¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(A) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^{(B) 19} Their destiny^(C) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(D) and their glory is in their shame.^(E) Their mind is set on earthly things.^{(F) 20} But our citizenship^(G) is in heaven.^(H) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(I) 21} who, by the power^(J) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(K) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(L)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(M) my joy and crown, stand firm^(N) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

⁸ 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) 9} 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.