Greeting
1 From Jude, slave of Jesus Christ but brother of James, to the dear ones united with God the Father and called by Jesus Christ: 2 Abundant mercy and peace and love to you!
Contending for the faith
3 Dear ones, I had intended to write to you about our common salvation, but instead I must write to urge you to contend for the faith that was once and for all handed over to the holy ones. 4 For some people have slipped in whose judgment was written about long ago. They violate what is holy, they trade our God’s favor for a license to indulge, and they disown our only Owner and Master Jesus Christ. 5 So I will remind you, who knew about all this, that the Master saved the people out of Egypt but then destroyed the unbelievers among them.
The fallen angels, and people who are like them
6 As for the angels who did not stay in their positions but left their home, he has kept them in prisons of unimaginable gloom for the great Judgment Day. 7 Just like Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, these angels were extremely promiscuous and lusted after different flesh. Their sentence of eternal suffering is an example for us to learn from. 8 Likewise, these dreamers pollute flesh and even defy divine authority and slander majesties. 9 Yet not even Michael, the Ruling Angel, presumed to pronounce disrespectful judgment when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, but only said, “May the Master impose the penalty on you!” 10 But these people mock what they don’t comprehend; with the instinct of unthinking animals, they are skilled at what corrupts them.
11 Woe to them! They took the way of Cain; they were scattered like the wages of Balaam; they died as in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are stains at your fellowship meals; they carouse without shame and only guide themselves. They are clouds without rain that are driven away by the wind; they are fruitless late-autumn trees, twice dead! 13 They are waves of the churning sea that foam up their shame, wandering stars whose destiny is an eternal gloomy darkness.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied this: “Look! The Master is coming with huge numbers of his holy ones, 15 to condemn the irreverent for each and every thing they did, and for every twisted word they spoke against him.” 16 These people always grumble and whine in line with their desires, and they brag excessively while flattering others for their own advantage.
A reminder to stay the course
17 But you, dear ones, must remember the announcements made earlier by the apostles of our Master Jesus Christ. 18 They told you, “In the last time there will be mockers who operate from their own irreverent desires. 19 They cause division and are soulish instead of spiritual.” 20 But you, dear ones, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God and receive the mercy of our Master Jesus Christ into eternal life. 22 Be merciful even to those who are undecided, 23 mercifully snatching them out of the fire yet hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Final blessing
24 Now to the One who is able to protect you from harm, and to make you stand in view of his favor in perfect honor, 25 to our only God and Savior by means of Jesus Christ, our Master, belongs honor, greatness, strength, and authority, from eternity past and now to eternity future, absolutely!