Matthaeus 18
1 In jener Stunde traten die Jünger zu Jesu und sprachen: Wer ist denn der Größte im Reiche der Himmel?
About that time we disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who [among us will be] the most important when God [MTY/EUP] [makes you] king?”
2 Und als Jesus ein Kindlein herzugerufen hatte, stellte er es in ihre Mitte und sprach:
Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.
3 Wahrlich, ich sage euch, wenn ihr nicht umkehret und werdet wie die Kindlein, so werdet ihr nicht in das Reich der Himmel eingehen.
He said, “Think about this: If you [(pl)] do not change [the way you(pl) think] and become [as humble] as little children, you [(pl)] will surely not go to the place where God [MTY/EUP] rules.
4 Darum, wer irgend sich selbst erniedrigen wird wie dieses Kindlein, dieser ist der Größte im Reiche der Himmel;
The people who become as humble as this child [or any child] is, will be the most important people among those over whom God rules.
5 und wer irgend ein solches Kindlein aufnehmen wird in meinem Namen, nimmt mich auf.
Also, when those who, [because they love] me, welcome [a] child like this one, [God considers] that they are welcoming me.”
6 Wer aber irgend eines dieser Kleinen, die an mich glauben, ärgern wird, dem wäre nütze, daß ein Mühlstein an seinen Hals gehängt, und er in die Tiefe des Meeres versenkt würde.
“If you cause someone who believes in me to sin, [even if it is someone who is socially unimportant like] this little child, [God will severely punish you]. If a heavy stone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown into the deep waters of the sea, [people would consider that you had been severely punished. But God will punish] you more severely [than that if you cause someone to sin]
7 Wehe der Welt der Ärgernisse wegen! Denn es ist notwendig, daß Ärgernisse kommen; doch wehe dem Menschen, durch welchen das Ärgernis kommt!
It will be terrible for those [MTY] who cause others to stop believing in me. [God will punish them eternally]. It is inevitable that there will be [those who] cause others to stop believing in me. But it will be horrible for everyone who does that.
8 Wenn aber deine Hand oder dein Fuß dich ärgert, so haue ihn ab und wirf ihn von dir. Es ist dir besser, lahm oder als Krüppel in das Leben einzugehen, als mit zwei Händen oder mit zwei Füßen in das ewige Feuer geworfen zu werden. (aiōnios g166)
So, if you [are wanting to use] one of your hands or feet to sin, [stop using that hand or foot! Even if you have to] cut it off [to avoid sinning, do it] [MET]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you are maimed or lame and do not have a hand or a foot. But it is not good that you continue to have your two hands and two feet [and do] [MTY] [the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown into [hell], where there is eternal fire burning. (aiōnios g166, questioned)
9 Und wenn dein Auge dich ärgert, so reiß es aus und wirf es von dir. Es ist dir besser, einäugig in das Leben einzugehen, als mit zwei Augen in die Hölle des Feuers geworfen zu werden. (Geenna g1067)
If what you see you [makes you want] to sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes [and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.” (Geenna g1067)
10 Sehet zu, daß ihr nicht eines dieser Kleinen verachtet; denn ich sage euch, daß ihre Engel in den Himmeln allezeit das Angesicht meines Vaters schauen, der in den Himmeln ist.
“Make an effort that you [(pl)] do not despise [even] one of these children. I tell you [(pl)] truly that [since] the angels [live] in heaven [in the presence of] my Father, [they will report to him if you mistreat the children].
11 Denn der Sohn des Menschen ist gekommen, das Verlorene zu erretten.
12 Was dünkt euch? Wenn ein Mensch hundert Schafe hätte, und eines von ihnen sich verirrte, läßt er nicht die neunundneunzig auf den Bergen und geht hin und sucht das irrende?
What do you [(pl)] think [you would do in the following situation]? If you had 100 sheep and one of them got lost, you would surely leave the 99 sheep [that are] on the hill and go and search for the lost one [RHQ], would you not?
13 Und wenn es geschieht, daß er es findet, wahrlich, ich sage euch, er freut sich mehr über dieses, als über die neunundneunzig, die nicht verirrt sind.
If you found it, I affirm to you [(pl)] that you would rejoice very much. You would be happy that 99 sheep did not stray away, but you would rejoice even more [because you had found] the sheep that had strayed away.
14 Also ist es nicht der Wille eures Vaters, der in den Himmeln ist, daß eines dieser Kleinen verloren gehe.
In the same way [that shepherds do not want one of] their [sheep to stray away], so [God], your Father in heaven, does not want [even] one of these children to go to hell.” (questioned)
15 Wenn aber dein Bruder wider dich sündigt, so gehe hin, überführe ihn zwischen dir und ihm allein. Wenn er auf dich hört, so hast du deinen Bruder gewonnen.
“If a fellow believer sins [against you], go [to him], and when you two are alone, reprove him [for sinning against you]. If that person listens to you [and feels sorry that he has sinned against you], you will have restored [your friendship with] that person.
16 Wenn er aber nicht hört, so nimm noch einen oder zwei mit dir, damit aus zweier oder dreier Zeugen Mund jede Sache bestätigt werde.
If that person will not listen to you [nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you], go get one or two other people [who will listen to what you both have to say]. Have them go with you so that [what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in the Scriptures might happen: ] ‘[When one person accuses another in some matter], it should be confirmed by [at least] two or three people {[at least] two or three people should confirm it} [before that person can be declared] guilty {[before they declare that person guilty]}.’
17 Wenn er aber nicht auf sie hören wird, so sage es der Versammlung; wenn er aber auch auf die Versammlung nicht hören wird, so sei er dir wie der Heide und der Zöllner.
If the one who has sinned against you will not listen to them [or does not feel sorry that he has sinned against you], tell that to the congregation [so that they can rebuke him]. If that person will not listen to the congregation [or feel sorry that he has sinned against you, exclude him from being a member of your congregation, just like] you [would exclude] pagans, tax collectors, [and others who do not believe in God and sin greatly].
18 Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Was irgend ihr auf der Erde binden werdet, wird im Himmel gebunden sein, und was irgend ihr auf der Erde lösen werdet, wird im Himmel gelöst sein.
Keep this in mind: Whatever you decide on earth [about punishing] or [not punishing a member of your congregation] is what has also been decided by [God] in heaven {what [God] in heaven has also decided}.
19 Wiederum sage ich euch: Wenn zwei von euch auf der Erde übereinkommen werden über irgend eine Sache, um welche sie auch bitten mögen, so wird sie ihnen werden von meinem Vater, der in den Himmeln ist.
Also note this: If [at least] two of you [who live] here on earth agree together about something you ask [God] for [DOU], [God], my Father [who is] in heaven, will give you what you ask for.
20 Denn wo zwei oder drei versammelt sind in meinem Namen, da bin ich in ihrer Mitte.
[This is true], because wherever [at least] two or three of you assemble because you believe in me [MTY], I am [spiritually] present with you. I [will hear what you ask for and I will ask God to do it for you].”
21 Dann trat Petrus zu ihm und sprach: Herr, wie oft soll ich meinem Bruder, der wider mich sündigt, vergeben? Bis siebenmal?
Then Peter approached [Jesus] and said to him, “How many times must I forgive a fellow believer who [keeps on] sinning against me? [If he keeps asking me to forgive him, must I forgive him] as many as seven times?”
22 Jesus spricht zu ihm: Nicht sage ich dir, bis siebenmal, sondern bis siebzig mal sieben.
Jesus said to him, “I tell you [that the number of] times [you must forgive someone is] not just up to seven, but [you must] ([forgive him] 77 times/never stop forgiving him).
23 Deswegen ist das Reich der Himmel einem Könige gleich geworden, der mit seinen Knechten abrechnen wollte.
[In order to illustrate] why [you should do this], I [will tell you a story in which] God [MTY/EUP], [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over, is compared {I compare God, [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over} to a king [and his officials]. That king told [some of his servants that he wanted] his officials to pay what they owed him.
24 Als er aber anfing abzurechnen, wurde einer zu ihm gebracht, der zehntausend Talente schuldete.
[So those officials were brought to the king to] settle [their accounts with him]. [One of the officials who were brought] owed the king several million dollars.
25 Da derselbe aber nicht hatte zu bezahlen, befahl [sein] Herr, ihn und sein Weib und die Kinder und alles, was er hatte, zu verkaufen und zu bezahlen.
But because he did not have [enough money] to pay [what he owed], the king demanded that he, his wife, his children and all he possessed be sold [to someone else, and that the king] be repaid [with] {receive} [the money that was paid for them].
26 Der Knecht nun fiel nieder, huldigte ihm und sprach: Herr, habe Geduld mit mir, und ich will dir alles bezahlen.
Then that official, [knowing that he did not have the money to pay that huge debt], fell on his knees [in front of the king] and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
27 Der Herr jenes Knechtes aber, innerlich bewegt, gab ihn los und erließ ihm das Darlehn.
The king, [knowing that the official could never pay all that huge debt], felt sorry for him. So he canceled his debt and released him.
28 Jener Knecht aber ging hinaus und fand einen seiner Mitknechte, der ihm hundert Denare schuldig war. Und er ergriff und würgte ihn und sprach: Bezahle, wenn du etwas schuldig bist.
Then this official went to another one of the king’s officials who owed him a bit less than a year’s wages. He grabbed him [by the throat], started choking him, and said to him, ‘Pay back what you owe [me]!’
29 Sein Mitknecht nun fiel nieder und bat ihn und sprach: Habe Geduld mit mir, und ich will dir bezahlen.
That official fell on his knees and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
30 Er aber wollte nicht, sondern ging hin und warf ihn ins Gefängnis, bis er die Schuld bezahlt habe.
But this official kept refusing [to cancel that small debt that the man owed him]. Instead, he [caused that official to be] put in prison [and to stay there] until he could pay back all the money that he owed him.
31 Als aber seine Mitknechte sahen, was geschehen war, wurden sie sehr betrübt und gingen und berichteten ihrem Herrn alles, was geschehen war.
When the other officials [of the king] learned that this had happened, they felt very distressed. So they went to the king and reported in detail what had happened.
32 Dann rief ihn sein Herr herzu und spricht zu ihm: Böser Knecht! Jene ganze Schuld habe ich dir erlassen, dieweil du mich batest;
Then the king summoned the official [who had owed him several million dollars]. He said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled that huge debt [that you owed me] because you begged me [to do so]
33 solltest nicht auch du dich deines Mitknechtes erbarmt haben, wie auch ich mich deiner erbarmt habe?
You should have been merciful [and canceled your fellow official’s debt], just like I was merciful to you [and canceled your debt] [RHQ]!’
34 Und sein Herr wurde zornig und überlieferte ihn den Peinigern, bis er alles bezahlt habe, was er ihm schuldig war.
The king was very angry. He handed this official over to some jailers who would torture him severely until he paid all of the debt that he owed.”
35 Also wird auch mein himmlischer Vater euch tun, wenn ihr nicht ein jeder seinem Bruder von Herzen vergebet.
[Then Jesus continued by saying], “That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if you do not [feel merciful and] sincerely forgive a fellow believer [who sins against you].”
