Respecting Authority

13 Let every person submit himself to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are put in place by God. ^{[a] 2} So whoever opposes the authority has resisted God’s direction, and those who have resisted will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For leaders cause no fear for good behavior, but for bad. Now if you do not want to fear the authority, do what is good and you will get his approval— ⁴ for he is God’s servant to you for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid—for he does not carry the sword for no reason; for he is God’s servant, an avenger who inflicts punishment on the evildoer. ⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in submission—not only because of punishment but also because of conscience. ⁶ For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, attending diligently to this very thing. ⁷ Pay to everyone what is due them—tribute to whom tribute is due; tax to whom tax is due; respect to whom respect is due; honor to whom honor is due.

⁸ Remember Yeshua the Messiah, raised from the dead, from the seed of David—according to my Good News. ⁹ For this I suffer hardship as a criminal, even to the point of chains—though the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the chosen, so they might obtain the salvation that is in Messiah Yeshua with eternal glory.

¹¹ Trustworthy is the saying:

A Workman with the Word

¹⁴ Remind them of these things and solemnly charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which is useless—to the ruin of those who are listening. ¹⁵ Make every effort to present yourself before God as tried and true, as an unashamed worker cutting a straight path with the word of truth. ^{[a] 16} But avoid godless chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness ¹⁷ and their words will spread like cancer. Among them are Hymeneaus and Philetus— ¹⁸ men who have missed the mark concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place. They are overturning the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,”^[b] and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord keep away from unrighteousness.” ^{[c] 20} Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor and some for common use. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor—sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Greeting

¹ Judah, a slave of Yeshua the Messiah and brother of Jacob,

To those who are called, who are loved in God the Father, and kept safe for Yeshua the Messiah:

² May mercy and shalom and love be multiplied to you!

Contend for the Faith with the Ungodly

³ Loved ones, though very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I felt it necessary to write to you urging you to continue to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the kedoshim. ⁴ For certain people have secretly slipped in—those who from long ago have been marked out for this judgment. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into indecency and deny our only Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah.

⁵ Now I wish to remind you—though you have come to know all things—that the Lord,^[a] once having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels—who did not keep their own position of authority but deserted their proper place—He has kept in everlasting shackles under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great Day. ^{[b] 7} In the same way as these angels, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them—having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after a different sort of flesh—are displayed as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.^[c]

⁸ Yet in the same way these people also, by their visionary dreaming, defile the flesh, reject the Lord’s authority,^[d] and defame glorious beings. ⁹ But when Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, he did not dare to render a judgment against him for slander, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” ^{[e] 10} But these people slander whatever they do not understand. And whatever they do understand instinctively—like animals without reason—by these things they are destroyed.

¹¹ Woe to them! For they went the way of Cain; they were consumed for pay in Balaam’s error; and in Korah’s rebellion they have been destroyed. ^{[f] 12} These people are hidden rocky reefs at your love feasts—shamelessly feasting with you, tending only to themselves.^[g] They are waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, doubly dead, uprooted; ¹³ wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame;^[h] wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.^[i]

¹⁴ It was also about these people that Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with myriads of His kedoshim, ^{[j] 15} to execute judgment against all. He will convict all the ungodly for all their ungodly deeds that they have done in an ungodly way, and for all of the harsh things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

¹⁶ These are bellyaching grumblers, following after their own desires. Their mouth speaks grandiose things, showing favoritism for the sake of gain. ¹⁷ But you, loved ones, ought to remember the words previously proclaimed by the emissaries of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah^[k]— ¹⁸ how they kept telling you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly desires.” ^{[l] 19} These are the ones who cause divisions—worldly-minded, not having the Ruach

²⁰ But you, loved ones, continue building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Ruach ha-Kodesh. ²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, eagerly waiting for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who are wavering— ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire;^[m] but on others have mercy with fear—hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Hymn to God Our Savior