Jakobus 3
1 Meine Brüder, drängt euch nicht als Lehrer auf! Ihr wisset, daß wir dadurch ein strengeres Gericht erwarten müssen.
My fellow believers, not many of you should [desire to] become teachers [of God’s truth, because] you know [that God] will judge us [(exc)], who teach others, more severely [than he will judge other people].
2 Wir alle fehlen ja in vielem; wer sich aber im Reden nicht verfehlt, der ist vollendet und fähig, auch den ganzen Leib im Zaume zu halten.
It is true that we all in many ways do things that are wrong [MET]. But those who always [LIT] control what they say will be all that God intends/wants them to be. They will be able to control all their actions [MTY].
3 Wenn wir den Pferden den Zaum ins Maul einlegen, damit sie uns gehorchen, so lenken wir damit auch ihren ganzen Körper.
[To illustrate], if we put [a small metal] bit into the mouth of a horse in order to cause the horse to obey us, we can cause the horse to turn [and go where we want it to] [MET].
4 Seht auch die Schiffe; sie mögen noch so groß sein, von noch so starken Winden hin und her getrieben werden, sie lassen sich durch ein ganz kleines Steuerruder lenken, wohin der Steuermann es haben will.
Think also about ships. [Although] a ship may be very large and [although] it can be moved by strong winds {strong winds can move it}, by [turning] a very small (rudder/steering paddle) people can direct the ship wherever they want [it to go].
5 So ist auch die Zunge zwar ein kleines Glied und rühmt sich dennoch großer Dinge. Seht, welch kleines Feuer einen noch so großen Wald in Brand setzt.
Similarly, [although] our tongues are very small, [if we do not control them], we can [harm] many people by what we proudly say [MTY]. Think [also] about how [just] a small [flame of] fire can cause a large forest (OR, a large area of brushwood) to burn.
6 Auch die Zunge ist ein Feuer, eine ganze Welt der Ungerechtigkeit. Die Zunge ist unter unseren Gliedern die Macht, die den ganzen Leib befleckt und das Rad des Lebens in Brand setzt, sie, die ihr Feuer von der Hölle erhält. (Geenna g1067)
[Just like a fire damages a forest] [MET], when we say things that are evil, [we harm many people]. What we say [MTY] reveals that we are very evil. What we say contaminates/defiles everything that we think and do [PRS, MET]. [Just like a flame of fire easily] causes [the whole surrounding area] [MET] to burn, what we say [MTY] can cause [others] to want to do evil. It is the devil himself [MTY] who causes us to say evil things. (Geenna g1067)
7 Jedwede Art von Landtieren und Vögeln, von kriechenden Tieren und von Wassertieren, wird gezähmt und ward noch immer von der menschlichen Natur gezähmt;
Indeed, although people are able to tame/control all kinds of wild animals, birds, reptiles and creatures that live in the water, and people have actually tamed/controlled them,
8 die Zunge aber kann kein Mensch zähmen; dieses nimmermüde Übel voll von Todesgift.
no person ([on his own/by himself]) is able to control what he says [MTY]. And when people say evil things, [it shows that] they are unstable/uncontrolled and wicked [MTY]. [As] the poison [of a snake kills people] [MTY], [we harm others] [MET] by what we say.
9 Mit ihr preisen wir den Herrn und Vater, mit ihr verfluchen wir die Menschen, die doch nach dem Ebenbild Gottes geschaffen sind.
We use our tongue to praise God, who is our Lord and Father, but we also use our same tongue to ask God to say evil things to people. [That is very wrong]! God made people like himself, [so we should speak as respectfully to others as we speak to God].
10 Demselben Mund entquillt so Segen und Fluch. Meine Brüder, so darf es nicht sein.
We praise [God], but with our same mouth we also ask for evil [things to happen to others]. My fellow believers, this should not be!
11 Sprudelt denn die Quelle aus derselben Mündung süßes und bitteres Wasser?
Surely bitter water and good water do not come out of the same spring! [RHQ]
12 Kann denn, meine Brüder, der Feigenbaum Oliven tragen oder der Weinstock Feigen? Eine Salzquelle kann doch kein Süßwasser spenden.
My fellow believers, a fig tree cannot [RHQ] produce olives. Nor can [RHQ] a grapevine produce figs. Neither can a salty spring produce good [water]. [Similarly, we should say only good things, and we should not say evil things] [MET].
13 Wer aus euch ist weise und verständig? Er zeige durch guten Lebenswandel seine Werke in sanftmütiger Weisheit.
If any of you thinks [RHQ] that [you are] wise and know a lot, you should always act in a good way to show people that your good actions are the result of your [being truly] wise. Being wise [helps us to act] gently [toward others].
14 Hegt ihr dagegen bittere Leidenschaftlichkeit sowie Rechthaberei in eurem Herzen, dann höret auf, euch zu rühmen und der Wahrheit ins Gesicht zu lügen.
But if you are very [MET] jealous/unhappy when you see that someone else is succeeding, and always want to have what you want, regardless of what others want, you should not say [that you are wise, for by boasting like that], you are saying that ([God’s message/what God says about you]) is not true.
15 Das ist nicht die Weisheit, die von oben kommt; nein, eine irdische, sinnliche, teuflische.
Those who have such [attitudes are] not wise [MTY] in the way that God [wants them to be]. Instead, they are only thinking and acting like ([ungodly people/people who do not please God]). They think and act according to their own [evil] desires. They do what the demons [want them to do] (OR, they think and act as demons [do]).
16 Denn wo Leidenschaftlichkeit vorherrscht und Rechthaberei, da ist Unordnung und jegliche Verkehrtheit.
[Keep in mind that] people who have such attitudes (are unruly/do not submit to authority) and [do] all kinds of evil things.
17 Die Weisheit aber, die von oben stammt, ist vor allen Dingen lauter, dann friedliebend, bescheiden, folgsam, dem Guten zugetan, voll Erbarmen, voll guter Früchte, unparteiisch, ehrlich.
But [when people] are wise [PRS] in the way that God [MTY] [wants them to be], they are pure in every way, which God considers to be very important. They also act peaceably towards [others], they (are considerate of/think about the rights and feelings of) others, they are willing to yield to [the wishes of] others, they act compassionately [toward others], and they do all kinds of good things [for others] [MET]. [How they treat others does] not depend on (others’ status/whether others are important or not), and they are sincere [in all they do].
18 Die Frucht der Gerechtigkeit wird ausgesät im Frieden für die, die selber Frieden halten.
Those who [act] peaceably [toward others] cause [others to also] act peaceably, with the result that they all live together [acting toward each other] in a righteous way [MET].
