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, entbietet den zwölf Stämmen in der Zerstreuung seinen Gruß.
2 My fellow believers, rejoice greatly, [even] when you experience various kinds of difficulties/troubles.
Achtet es, meine Brüder, für eitel Freude, wenn ihr in mancherlei Anfechtungen 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 die Prüfung eures Glaubens Standhaftigkeit bewirkt.
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]).
Standhaftigkeit aber soll ihr Werk vollkommen machen, auf daß ihr seid vollkommen und vollendet, und es an nichts fehlen lasset.
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 einem unter euch an Weisheit gebricht, so bitte er Gott darum, Der da einfältig jedem gibt und keinem es aufrückt, 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 der, so da zweifelt, gleicht der Meereswoge, die, vom Winde ergriffen, hinund hergeworfen wird.
7 Indeed, people [who doubt] should not think that the Lord [God] will do anything [that they request him to do],
Ein solcher Mensch wähne ja nicht, daß er etwas vom 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 wankelmütiger Mensch ist unbeständig auf allen seinen Wegen.
9 Believers who are poor should be happy [that God] considers them very valuable (OR, has exalted them [spiritually]) [MTY].
Der niedrige Bruder aber rühme sich seiner Hoheit,
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 Reiche rühme sich seiner Niedrigkeit; denn wie die 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 geht auf mit ihrer Glut und dörrt das Gras, und seine Blume fällt ab, und mit ihrer Pracht ist es zu Ende; also vergeht auch der Reiche mitten in seinem Treiben.
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.
Glücklich ist der Mann, der in der Versuchung aushält; denn wenn er sich bewährt, empfängt er den Siegeskranz des Lebens, den der Herr denen, die Ihn lieben, verheißen hat.
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 versucht wird, daß er von Gott versucht werde; denn Gott wird nicht versucht vom Bösen, und versucht auch Selber 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 fortgerissen und verlockt 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, gebiert sie die Sünde, die Sünde aber, wenn sie vollendet ist, gebiert den Tod.
16 My fellow believers whom I love, stop deceiving yourselves, [thinking that God does evil things].
Irrt euch nicht, geliebte 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 vom Vater der Lichter, bei Dem ist keine Wandlung, noch wechselnde Beschattung.
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].
Aus freiem Ratschluß hat Er uns durch das Wort der Wahrheit geboren, auf daß wir wären Erstlinge Seiner Geschöpfe.
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, geliebte Brüder, sei jeder Mensch schnell zum Hören, langsam aber zum Reden, 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 legt ab alle Unsauberkeit und allen Auswuchs der Bosheit, und nehmt in Sanftmut auf die euch eingepflanzte Lehre, die eure Seelen retten kann.
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 Wortes und nicht Hörer allein, womit ihr euch selbst betrügt.
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 das Wort hört und nicht tut, gleicht er einem Manne, der sein leiblich Angesicht im Spiegel beschaut.
24 Although he looks at himself, he goes away [from the mirror] and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Denn nachdem er sich beschaut hat, geht er davon, und vergißt alsbald, wie er aussah.
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 in das vollkommene Gesetz der Freiheit hineingeschaut und dabei beharrt hat, und kein vergeßlicher Hörer, sondern ein wirklicher Täter geworden ist, der wird selig durch sein Tun.
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 einer sich dünkt gottesfürchtig zu sein und hält seine Zunge nicht im Zaum, sondern täuscht sich über sein Herz, dessen Gottesfurcht 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.
Eine reine und unbefleckte Gottesfurcht ist vor Gott dem Vater die, daß man die Waisen und Witwen in ihrer Trübsal heimsucht, und sich unbefleckt von der Welt erhält.
