⁵⁵ Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(A) Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James,^(B) Joseph,^[a] Simon, and Judas?^(C)

³ Isn’t this the carpenter,^(A) the son of Mary,^(B) and the brother of James,^(C) Joses, Judas,^(D) and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended^(E) by him.

¹⁷ Motioning to them with his hand^(A) to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James^(B) and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place.

¹³ After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me.

¹⁸ The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.^(A)

¹⁹ But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,^(A) the Lord’s brother.

⁹ When James,^(A) Cephas,^[a](B) and John^(C)—those recognized as pillars^(D)—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

¹² For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.

Greeting

¹ Jude,^(A) a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

To those who are the called,^(B) loved^[a](C) by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.^(D)

² May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.^(E)

Jude’s Purpose in Writing

³ Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share,^(F) I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith^(G) that was delivered^(H) to the saints once for all. ⁴ For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,^[b](I) have come in by stealth;^(J) they are ungodly,^(K) turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying^(L) Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

Apostates: Past and Present

⁵ Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus^[c] saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;^{(M) 6} and the angels^(N) who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. ⁷ Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah^(O) and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions,^[d] and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.^(P)

⁸ In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.^{(Q) 9} Yet when Michael^(R) the archangel^(S) was disputing with the devil^(T) in an argument about Moses’s^(U) 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,^(V) have plunged into Balaam’s error^(W) for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.^(X)

The Apostates’ Doom

¹² These people are dangerous reefs^[e] at your love feasts^(Y) as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds;^(Z) trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars^(AA) for whom the blackness of darkness^(AB) is reserved forever.^(AC)

¹⁴ It was about these that Enoch,^(AD) in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones^{(AE) 15} to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly^(AF) concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” ¹⁶ These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires;^(AG) their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering^(AH) people for their own advantage.

¹⁷ But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They told you, “In the end time^(AI) there will be scoffers^(AJ) living according to their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These people create divisions and are worldly,^(AK) not having the Spirit.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,^{(AL) 21} keep yourselves in the love of God,^(AM) waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. ²² Have mercy on those who waver; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(AN) have mercy on others but with fear,^(AO) hating^(AP) even the garment^(AQ) defiled by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to him^(AR) who is able to protect you from stumbling^(AS) and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish^(AT) and with great joy, ²⁵ to the only^(AU) God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,^[f] be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,^[g] now and forever. Amen.