Greetings from Jude
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.
God’s Judgement on the Ungodly
3 Beloved, 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 and for all delivered to the saints. 4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I would like 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 did not believe. 6 Angels who did not 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. 7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them have similarly given themselves over to sexual immorality and perversions, they are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in the same way, these dreamers also defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. 9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an insulting accusation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people denounce anything they do not understand, and the things they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, are the very things that are destroying them. 11 Woe to them! For they went the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
12 These men are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts, when they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding only themselves; clouds with no water, swept along by the wind; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
14 Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied about these people, saying,
“The Lord is coming
with thousands of his holy ones,
15 to execute judgment on everyone,
and to convict all of the ungodly
of all of their ungodly deeds
and ways and of all the harsh things
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
A Call to Persevere
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the end time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These worldly people, not having the Spirit, cause divisions.
20 But you, beloved, keep building yourselves up in 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 for eternal life.
22 For some, whose faith is wavering, have compassion, 23 and for some, in fear, snatch them from the fire, hating even the clothing defiled by the flesh.
Doxology
24 Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, 25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
Amen.