1:1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ,
and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the
Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 1:2Mercy to you
and peace and love be multiplied.
1:3Beloved, while I was very eager to
write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you
exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints. 1:4For there are certain men who
crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this
condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1:5Now I desire to remind you, though
you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the
land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn't believe. 1:6Angels who didn't keep their first
domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting
bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 1:7Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and
the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves
over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as
an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 1:8Yet in like
manner these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority,
and slander celestial beings. 1:9But Michael, the archangel, when
contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not
bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord
rebuke you!" 1:10But these speak evil of whatever
things they don't know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures
without reason, in these things are they destroyed. 1:11Woe to
them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of
Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion. 1:12These are
hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds
who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by
winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
1:13wild waves of the sea, foaming
out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness
has been reserved forever. 1:14About these also Enoch, the
seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with
ten thousands of his holy ones, 1:15to execute
judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of
ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard
things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 1:16These are murmurers and
complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud
things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
1:17But you, beloved, remember the
words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 1:18They said to you that "In
the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly
lusts." 1:19These are they who cause
divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit. 1:20But you,
beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Spirit. 1:21Keep yourselves in the love of
God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 1:22On some have compassion, making a
distinction, 1:23and some save, snatching them out
of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
1:24Now to him who is able to keep
them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of
his glory in great joy, 1:25to God our Savior, who alone is
wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
