Jude's Letter

Jude, a slave of Jesus the Messiah, the brother of James, to those who are called, and are dearly loved in God and preserved in Jesus the Messiah:

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Dear loved ones, although I was in a hurry to write to you of our common salvation, I felt a need to write to you so as to encourage you to fight for the faith that was given to the saints once and for all, because some men have slipped in unnoticed, of whom it has previously been predicted in the Scriptures for this purpose: condemnation. They are irreverent, exchanging our God's grace for sensuality and denying the only power--our Master, Jesus the Messiah.

I want to remind you, though you know all of this, that the Master at one time saved the people from Egypt, and the next time destroyed those who were not faithful. The angels did not keep their chief place, either, but left their dwelling until the Great Day, kept under darkness by eternal shackles. Like Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities that were around them headed in the same direction, they were addicted to sexual sins and departed, following another body. They were set forth as our example, held under the judgment of eternal fire.

In the same way, these dreamers also pollute their bodies, reject rulers, and slander the divine. However, Michael the Archangel, when he argued with the Devil about Moses' body, decided not to dare to bring a slander of judgment against him, but rather said, "May the Master rebuke you!" Yet these people slander what they do not know, and they destroy themselves with what they know by nature, like mindless animals. Woe to them, because they have gone in the way of Cain and left themselves to Balaam's deception (for profit), and they are being destroyed with the rebellion of Korah. These are the slime who feast with you at your fellowship meals without reverence, tending to themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds, and fruitless autumn trees twice uprooted and dead. They are brutal waves of the sea, foaming out their shame, and wandering stars, for which the gloom of darkness is kept forever.

And Enoch, the seventh [generation] from Adam, prophesied about Him when he said, "Look! The Master came with his holy legion to execute judgment against them all, and to charge every soul for all of the irreverent actions it did, and for all the hardened things that the irreverent sinners spoke against him.

They are discontent complainers because they go after their own desires. Their mouths speak excessively. They are flattering others for profit. On the other hand, dear loved ones, remember the words that were spoken before by the apostles of our Master, Jesus the Messiah, because they told you, "During the last time, mockers will come according to their own irreverent desires." These people are divisive--animals that do not have the Spirit. However, dear loved ones, edify one another with faithful love, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Master, Jesus the Messiah, so that you may obtain eternal life. Have mercy on those who are hesitant, but save others like you are snatching them from a fire. Have mercy on them, but because of fear, hate even the clothing stained by the flesh.

Now to him who will guard you against falling, and will stand you up in the presence of his blameless glory with joy--to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus the Messiah, our Master--be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all the ages, both now and forever. Amen!