1:1 | From Jude,* a slave* of Jesus Christ and brother of James,* to those who are called, wrapped in the love of* God the Father and kept for* Jesus Christ. |
1:2 | May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!* |
1:3 | Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you* about our common salvation, I now feel compelled* instead to write to encourage* you to contend earnestly* for the faith* that was once for all* entrusted to the saints.* |
1:4 | For certain men* have secretly slipped in among you* – men who long ago* were marked out* for the condemnation I am about to describe* – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil* and who deny our only Master* and Lord,* Jesus Christ. |
1:5 | Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts* once for all*) that Jesus,* having saved the* people out of the land of Egypt, later* destroyed those who did not believe. |
1:6 | You also know that* the angels who did not keep within their proper domain* but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept* in eternal chains* in utter* darkness, locked up* for the judgment of the great Day. |
1:7 | So also* Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns,* since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire* in a way similar to* these angels,* are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire. |
1:8 | Yet these men,* as a result of their dreams,* defile the flesh, reject authority,* and insult* the glorious ones.* |
1:9 | But even* when Michael the archangel* was arguing with the devil and debating with him* concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” |
1:10 | But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.* |
1:11 | Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path,* and because of greed* have abandoned themselves* to* Balaam’s error; hence,* they will certainly perish* in Korah’s rebellion. |
1:12 | These men are* dangerous reefs* at your love feasts,* feasting without reverence,* feeding only themselves.* They are* waterless* clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit* – twice dead,* uprooted; |
1:13 | wild sea waves,* spewing out the foam of* their shame;* wayward stars* for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness* have been reserved. |
1:14 | Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam,* even prophesied of them,* saying, “Look! The Lord is coming* with thousands and thousands* of his holy ones, |
1:15 | to execute judgment on* all, and to convict every person* of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds* that they have committed,* and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”* |
1:16 | These people are grumblers and* fault-finders who go* wherever their desires lead them,* and they give bombastic speeches,* enchanting folks* for their own gain.* |
1:17 | But you, dear friends – recall the predictions* foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.* |
1:18 | For they said to you, “In the end time there will come* scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.”* |
1:19 | These people are divisive,* worldly,* devoid of the Spirit.* |
1:20 | But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,* |
1:21 | maintain* yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating* the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.* |
1:22 | And have mercy on those who waver; |
1:23 | save* others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy* on others, coupled with a fear of God,* hating even the clothes stained* by the flesh.* |
1:24 | Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling,* and to cause you to stand, rejoicing,* without blemish* before his glorious presence,* |
1:25 | to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen. |