 This letter condemns those who mislead by wrong teaching, warning that their future punishment is certain. It is of paramount importance to preserve and continue the teaching that was originally given. 1 From Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. To those who are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. 2 Mercy to you, and peace and love be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was necessary+ for me to write to you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men crept in unexpectedly+, who were long ago+ written+ off as ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into filthiness+ and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 Therefore I remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 The angels who did not keep their first estate but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness until+ the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange~ flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, despise the dominion~, and speak evil of the glory+. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil as he disputed about the body of Moses, did not dare+ to bring a reviling+ accusation against him but said: The Lord rebuke you. 10 But these ungodly men speak evil about things that they do not understand+, but what they understand+ in a natural sense, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them. For they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the rebellion+ of Korah. 12 These ungodly men are spots in your love feasts when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear. They are clouds without water carried about by winds, rotten+ trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted+, 13 raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame, wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them saying: Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints 15 to execute judgment upon everyone and convict+ all who are ungodly among them for all their ungodly deeds they have ungodly committed and for all the harsh+ words that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. 16 These ungodly people are complainers+ and faultfinders+ walking after their lusts. Their mouths speak great swelling words in admiration of people to gain favor+ and benefit+. 17 But beloved, remember the words that were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They told you that there would be mockers in the last of time who would walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are the ones who who set themselves apart+ as sensual persons, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 On some have compassion, making a difference. 23 Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. |