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 denn ernstlich sorgen, daß keiner unter euch für säumig befunden werde; denn die Verheißung, in seine Ruhe einzugehen, steht noch aus.

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 auch an uns, wie an jene, erging die frohe Botschaft. Doch jenen hat das Wort der Predigt nichts genützt, weil es nicht durch den Glauben mit den Hörern zusammenwuchs.

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.

Wir werden aber eingehen in seine Ruhe, weil wir gläubig wurden, wie er denn auch gesagt hat: "Wie ich schwur in meinem Zorne: 'Sie sollen nicht in meine Ruhe eingehen.'" Und doch sind die Werke seit der Welterschaffung abgeschlossen.

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].

Es heißt ja irgendwo vom siebten Tag also: "Gott ruhte am siebten 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 heißt es: "Sie sollen nicht in meine Ruhe eingehen."

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].

Es bleibt also dabei, daß manche in sie eingehen, doch auch, daß die, die zuerst die frohe Botschaft empfangen haben, wegen ihres Ungehorsams nicht hineingekommen sind.

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.

So bestimmt er wieder einen Tag, ein "Heute", wenn er nach so langer Zeit durch David sagen läßt, wie eben angeführt: "Heute, wenn ihr seine Stimme höret, verhärtet 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 hätte sie Josue zur Ruhe geführt, dann hätte er nicht nachher noch von einem anderen Tage geredet.

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.

So bleibt dem Volke Gottes eine Sabbatruhe noch in Aussicht;

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 in seine Ruhe eingegangen ist, ruht von seinen Werken wie Gott von den 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 soll denn unser eifrigstes Bestreben sein, in diese Ruhe einzugehen, daß keiner durch Ungehorsam zu Falle komme, wie es eben an diesem Beispiel dargetan ward.

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).

Lebendig ist ja das Wort Gottes und wirksam und noch schärfer als jedes zweischneidige Messer. Es dringt hindurch, bis es Geist und Seele, Gelenk und Mark geschieden hat; es ist ein Richter über die Gedanken und Gesinnungen 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 kein Geschöpf bleibt vor ihm verborgen; es liegt alles bloß und offen da vor den Augen dessen, dem wir Rechenschaft geben müssen.

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].

Da wir nun einen so großen Hohenpriester haben, der die Himmel durchschnitten hat, Jesus, den Gottessohn, so laßt uns am Bekenntnisse festhalten.

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.

Wir haben ja nicht einen solchen Hohenpriester, der nicht mit unseren Schwächen mitfühlen könnte, sondern einen, der in allem versucht ward ebenso wie wir, nur daß es nicht zur Sünde kam.

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].

So laßt uns denn mit Zuversicht dem Throne der Gnade nahen, damit wir Barmherzigkeit erlangen und Gnade finden für die Hilfe zur richtigen Zeit.