Greeting

¹ Jude,^(A) a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

To those who are the called,^(B) loved^[a](C) by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.^(D)

² May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.^(E)

Jude’s Purpose in Writing

³ Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share,^(F) I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith^(G) that was delivered^(H) to the saints once for all. ⁴ For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,^[b](I) have come in by stealth;^(J) they are ungodly,^(K) turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying^(L) Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

Apostates: Past and Present

⁵ Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus^[c] saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;^{(M) 6} and the angels^(N) who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. ⁷ Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah^(O) and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions,^[d] and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.^(P)

⁸ In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.^{(Q) 9} Yet when Michael^(R) the archangel^(S) was disputing with the devil^(T) in an argument about Moses’s^(U) body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” ¹⁰ But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain,^(V) have plunged into Balaam’s error^(W) for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.^(X)

The Apostates’ Doom

¹² These people are dangerous reefs^[e] at your love feasts^(Y) as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds;^(Z) trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars^(AA) for whom the blackness of darkness^(AB) is reserved forever.^(AC)

¹⁴ It was about these that Enoch,^(AD) in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones^{(AE) 15} to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly^(AF) concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” ¹⁶ These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires;^(AG) their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering^(AH) people for their own advantage.

¹⁷ But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They told you, “In the end time^(AI) there will be scoffers^(AJ) living according to their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These people create divisions and are worldly,^(AK) not having the Spirit.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,^{(AL) 21} keep yourselves in the love of God,^(AM) waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. ²² Have mercy on those who waver; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(AN) have mercy on others but with fear,^(AO) hating^(AP) even the garment^(AQ) defiled by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to him^(AR) who is able to protect you from stumbling^(AS) and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish^(AT) and with great joy, ²⁵ to the only^(AU) God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,^[f] be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,^[g] now and forever. Amen.

¹² Fight the good fight^(A) of the faith. Take hold of eternal life^(B) to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all,^(C) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,^(D) I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing^(E) of our Lord^(F) Jesus Christ.