Jude

Jude

Greeting from a Servant Brother

From Jude,

a servant of Jesus the Anointed One

and a brother of James—

to those who are called,

loved in God the Father,

and kept for Jesus the Anointed One:

May mercy, peace, and love

be multiplied to you.

Contend for the Faith

Beloved,

although I was eager to write to you

about the rescue we share,

I found it necessary to write

and urge you to contend for the faith

that was once for all delivered to the set-apart ones.

For certain people have slipped in unnoticed—

those who long ago were marked out for this judgment—

ungodly ones

who distort the favor of our God

into unrestrained living

and deny our only Master and Rescuer,

Jesus the Anointed One.

Lessons from the Past

Though you already know all this,

I want to remind you

that the Master, having once rescued a people from the land of Egypt,

later destroyed those who did not trust.

And the messengers

who did not keep to their appointed realm

but abandoned their proper dwelling,

He has kept in eternal chains

in deep darkness

until the great day of setting things right.

In the same way,

Sodom and Gomorrah

and the surrounding cities—

having given themselves over to sexual immorality

and pursued unnatural desires—

serve as an example

by undergoing the punishment of age-level fire.

These Dreamers Defile

Yet these people, relying on their dreams,

defile the body,

reject authority,

and slander glorious beings.

But even Michael the chief messenger,

when he was disputing with the accuser

over the body of Moses,

did not dare to bring a slanderous charge,

but said, “May the Master rebuke you!”

These people, however, slander what they do not understand,

and what they do understand instinctively—like unreasoning animals—

they corrupt themselves with.

Woe to them!

For they have gone the way of Cain,

rushed into Balaam’s error for profit,

and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Hidden Reefs and Wandering Stars

These are hidden reefs at your love feasts,

feasting with you without reverence—

shepherds who feed only themselves.

They are waterless clouds

swept along by winds,

autumn trees without fruit—twice dead, uprooted.

They are wild waves of the sea,

foaming with their own shame,

wandering stars

for whom the deepest darkness

has been reserved forever.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam,

also prophesied about them, saying:

“Look, the Master is coming

with tens of thousands of His set-apart ones,

to bring justice to all,

and to expose every deed of irreverence—

every harsh word

that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

These people are grumblers and fault-finders.

They follow their own cravings,

speak boastful words,

and flatter others for their own gain.

Build Yourselves Up in Trust

But you, beloved,

remember what was foretold

by the sent ones of our Master Jesus the Anointed One.

They said to you,

“In the last time there will be mockers,

following their own ungodly desires.”

These are the ones who cause divisions,

worldly-minded,

not having the Spirit.

But you, beloved,

build yourselves up in your most sacred trust,

pray in the Set-Apart Spirit,

keep yourselves in the love of God,

and wait for the mercy of our Master Jesus the Anointed One

that leads to age-enduring life.

Show mercy to those who doubt.

Rescue others by snatching them from the fire.

To others, show mercy with reverence—

hating even the garment

stained by corrupt desire.

To the Only God, Our Rescuer

Now to the One

who is able to keep you from stumbling

and to present you blameless

before the presence of His glory with great joy—

to the only God, our Rescuer,

through Jesus the Anointed One our Master—

be glory, greatness, power, and authority

before all time, now, and forever.

Amen.