Saludo

Judas (A), siervo de Jesucristo(B) y hermano de Jacobo[a], a los llamados(C), amados[b] en Dios Padre y guardados para Jesucristo(D): Misericordia, paz y amor(E) os sean multiplicados(F).

Motivo de la carta

Amados(G), por el gran empeño que tenía en escribiros acerca de nuestra común salvación(H), he sentido la necesidad de escribiros exhortándoos a contender ardientemente(I) por la fe(J) que de una vez para siempre fue entregada(K) a los santos(L). Pues algunos hombres se han infiltrado encubiertamente(M), los cuales desde mucho antes estaban marcados[c](N) para esta condenación, impíos que convierten la gracia de nuestro Dios(O) en libertinaje(P), y niegan a nuestro único Soberano y Señor, Jesucristo(Q).

Advertencias de la historia para los impíos

Ahora quiero recordaros(R), aunque ya definitivamente[d] lo sepáis todo(S), que el Señor[e], habiendo salvado al[f] pueblo de la tierra de Egipto(T), destruyó después[g] a los que no creyeron. Y a los ángeles que no conservaron su señorío original(U), sino que abandonaron su morada legítima, los ha guardado en prisiones[h] eternas(V), bajo tinieblas para el juicio del gran día. Así también Sodoma y Gomorra(W) y las ciudades circunvecinas(X), a semejanza de aquellos, puesto que ellas[i] se corrompieron[j] y siguieron carne extraña(Y), son exhibidas como ejemplo(Z) al sufrir el castigo del fuego eterno[k](AA). No obstante, de la misma manera también estos hombres, soñando, mancillan la carne, rechazan la autoridad y blasfeman de las majestades angélicas[l](AB). Pero cuando el arcángel(AC) Miguel(AD) contendía con el diablo y disputaba acerca del cuerpo de Moisés(AE), no se atrevió a proferir juicio de maldición contra él, sino que dijo: El Señor te reprenda(AF). 10 Mas estos blasfeman las cosas que no entienden(AG), y las cosas que como animales irracionales(AH) conocen por instinto(AI), por estas cosas son ellos destruidos[m]. 11 ¡Ay de ellos! Porque han seguido el camino de Caín(AJ), y por lucro se lanzaron al[n] error de Balaam(AK), y perecieron en la rebelión de Coré(AL). 12 Estos son escollos ocultos[o] en vuestros ágapes(AM), cuando banquetean con vosotros sin temor(AN), apacentándose a sí mismos; son nubes sin agua(AO) llevadas por los vientos(AP), árboles de otoño sin fruto, dos veces muertos y desarraigados(AQ); 13 son olas furiosas del mar(AR), que arrojan como espuma su propia vergüenza[p](AS); estrellas errantes para quienes la oscuridad de las tinieblas ha sido reservada para siempre(AT). 14 De estos también profetizó Enoc(AU), en la séptima generación desde Adán, diciendo: He aquí, el Señor vino con muchos millares de sus santos[q](AV), 15 para ejecutar juicio sobre todos(AW), y para condenar a todos los impíos[r] de todas sus obras de impiedad, que han hecho impíamente, y de todas las cosas ofensivas[s] que pecadores impíos dijeron contra Él(AX). 16 Estos son murmuradores(AY), quejumbrosos, que andan tras sus propias pasiones(AZ); hablan[t] con arrogancia(BA), adulando a la gente para obtener beneficio(BB).

Exhortaciones apostólicas a los fieles

17 Pero vosotros, amados(BC), acordaos de las palabras que antes fueron dichas(BD) por los apóstoles de nuestro Señor Jesucristo(BE), 18 quienes os decían[u]: En los últimos tiempos habrá burladores(BF) que irán tras sus propias pasiones impías(BG). 19 Estos son los que causan divisiones; individuos mundanos[v] que no tienen el Espíritu(BH). 20 Pero vosotros, amados(BI), edificándoos(BJ) en vuestra santísima fe, orando en el Espíritu Santo(BK), 21 conservaos en el amor de Dios, esperando ansiosamente la misericordia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo para vida eterna(BL). 22 Y tened misericordia de[w] algunos que dudan; 23 a otros, salvad, arrebatándolos del fuego(BM); y de otros tened misericordia con temor, aborreciendo aun la ropa contaminada por la carne(BN).

Bendición

24 Y a aquel que es poderoso(BO) para guardaros sin caída[x] y para presentaros sin mancha en presencia de su gloria(BP) con gran alegría(BQ), 25 al único(BR) Dios nuestro Salvador(BS), por medio de Jesucristo nuestro Señor, sea gloria, majestad, dominio y autoridad(BT), antes de todo tiempo, y ahora y por todos los siglos(BU). Amén.

Footnotes

  1. Judas 1:1 O, Santiago
  2. Judas 1:1 Algunos mss. posteriores dicen: santificados
  3. Judas 1:4 O, de los cuales...se había escrito
  4. Judas 1:5 Lit., de una vez para siempre
  5. Judas 1:5 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: Jesús
  6. Judas 1:5 Lit., a un
  7. Judas 1:5 Lit., la segunda vez
  8. Judas 1:6 Lit., cadenas
  9. Judas 1:7 O, puesto que ellas, a semejanza de aquéllos
  10. Judas 1:7 O, se entregaron a gran inmoralidad
  11. Judas 1:7 O, son exhibidas como ejemplo del fuego eterno, al sufrir el castigo
  12. Judas 1:8 Lit., de las glorias
  13. Judas 1:10 Lit., corrompidos
  14. Judas 1:11 Lit., se han derramado en el
  15. Judas 1:12 O, manchas ocultas
  16. Judas 1:13 O, sus actos vergonzosos
  17. Judas 1:14 Lit., sus santas decenas de millares
  18. Judas 1:15 Dos mss. antiguos dicen: a toda alma
  19. Judas 1:15 Lit., duras
  20. Judas 1:16 Lit., sus bocas hablan
  21. Judas 1:18 Lit., que ellos decían
  22. Judas 1:19 O, naturales, o, sensuales
  23. Judas 1:22 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: convenced a
  24. Judas 1:24 O, sin tropiezo

1-2 I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Fight with All You Have in You

3-4 Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master.

Lost Stars in Outer Space

5-7 I’m laying this out as clearly as I can, even though you once knew all this well enough and shouldn’t need reminding. Here it is in brief: The Master saved a people out of the land of Egypt. Later he destroyed those who defected. And you know the story of the angels who didn’t stick to their post, abandoning it for other, darker missions. But they are now chained and jailed in a black hole until the great Judgment Day. Sodom and Gomorrah, which went to sexual rack and ruin along with the surrounding cities that acted just like them, are another example. Burning and burning and never burning up, they serve still as a stock warning.

This is exactly the same program of these latest infiltrators: dirty sex, rule and rulers thrown out, glory dragged in the mud.

9-11 The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil as they fought over the body of Moses, wouldn’t have dared level him with a blasphemous curse, but said simply, “No you don’t. God will take care of you!” But these people sneer at anything they can’t understand, and by doing whatever they feel like doing—living by animal instinct only—they participate in their own destruction. I’m fed up with them! They’ve gone down Cain’s road; they’ve been sucked into Balaam’s error by greed; they’re canceled out in Korah’s rebellion.

12-13 These people are eyesores at your love feasts as you worship and eat together. They’re giving you a black eye—carousing shamelessly, grabbing anything that isn’t nailed down. They’re—

Puffs of smoke pushed by gusts of wind;
    late autumn trees stripped clean of leaf and fruit,
Doubly dead, pulled up by the roots;
    wild ocean waves leaving nothing on the beach
    but the foam of their shame;
Lost stars in outer space
    on their way to the black hole.

14-16 Enoch, the seventh after Adam, prophesied of them: “Look! The Master comes with thousands of holy angels to bring judgment against them all, convicting each person of every defiling act of shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they have spewed of their pious filth.” These are the complainers, the bellyachers, grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie, talking big, saying anything they think will get them ahead.

17-19 But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: “In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.” These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit!

* * *

20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

24-25 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Greeting to the Called

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and (A)brother of James,

To those who are (B)called, [a]sanctified by God the Father, and (C)preserved in Jesus Christ:

Mercy, (D)peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Contend for the Faith

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you (E)concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting (F)you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord [b]God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Old and New Apostates

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that (G)the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their [c]proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as (H)Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the [d]vengeance of eternal fire.

(I)Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and (J)speak evil of [e]dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in [f]contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, (K)“The Lord rebuke you!” 10 (L)But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way (M)of Cain, (N)have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished (O)in the rebellion of Korah.

Apostates Depraved and Doomed

12 These are [g]spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried [h]about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 (P)raging waves of the sea, (Q)foaming up their own shame; wandering stars (R)for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the (S)harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Apostates Predicted

16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they (T)mouth great swelling words, (U)flattering people to gain advantage. 17 (V)But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that (W)there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are [i]sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Maintain Your Life with God

20 But you, beloved, (X)building yourselves up on your most holy faith, (Y)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, (Z)looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And on some have compassion, [j]making a distinction; 23 but (AA)others save [k]with fear, (AB)pulling them out of the [l]fire, hating even (AC)the garment defiled by the flesh.

Glory to God

24 (AD)Now to Him who is able to keep [m]you from stumbling,
And (AE)to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To [n]God our Savior,
[o]Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and [p]power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:1 NU beloved
  2. Jude 1:4 NU omits God
  3. Jude 1:6 own
  4. Jude 1:7 punishment
  5. Jude 1:8 glorious ones, lit. glories
  6. Jude 1:9 arguing
  7. Jude 1:12 stains, or hidden reefs
  8. Jude 1:12 NU, M along
  9. Jude 1:19 soulish or worldly
  10. Jude 1:22 NU who are doubting (or making distinctions)
  11. Jude 1:23 NU omits with fear
  12. Jude 1:23 NU adds and on some have mercy with fear
  13. Jude 1:24 M them
  14. Jude 1:25 NU the only God our
  15. Jude 1:25 NU Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Be glory
  16. Jude 1:25 NU adds Before all time,