Matthaeus 18
1 In jener Stunde traten die Jünger vor Jesus mit der Frage: "Wer ist der Größte im Himmelreich?"
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 Da rief Jesus sich ein Kind herbei, stellte es mitten unter sie
Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.
3 mit den Worten: "Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Wenn ihr euch nicht bekehrt und werdet wie die Kinder, so werdet ihr sicher nicht ins Himmelreich 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 Doch wer sich demütig macht wie dieses Kind, der ist der Größte im Himmelreich.
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 ein solches Kind in meinem Namen aufnimmt, 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 einem dieser Kleinen, die an mich glauben, Anlaß zur Sünde gibt, für den wäre es besser, wenn ihm ein großer Mühlstein an den Hals gehängt und er ins tiefste Meer 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. Ärgernisse müssen zwar kommen, doch weh dem Menschen, durch den 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 Gibt dir also deine Hand oder dein Fuß zur Sünde Anlaß, so haue sie ab und wirf sie weg. Besser ist es für dich, verstümmelt oder hinkend in das Leben einzugehen, als daß du zwei Hände und zwei Füße habest und in das ewige Feuer geworfen wirst. (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 Gibt dein Auge dir zur Sünde Anlaß, so reiß es aus und wirf es weg. Besser ist es für dich, mit einem Auge in das Leben einzugehen, als daß du zwei Augen habest und in das Höllenfeuer geworfen wirst. (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 Hütet euch, daß ihr keines dieser Kleinen verachtet. Ich sage euch: Ihre Engel in den Himmeln schauen immerfort das Antlitz meines Vaters, 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 Menschensohn ist gekommen, zu retten, was verloren war.
12 Was dünkt euch? Wenn einer hundert Schafe hat und eines sich davon verläuft, läßt er nicht die neunundneunzig auf den Bergen und macht sich auf, um das verlaufene zu suchen?
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 hat er dann das Glück, es aufzufinden, wahrlich, sage ich euch: Er freut sich mehr über dieses, als über jene neunundneunzig, die sich nicht verlaufen hatten.
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 So ist es nicht der Wille eures Vaters, der in den Himmeln ist, daß eines dieser Kleinen verlorengehe.
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 Und hat dein Bruder gegen dich gefehlt, geh hin, stelle ihn zur Rede, doch nur unter vier Augen. Hört er alsdann auf dich, 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 Doch hört er nicht, dann nimm noch einen oder zwei mit dir, damit durch zweier oder dreier Zeugen Mund die ganze Sache festgestellt 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 Hört er dann auch auf diese nicht, so sage es der Kirche. Hört er jedoch auf die Kirche nicht, dann gelte er dir wie ein Heide und ein 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 immer ihr auf Erden binden werdet, das wird auch im Himmel gebunden sein; was immer ihr auf Erden lösen werdet, das wird auch 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 Wahrlich sage ich euch ferner: Um was immer zwei aus euch einmütig auf Erden bitten werden, das wird ihnen von meinem Vater, der in den Himmeln ist, gegeben werden.
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 in meinem Namen beieinander sind, da bin ich mitten unter ihnen."
[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 Darauf trat Petrus zu ihm hin und fragte: "Herr, wie oft muß ich meinem Bruder verzeihen, wenn er wider mich gesündigt hat? Etwa bis zu 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 Und Jesus sprach zu ihm: "Nein, ich sage dir, nicht bis zu siebenmal, vielmehr siebenundsiebzigmal.
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 So ist das Himmelreich einem Könige zu vergleichen, 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 Und als er anfing abzurechnen, da brachte man ihm einen mit einer Schuld von zehntausend Talenten.
[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 Er hatte nichts, womit er hätte zahlen können, und so befahl sein Herr, ihn, sein Weib und seine Kinder mit der ganzen Habe zu verkaufen, um damit zu zahlen.
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 Da warf sich der Knecht ihm zu Füßen; er bat: 'Herr, habe Geduld mit mir; 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 Voll Mitleid mit diesem Knechte ließ der Herr ihn frei und schenkte ihm die Schuld.
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 Der Knecht ging hinaus und traf einen seiner Mitknechte, der ihm hundert Zehner schuldig war. Er packte und würgte ihn und schrie: 'Bezahle, was du 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 Da fiel der Mitknecht vor ihm nieder und bat ihn mit den Worten: 'Habe Geduld mit mir; ich werde dich 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 Allein der wollte nicht, ging vielmehr hin und ließ ihn ins Gefängnis werfen, bis er die Schuld bezahlt hätte.
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 Dies hatten seine Mitknechte mit angesehen und waren tief betrübt darüber. Sie gingen hin und erzählten ihrem Herrn alles, was sich ereignet hatte.
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 Da ließ ihn sein Herr vor sich kommen und sprach zu ihm: 'Du böser Knecht! Jene ganze Schuld habe ich dir nachgelassen, weil du mich so angefleht hast.
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 Hättest nicht auch du dich deines Mitknechtes erbarmen müssen, wie 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 übergab ihn voll Zorn den Folterknechten, bis er ihm die ganze Schuld abgetragen hätte.
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 So wird auch mein himmlischer Vater mit euch verfahren, wenn nicht ein jeder seinem Bruder von ganzem Herzen verzeiht."
[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].”
