The Blessings of Wisdom

Does not (A)wisdom call?
    Does not (B)understanding raise her voice?
On (C)the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside (D)the gates in front of (E)the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O (F)men, I call,
    and my cry is to (G)the children of man.
O (H)simple ones, learn (I)prudence;
    O (J)fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak (K)noble things,
    and from my lips will come (L)what is right,
for my (M)mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing (N)twisted or crooked in them.
They are all (O)straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (P)Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (Q)for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and (R)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and (S)discretion.
13 (T)The fear of the Lord is (U)hatred of evil.
(V)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and (W)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (X)counsel and (Y)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; (Z)I have strength.
15 By me (AA)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (AB)I love those who love me,
    and (AC)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (AD)Riches and honor are with me,
    (AE)enduring wealth and (AF)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AG)better than (AH)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than (AI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.

22 (AJ)“The Lord (AK)possessed[b] me at the beginning of his work,[c]
    the first of his acts (AL)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (AM)set up,
    at the first, (AN)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (AO)depths I was (AP)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (AQ)had been shaped,
    (AR)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he (AS)established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew (AT)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (AU)made firm the skies above,
    when he established[d] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (AV)assigned to the sea its (AW)limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (AX)the foundations of the earth,
30     then (AY)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[e] (AZ)delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
31 (BA)rejoicing in his (BB)inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.

32 “And now, (BC)O sons, listen to me:
    (BD)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (BE)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 (BF)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
35 For (BG)whoever finds me (BH)finds life
    and (BI)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (BJ)injures himself;
    all who (BK)hate me (BL)love death.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
  2. Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way
  4. Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or daily filled with

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
“To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
    I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(X)

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
    before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
    when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30     Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(AK)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
    blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
    all who hate me love death.”(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  4. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

17 The word of the Lord came to me: (A)“Son of man, (B)propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; say, Thus says the Lord God: (C)A great eagle (D)with great wings and long pinions, (E)rich in plumage of many colors, came (F)to Lebanon (G)and took the top of the cedar. He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants. Then he took of the seed of the land (H)and planted it in fertile soil.[a] He placed it beside abundant waters. (I)He set it like a willow twig, and it sprouted and became a (J)low (K)spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.

(L)“And there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, (M)and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him from (N)the bed where it was planted, that he might water it. (O)It had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.

“Say, Thus says the Lord God: (P)Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots. 10 Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? (Q)Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed where it sprouted?”

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say now to (R)the rebellious house, (S)Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, (T)the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. 13 (U)And he took one of the royal offspring[b] (V)and made a covenant with him, (W)putting him under oath ((X)the chief men of the land he had taken away), 14 that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. 15 (Y)But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors (Z)to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. (AA)Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he (AB)break the covenant and yet escape?

16 (AC)“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely (AD)in the place where the king dwells (AE)who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. 17 (AF)Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, (AG)when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. 18 He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. 20 (AH)I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon (AI)and enter into judgment with him there (AJ)for the treachery he has committed against me. 21 And all the pick[c] of his troops shall fall by the sword, (AK)and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that (AL)I am the Lord; I have spoken.”

22 Thus says the Lord God: (AM)“I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. (AN)I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and (AO)I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 (AP)On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. (AQ)And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; (AR)I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up (AS)the green tree, and make (AT)the dry tree flourish. (AU)I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you[d] mean (AV)by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, (AW)‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? (AX)As I live, declares the Lord God, (AY)this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: (AZ)the soul who sins shall die.

“If a man is righteous and does (BA)what is just and right— if he (BB)does not eat upon the mountains or (BC)lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, (BD)does not defile his neighbor's wife (BE)or approach (BF)a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, (BG)does not oppress anyone, but (BH)restores to the debtor his pledge, (BI)commits no robbery, (BJ)gives his bread to the hungry (BK)and covers the naked with a garment, (BL)does not lend at interest (BM)or take any profit,[e] withholds his hand from injustice, (BN)executes true justice between man and man, (BO)walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; (BP)he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.

10 “If he fathers a son who is violent, (BQ)a shedder of blood, who does any of these things 11 (though he himself did none of these things), (BR)who even eats upon the mountains, (BS)defiles his neighbor's wife, 12 oppresses the poor and needy, (BT)commits robbery, (BU)does not restore the pledge, (BV)lifts up his eyes to the idols, (BW)commits abomination, 13 (BX)lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; (BY)his blood shall be upon himself.

14 “Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: 15 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, 16 does not oppress anyone, (BZ)exacts no pledge, (CA)commits no robbery, (CB)but gives his bread to the hungry (CC)and covers the naked with a garment, 17 withholds his hand from iniquity,[f] takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, (CD)and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; (CE)he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, (CF)behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, (CG)‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done (CH)what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, (CI)he shall surely live. 20 (CJ)The soul who sins shall die. (CK)The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. (CL)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (CM)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 (CN)“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does (CO)what is just and right, (CP)he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 (CQ)None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 (CR)Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 (CS)But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? (CT)None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for (CU)the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

25 (CV)“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 (CW)When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, (CX)when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

30 “Therefore (CY)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. (CZ)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, (DA)lest iniquity be your ruin.[g] 31 (DB)Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and (DC)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! (DD)Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 (DE)For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; (DF)so turn, and live.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 17:5 Hebrew in a field of seed
  2. Ezekiel 17:13 Hebrew seed
  3. Ezekiel 17:21 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts all the fugitives
  4. Ezekiel 18:2 The Hebrew for you is plural
  5. Ezekiel 18:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor; also verses 13, 17 (compare Leviticus 25:36)
  6. Ezekiel 18:17 Septuagint; Hebrew from the poor
  7. Ezekiel 18:30 Or lest iniquity be your stumbling block

Two Eagles and a Vine

17 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.(A) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: A great eagle(B) with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon.(C) Taking hold of the top of a cedar, he broke off(D) its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.

“‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,(E) and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches(F) turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.(G)

“‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.(H) It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,(I) bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.(J) 10 It has been planted,(K) but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?(L)’”

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?(M)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,(N) bringing them back with him to Babylon.(O) 13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty(P) with him, putting him under oath.(Q) He also carried away the leading men(R) of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low,(S) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled(T) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt(U) to get horses and a large army.(V) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?(W)

16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die(X) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.(Y) 17 Pharaoh(Z) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps(AA) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.(AB) 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge(AC) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

19 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.(AD) 20 I will spread my net(AE) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment(AF) on him there because he was unfaithful(AG) to me. 21 All his choice troops will fall by the sword,(AH) and the survivors(AI) will be scattered to the winds.(AJ) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.(AK)

22 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot(AL) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.(AM) 23 On the mountain heights(AN) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit(AO) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.(AP) 24 All the trees of the forest(AQ) will know that I the Lord bring down(AR) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.(AS)

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.(AT)’”

The One Who Sins Will Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?(AU)

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb(AV) in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins(AW) is the one who will die.(AX)

“Suppose there is a righteous man
    who does what is just and right.
He does not eat at the mountain(AY) shrines
    or look to the idols(AZ) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
    or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.(BA)
He does not oppress(BB) anyone,
    but returns what he took in pledge(BC) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery(BD)
    but gives his food to the hungry(BE)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(BF)
He does not lend to them at interest
    or take a profit from them.(BG)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
    and judges fairly(BH) between two parties.
He follows my decrees(BI)
    and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;(BJ)
    he will surely live,(BK)
declares the Sovereign Lord.

10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood(BL) or does any of these other things[a] 11 (though the father has done none of them):

“He eats at the mountain shrines.(BM)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor(BN) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.(BO)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.(BP)
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit.(BQ)

Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.(BR)

14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:(BS)

15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines(BT)
    or look to the idols(BU) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16 He does not oppress anyone
    or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
    but gives his food to the hungry(BV)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(BW)
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
    and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws(BX) and follows my decrees.

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.(BY) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(BZ) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.(CA)

21 “But if(CB) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees(CC) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.(CD) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.(CE) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased(CF) when they turn from their ways and live?(CG)

24 “But if a righteous person turns(CH) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness(CI) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.(CJ)

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’(CK) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?(CL) Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.(CM) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.(CN) 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!(CO) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.(CP) 31 Rid(CQ) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(CR) and a new spirit. Why(CS) will you die, people of Israel?(CT) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(CU) and live!(CV)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:10 Or things to a brother

Greeting

Jude, a servant[a] of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

(A)To those who are called, (B)beloved in God the Father and (C)kept for[b] Jesus Christ:

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

Judgment on False Teachers

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our (F)common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you (G)to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For (H)certain people (I)have crept in unnoticed (J)who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert (K)the grace of our God into sensuality and (L)deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now I want (M)to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that (N)Jesus, who saved[c] a people out of the land of Egypt, (O)afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And (P)the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as (Q)Sodom and Gomorrah and (R)the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and (S)pursued unnatural desire,[d] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and (T)blaspheme the glorious ones. But when (U)the archangel (V)Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing (W)about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, (X)“The Lord rebuke you.” 10 (Y)But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in (Z)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain (AA)to Balaam's error and (AB)perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs[e] (AC)at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, (AD)shepherds feeding themselves; (AE)waterless clouds, (AF)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, (AG)uprooted; 13 (AH)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of (AI)their own shame; (AJ)wandering stars, (AK)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these that Enoch, (AL)the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, (AM)“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 (AN)to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have (AO)committed in such an ungodly way, and of all (AP)the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, (AQ)following their own sinful desires; (AR)they are loud-mouthed boasters, (AS)showing favoritism to gain advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must (AT)remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They[f] said to you, (AU)“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, (AV)devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, (AW)building yourselves up in your most holy faith and (AX)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 (AY)keep yourselves in the love of God, (AZ)waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by (BA)snatching them out of (BB)the fire; to others show mercy (BC)with fear, hating even (BD)the garment[g] stained by the flesh.

Doxology

24 (BE)Now to him who is able (BF)to keep you from stumbling and (BG)to present you (BH)blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to (BI)the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, (BJ)be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time[h] and now and forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. Jude 1:1 Or by
  3. Jude 1:5 Some manuscripts although you fully knew it, that the Lord who once saved
  4. Jude 1:7 Greek different flesh
  5. Jude 1:12 Or are blemishes
  6. Jude 1:18 Or Christ, because they
  7. Jude 1:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  8. Jude 1:25 Or before any age

Jude,(A) a servant of Jesus Christ(B) and a brother of James,

To those who have been called,(C) who are loved in God the Father and kept for[a] Jesus Christ:(D)

Mercy, peace(E) and love be yours in abundance.(F)

The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People

Dear friends,(G) although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share,(H) I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend(I) for the faith(J) that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.(K) For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you.(L) They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.(M)

Though you already know all this,(N) I want to remind you(O) that the Lord[c] at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.(P) And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.(Q) In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah(R) and the surrounding towns(S) gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.(T)

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.(U) But even the archangel(V) Michael,(W) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,(X) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[d](Y) 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.(Z)

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

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts,(AD) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.(AE) They are clouds without rain,(AF) blown along by the wind;(AG) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted(AH)—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea,(AI) foaming up their shame;(AJ) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.(AK)

14 Enoch,(AL) the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming(AM) with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones(AN) 15 to judge(AO) everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”[e](AP) 16 These people are grumblers(AQ) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;(AR) they boast(AS) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles(AT) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.(AU) 18 They said to you, “In the last times(AV) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”(AW) 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(AX)

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up(AY) in your most holy faith(AZ) and praying in the Holy Spirit,(BA) 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait(BB) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.(BC)

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;(BD) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[f](BE)

Doxology

24 To him who is able(BF) to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence(BG) without fault(BH) and with great joy— 25 to the only God(BI) our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!(BJ) Amen.(BK)

Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:1 Or by; or in
  2. Jude 1:4 Or individuals who were marked out for condemnation
  3. Jude 1:5 Some early manuscripts Jesus
  4. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).
  5. Jude 1:15 From the Jewish First Book of Enoch (approximately the first century b.c.)
  6. Jude 1:23 The Greek manuscripts of these verses vary at several points.