Matthaeus 11
1 Und es geschah, als Jesus zu Ende war mit der Verordnung an seine zwölf Jünger, zog er von dannen, um zu lehren und zu verkünden in ihren Städten.
When Jesus had finished instructing [us] twelve disciples [about what we should do, he sent us to various Israelite towns]. Then he went to teach and preach in [other Israelite] towns [in that area].
2 Da aber Johannes im Gefängnis von den Thaten des Christus hörte, ließ er ihm durch seine Jünger sagen:
While John [the Baptizer] was in prison, he heard what [Jesus, the man whom he thought was] the Messiah, was doing. So he sent [some of] his disciples [to him] in order
3 bist du es, der da kommen soll, oder sollen wir auf einen anderen warten?
to ask him, “Are you the [Messiah] who [the prophets prophesied] would come, or is it someone else that we should expect [to come]?”
4 Und Jesus antwortete ihnen: gehet hin und berichtet an Johannes, was ihr höret und sehet.
[After they asked] Jesus [that question], he answered them, “Go back and report to John what you hear [me telling people] and what you see [me doing].
5 Blinde sehen wieder und Lahme gehen. Aussätzige werden rein und Taube hören, und Tote werden erweckt, und Armen wird die frohe Botschaft gebracht.
I [am enabling] blind people to see and lame people to walk. I [am] healing [people] who have leprosy. I [am enabling] deaf people to hear and dead people to become alive again. I [am] telling poor people [God’s] good message.
6 Und selig ist, wer sich nicht an mir stößt.
[Also tell John that God] is pleased with people who do not stop believing in me [because what I do is not what they expected the Messiah to do].”
7 Da aber dieselben abzogen, begann Jesus zu den Massen zu reden über Johannes: was seid ihr hinausgegangen in die Wüste zu schauen? Ein Rohr, das unter dem Winde schwankt?
When John’s disciples had gone away, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said to them, “[Think about] what sort of person you went to see in the desolate area [when you went there to see John]. ([You did not go there to listen to a man who constantly changed his message, like] a reed that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [MET]!/Did you go there [to listen to a man whose message changes continually like] long grass that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [changes its direction]?) [MET, RHQ]
8 Nein, aber was seid ihr hinausgegangen zu sehen? einen Menschen in weichen Kleidern? Siehe, die weiche Kleider tragen, sind in den Häusern der Könige.
Then what [kind of person] did you go [there] to see [RHQ]? ([You did not go there to see] a man who was wearing expensive clothes.[/Did you go there to see] a man who was wearing expensive clothes?) [RHQ] [No! You know very well that] people who wear beautiful clothes reside in kings’ palaces [and not in desolate areas].
9 Nein, aber wozu seid ihr denn hinausgegangen? einen Propheten zu sehen?
Then what [kind of person] did you go to see [RHQ]? [Did you go there] [RHQ] [to see John because he was] (a prophet/a person who speaks what God tells him to say)? Yes! But I will tell you that [John] is more [important] than an [ordinary] prophet.
10 Fürwahr, ich sage euch, mehr noch als einen Propheten.
He is the one [to whom God was referring when he said to the Messiah these words] that are written {about whom [the prophet Malachi] wrote} [in the Scriptures: ] Listen! I am going to send my messenger [to go] before you [SYN] to prepare [the people] [MET] for your coming.
11 Er ist es, von dem geschrieben steht: Siehe, ich sende meinen Boten vor dir her, der soll deinen Weg bereiten vor dir her.
Note this: Of all the people who have ever lived, [God does not consider] that any of them are greater than John the Baptizer. However, [God considers that all] those people who have let God rule their lives are greater than [John, even if they are insignificant people].
12 Wahrlich, ich sage euch, ein größerer ist nicht aufgestanden unter denen, die von Weibern geboren sind, als Johannes der Täufer, doch der kleinste im Reich der Himmel ist größer denn er.
From the time that John the Baptizer [preached] until now, [other people] have violently attacked the people who have [allowed] God [MTY/EUP] to rule their lives, and they have suffered (OR, people have very eagerly been asking God to take control of their lives, OR, Israelite people [who have thought that I would become their king] have been extremely eager to be included in my kingdom) (OR, have been violently attacked and made to suffer).
13 (Von den Tagen aber Johannes des Täufers an bis jetzt wird das Reich der Himmel gestürmt und die Stürmer reißen es an sich.)
[All this that I am saying about John is confirmed by the fact that] all the men who wrote the Scriptures [MTY, SYN] foretold [about God ruling people’s lives], until John [the Baptizer came].
14 Denn alle Propheten und das Gesetz weissagten bis Johannes,
[Even though most of you are unwilling to believe what I am saying, I will tell this truth to] anyone who is willing to believe [it]: John is [the man who is like] Elijah [MET]. He is the one who [one of the prophets said] would come [in order to prepare the people to welcome the Messiah].
15 und wenn ihr es annehmen wollt: er ist Elias, der da kommen soll.
If you want to understand this, you must think [carefully] [MTY] [about what I have just said] [MTY].”
16 Wer Ohren hat, der höre.
“(I will illustrate what [you] people who have heard what John [the Baptizer] and I have taught are like./Do you know what [you] people who have heard what John and I have taught are like?) [RHQ] You are like children who are [playing games] in an open area. [Some of the children] are calling to the others, saying,
17 Wem aber soll ich dieses Geschlecht vergleichen? Kindern gleicht es, die auf den Märkten sitzen und ihren Kameraden zurufen: wir haben euch gepfiffen und ihr habt nicht getanzt; wir haben geklagt und ihr habt nicht gejammert.
‘We played [happy music] on the flute for you, but you did not dance! Then we sang sad funeral songs for you, but you did not cry [MET]!’
18 Denn es kam Johannes, aß nicht und trank nicht, da sagen sie: er hat einen Dämon.
[Similarly, you are dissatisfied with both John and me]! When John came [and preached to you], he did not eat [good food] and did not drink [wine, like most people do]. But you [rejected him] saying, ‘A demon is controlling him!’
19 Es kam der Sohn des Menschen, aß und trank, da sagen sie: siehe, der Fresser und Weinsäufer, der Zöllner und Sünder Freund. (Doch die Weisheit ward gerechtfertigt an ihren Werken.)
[In contrast], [I], the one who came from heaven, eat [the same] food and drink [wine as other people do]. But you [reject me], saying, ‘Look! [This man] eats too much food and drinks too much wine, and he associates with tax collectors and [other] sinners!’ But people [who really think about] what [John] and I have done will realize that what we do is truly wise [MET, PRS].”
20 Hierauf hob er an, die Städte zu schmähen, in welchen seine meisten Wunder geschen waren, daß sie nicht Buße gethan:
[The people who lived in] the towns [MTY] [in the area where Jesus was saw him] perform many miracles. But they did not turn away from their sinful behavior. So Jesus began to reproach them [by saying to them],
21 wehe dir, Chorazin, wehe dir, Bethsaida, denn wenn in Tyrus und Sidon die Wunder geschehen wären, die bei euch geschehen sind, sie hätten dereinst in Sack und Asche Buße gethan.
“You [people who live in] Chorazin [city] [MTY] and you [people who live in] Bethsaida [city] [MTY] will suffer terribly in hell! [I] did great miracles in your [cities, but you did not turn from your sinful behavior]. If the miracles that I performed in your [cities] had been done in [the ancient cities of] Tyre and Sidon, the [wicked people who lived there] long ago would have sat in ashes, wearing coarse cloth [to show that they were sorry for their sins]. (questioned)
22 Doch ich sage euch: Tyrus und Sidon wird es erträglicher gehen am Gerichtstag als euch.
So note this: [God will punish the wicked people who lived in the cities of] Tyre and Sidon [MTY], but he will punish you even more severely on the final day when he judges [all people].
23 Und du, Kapernaum, wardst du nicht zum Himmel erhöht? Bis zur Hölle sollst du hinabgestoßen werden. Denn wenn in Sodom die Wunder geschehen wären, die bei dir geschehen sind, so stände es noch bis heute. (Hadēs g86)
[also have something to say to] you [people who live in] Capernaum [city] [MTY]. (Do not [think that] you will be honored {that [God] will honor you} in heaven!/Do you think that you will be honored {that [God] will honor you} in heaven?) [RHQ] [That will not happen! On the contrary, after you die, you will be sent] {[God] will send you} down into the place where [sinful people] will be punished {he will punish sinful people} [forever. God destroyed the ancient city of] Sodom [because the people who lived in that city were extremely wicked]. If I had performed in [Sodom the miracles that I performed in your city, the people there would have turned away from their wicked behavior and] their [city] [MET] would still exist now [MTY]. But you, [although I did miracles in your city, you did not turn from your wicked behavior]. (Hadēs g86)
24 Doch ich sage euch, es wird dem Lande Sodom erträglicher gehen am Tage des Gerichts als dir.
So note this: [God] will punish [the people who lived in] Sodom [city] [MTY], but he will punish you [even] more severely on the final day when [he] judges [all people].”
25 In jener Zeit nahm Jesus das Wort und sprach: Ich danke dir, Vater, Herr des Himmels und der Erde, daß du dieses verborgen hast vor Weisen und Verständigen, und hast es Unmündigen geoffenbaret;
At that time Jesus prayed, “Father, you rule over [everything in] heaven and [on] the earth. I thank you that you have prevented [people who think that they] are wise [IRO] because they are well-educated, from [knowing] these things. [Instead], you have revealed them to [people who accept your truth as readily as] little children [MET] [do].
26 ja, Vater, denn so ist es wohlgefällig vor dir gewesen.
Yes, Father, [you have done that] because it seemed good to you [to do] so.”
27 Alles ward mir übergeben von meinem Vater, und niemand erkennt den Sohn außer der Vater, noch erkennt den Vater jemand, außer der Sohn und wem es der Sohn will offenbaren.
[Then Jesus said to the people there who wanted him to teach them], “[God], my Father, has revealed to me all the things [that I need to know in order to do my work]. Only my Father knows [who] I [really am]. Furthermore, only I and those [people] to whom I wish to reveal him know [what God] my Father [is like].
28 Kommet her zu mir alle, die ihr mühselig und beladen seid, so will ich euch erquicken.
Come to me, all you people who are very weary [of trying to obey all the many laws that your religious teachers tell you to obey] [MET]. I will enable you to quit [trying to obey all those laws].
29 Nehmet mein Joch auf euch und lernet von mir, denn ich bin sanftmütig und demütig von Herzen; so werdet ihr Erquickung finden für eure Seele.
Let me [help] you [carry those loads, just like two oxen who have] a yoke [on their necks] [MET, DOU] [help each other pull a heavy load]. It will not be difficult for you to do the things that I ask you to do for me [DOU]. Because I am gentle and humble [DOU], accept what I teach [about what God wants you to do]. [And as a result, you will quit worrying about obeying all the religious laws, and] your spirits will be at peace.”
30 Denn mein Joch ist sanft und meine Last ist leicht.
