
Wir ermahnen euch auch, Brüder: Weist alle zurecht, die sich der Ordnung nicht fügen wollen, tröstet die Kleinmütigen, steht den Schwachen bei und seid allen gegenüber langmütig und geduldig!
15 Make sure that none [of you] does evil things to anyone [who has done] evil to you. On the contrary, you must always try to do good [things] for each other (OR, to fellow believers) and to everyone else.
Seht zu, daß niemand Böses mit Bösem vergelte, sondern jagt im Verkehr miteinander und mit allen Menschen stets dem nach, was (dem Nächsten) heilsam ist!
16 Be joyful (at all times/always),
Seid allezeit fröhlich,
17 pray continually,
betet unablässig,
18 and thank [God] (in all [circumstances/] [of what happens]). God wants you [to behave] like that [because of what] Christ Jesus [has done for you] (OR, because you have a close relationship with Christ Jesus).
seid in jeder Lage dankbar! Denn das will Gott in Christus Jesus von euch.
19 Do not [refuse the urging from God’s] Spirit [when he is working] [MTY] [among you. That would be like] throwing water on [a fire] [MET]!
Löscht das Feuer des Geistes nicht aus!
20 [Specifically], do not despise messages that the Holy Spirit reveals to someone, [and reject them automatically].
Weissagungen verachtet nicht!
21 On the contrary, evaluate all [such messages]. Accept the [messages that are truly from God, and obey them].
Aber prüft sie alle: das Echte darin haltet fest,
22 Do not obey any kind of evil [message].
alle falsche Münze meidet!
23 [We pray to] God that he will change you to become more and more like his people should be. He is the one who causes [his people] to have [inner] peace. [That is, we pray] that he will help you so that in all that you think, in all that you desire, and in all that you do, you will be without fault. We ask him that he will keep doing that [until] our Lord Jesus Christ comes back [to earth].
Er aber, der Gott des Friedens, heilige euch durch und durch, damit euer ganzes Wesen nach Geist, Seele und Leib für die Wiederkunft unseres Herrn Jesus Christus in fleckenloser Reinheit bewahrt werde.
24 [Because God] has invited you [to be his people, you can] certainly trust him to keep on helping you to do that.
Treu ist er, der euch ruft. Er wird sein Werk auch (in euch) vollenden.
25 My fellow believers, pray for me and for Silas and for Timothy.
Brüder, betet für uns!
26 [When you gather together as believers], greet each other affectionately, as fellow believers [should].
Grüßt alle Brüder mit dem heiligen Kuß!
27 Make certain that you read this letter to all the believers who may be absent when you read it at first, [knowing that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do it].
Ich beschwöre euch bei dem Herrn: Laßt diesen Brief allen Brüdern vorlesen!
28 [I pray that] our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to act] kindly toward you all.
Die Gnade unseres Herrn Jesus Christus sei mit euch!
