Greeting
Jude 1Jude,+1:1 or, Judah a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to y’all.
Warnings From History About Ungodly People
Beloved, while I was very eager to write to y’all about our common salvation, I felt compelled to write exhorting y’all to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain humans crept in secretly, those whose condemnation was written about long ago. They are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Now I want to remind y’all–even though y’all already know it–that after the Lord saved a people out of the land of Egypt, he later destroyed those who didn’t believe. And the angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, ʜᴇ has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Similarly, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities around them, gave themselves over to sexual immorality and pursued flesh in unnatural ways. They are displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
Yet in the same way, these people by their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. But even when the archangel Michael was disputing with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring abusive condemnation against him, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” But these people say evil about things they don’t understand, and the things they do understand—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, rushed into the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. They are jagged rocks in y’all’s love feasts, feasting with y’all without fear, shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their deeds of ungodliness that they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against ʜɪᴍ.” These are grumblers and complainers, following after their desires. Their mouths speak proud things, flattering people to gain advantage.
Exhortation to Faithfulness
But beloved, y’all should remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to y’all, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly desires.” These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly, not having the Spirit.
But y’all, beloved, keep building yourselves* up in y’all’s most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves* in God’s love, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Y’all be merciful to those who doubt, and save some by snatching them out of the fire. On others, y’all should show mercy with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Doxology
Now to ʜɪᴍ who is able to keep y’all from stumbling and to present y’all faultless in the presence of ʜɪꜱ glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty and dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.