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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

In a similar way, these dreamers also defile their flesh, reject the Lord’s authority,[a] and slander his glorious beings. Even the archangel Michael, when he argued with the Devil and fought over the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him. Instead, he said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”[b] 10 Whatever these people do not understand, they slander. Like irrational animals, they are destroyed by the very things they know by instinct. 11 How terrible it will be for them! For they lived like Cain did[c], rushed headlong into Balaam’s error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves, as happened[d] in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These people are stains on your love feasts.[e] They feast with you without any sense of awe.[f] They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by the winds. They are autumn trees that are fruitless, totally[g] dead, and uprooted. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:8 Lit. reject dominions
  2. Jude 1:9 This incident is possibly based on The Assumption of Moses, an apocryphal Jewish writing.
  3. Jude 1:11 Lit. they followed Cain’s path
  4. Jude 1:11 The Gk. lacks as happened
  5. Jude 1:12 Some early Christians had a meal along with the Lord’s Supper.
  6. Jude 1:12 Or without fear
  7. Jude 1:12 Lit. twice