In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.(A) 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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12 Or are like blemishes

Yet, even knowing this, these dreamers in the same way pollute themselves, reject authority, and slander the angels. The archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil about Moses’ body, did not dare charge him with slander. Instead, he said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people slander whatever they don’t understand. They are destroyed by what they know instinctively, as though they were irrational animals.

Prophecies about the false teachers

11 They are damned, for they follow in the footsteps of Cain. For profit they give themselves over to Balaam’s error. They are destroyed in the uprising of Korah. 12 These people are like jagged rocks just below the surface of the water waiting to snag you when they join your love feasts. They feast with you without reverence. They care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; fruitless autumn trees, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom the darkness of the underworld is reserved forever.

Read full chapter