The Letter of Jude
1 Jude,* a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James,+ to the called ones+ who are loved in relationship with God [the] Father+ and preserved*+ for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy+ and peace+ and love+ be increased to YOU.+
3 Beloved ones,+ though I was making every effort to write YOU about the salvation we hold in common,+ I found it necessary to write YOU to exhort* YOU to put up a hard fight* for the faith+ that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones.+ 4 My reason is that certain men have slipped in+ who have long ago been appointed+ by the Scriptures to this judgment,+ ungodly men,*+ turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct*+ and proving false+ to our only Owner+ and Lord,+ Jesus Christ.
5 I desire to remind YOU, despite YOUR knowing all things+ once for all time, that Jehovah,* although he saved a people out of the land of Egypt,+ afterwards destroyed those not showing faith.+ 6 And the angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place+ he has reserved with eternal bonds+ under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day.+ 7 So too Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah and the cities about them,+ after they in the same manner as the foregoing ones had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use,+ are placed before [us] as a [warning] example+ by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire.+
8 In like manner, notwithstanding, these men, too, indulging in dreams,+ are defiling the flesh and disregarding lordship+ and speaking abusively* of glorious ones.*+ 9 But when Miʹcha·el+ the archangel+ had a difference*+ with the Devil and was disputing* about Moses’ body,+ he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms,+ but said: “May Jehovah* rebuke you.”+ 10 Yet these [men] are speaking abusively of all the things they really do not know;+ but all the things that they do understand naturally like the unreasoning animals,+ in these things they go on corrupting+ themselves.
11 Too bad for them, because they have gone in the path of Cain,+ and have rushed into the erroneous course of Baʹlaam+ for reward, and have perished in the rebellious talk+ of Koʹrah!+ 12 These are the rocks hidden below water in YOUR love feasts+ while they feast with YOU, shepherds that feed themselves without fear;+ waterless clouds carried this way+ and that by winds;+ trees in late autumn, [but] fruitless, having died twice, having been uprooted;+ 13 wild waves of the sea that foam up their own causes for shame;+ stars with no set course, for which the blackness of darkness stands reserved forever.+
14 Yes, the seventh one [in line] from Adam, Eʹnoch,+ prophesied also regarding them, when he said: “Look! Jehovah* came with his holy myriads,*+ 15 to execute judgment against all,+ and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.”+
16 These men are murmurers,+ complainers about their lot in life,* proceeding according to their own desires,+ and their mouths speak swelling things,+ while they are admiring personalities*+ for the sake of [their own] benefit.
17 As for YOU, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,+ 18 how they used to say to YOU: “In the last time there will be ridiculers,* proceeding according to their own desires for ungodly things.”+ 19 These are the ones that make separations,*+ animalistic [men],*+ not having spirituality.*+ 20 But YOU, beloved ones, by building up yourselves+ on YOUR most holy faith,+ and praying with holy spirit,+ 21 keep yourselves in God’s love,+ while YOU are waiting for the mercy+ of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view.+ 22 Also, continue showing mercy+ to some that have doubts;+ 23 save [them]+ by snatching [them] out of the fire.+ But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while YOU hate even the inner garment that has been stained by the flesh.+
24 Now to the one who is able to guard+ YOU from stumbling* and to set YOU unblemished+ in the sight of his glory* with great joy, 25 to [the] only God our Savior*+ through Jesus Christ+ our Lord, be glory,+ majesty, might+ and authority+ for all past eternity*+ and now and into all eternity.+ Amen.+
Or, “Judas.” Gr., I·ouʹdas, meaning “Lauded.”
Lit., “(ones) having been kept.”
Lit., “encouraging.”
Lit., “to be struggling upon.”
Lit., “irreverential (ones).”
Or, “for licentiousness (wantonness; shameless conduct).” Gr., eis a·selʹgei·an; J17,22(Heb.), lezim·mahʹ.
“Jehovah,” J7,8,11-14,16-18,22,23; א(Gr.), Kyʹri·os; Cc, “God”; ABVg, “Jesus.” See App 1D.
Lit., “they are blaspheming.”
Lit., “of glories.”
Lit., “having judged for self dividedly.”
Lit., “he was saying in disagreement.”
“Jehovah,” J7,8,11-14,16-18,22-24; AB(Gr.), Kyʹri·os; א*, “God.” See App 1D.
See App 1D.
Or, “holy tens of thousands.”
Lit., “complainers at fate.”
Lit., “wondering at faces.”
Lit., “players in sport [of mocking].”
Or, “distinctions.”
Lit., “soulical ones; physical ones.” Gr., psy·khi·koiʹ; Lat., a·ni·maʹles; J17(Heb.), naph·shi·yimʹ.
Lit., “spirit.” Gr., pneuʹma; Lat., spiʹri·tum; J17,18,22(Heb.), weruʹach, “and spirit.”
Lit., “not tripping.”
Or, “unblemished before his glorious person.”
Lit., “to only God Savior of us.” Gr., moʹnoi The·oiʹ So·teʹri he·monʹ; Lat., soʹli Deʹo sal·va·toʹri noʹstro.
Or, “before all time.”