¹² One of Crete’s own prophets^(A) has said it: “Cretans^(B) are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”^[a]

²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’^[a](A) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’^[b]

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. 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)

¹⁵ They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(A) son of Bezer,^[a] who loved the wages of wickedness.

¹² But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(A)

² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.^(A)

¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(A) but their own appetites.^(B) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(C) the minds of naive people.

¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”