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)

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Footnotes

  1. 12 Or are like blemishes

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.(A) But even the archangel(B) Michael,(C) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,(D) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[a](E) 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.(F)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;(G) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;(H) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.(I)

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts,(J) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.(K) They are clouds without rain,(L) blown along by the wind;(M) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted(N)—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea,(O) foaming up their shame;(P) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).