⁸ In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.^{(A) 9} Yet when Michael^(B) the archangel^(C) was disputing with the devil^(D) in an argument about Moses’s^(E) body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” ¹⁰ But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain,^(F) have plunged into Balaam’s error^(G) for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.^(H)

The Apostates’ Doom

¹² These people are dangerous reefs^[a] at your love feasts^(I) as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds;^(J) trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars^(K) for whom the blackness of darkness^(L) is reserved forever.^(M)

¹⁴ It was about these that Enoch,^(N) in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones^{(O) 15} to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly^(P) concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” ¹⁶ These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires;^(Q) their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering^(R) people for their own advantage.