Jude 1 YLT
Summary: Jude, identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, explains he had intended to write about their common salvation but felt compelled instead to urge readers to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints," because certain ungodly people had crept in, perverting grace into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ (v. 3-4). He recalls examples of judgment, the Lord destroying unbelieving Israel after the exodus, angels who did not stay within their position, and Sodom and Gomorrah's fire, comparing these intruders to Cain, Balaam, and Korah, and even citing the noncanonical dispute between the archangel Michael and the devil over Moses' body, and the prophecy of Enoch concerning the Lord's coming with judgment. The letter closes with the well-known doxology praising God, "who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless...with great joy" (v. 24), after urging readers to build themselves up in faith, keep in God's love, and show mercy to those who doubt while saving others from the fire.
1Judas, of Jesus Christ a servant, and brother of James, to those sanctified in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ kept--called,
2kindness to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied!
3Beloved, all diligence using to write to you concerning the common salvation, I had necessity to write to you, exhorting to agonize for the faith once delivered to the saints,
4for there did come in unobserved certain men, long ago having been written beforehand to this judgment, impious, the grace of our God perverting to lasciviousness, and our only Master, God, and Lord--Jesus Christ--denying,
5and to remind you I intend, you knowing once this, that the Lord, a people out of the land of Egypt having saved, again those who did not believe did destroy;
6messengers also, those who did not keep their own principality, but did leave their proper dwelling, to a judgment of a great day, in bonds everlasting, under darkness He hath kept,
7as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, in like manner to these, having given themselves to whoredom, and gone after other flesh, have been set before--an example, of fire age-during, justice suffering.
8In like manner, nevertheless, those dreaming also the flesh indeed do defile, and lordship they put away, and dignities they speak evil of,
9yet Michael, the chief messenger, when, with the devil contending, he was disputing about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring up an evil-speaking judgment, but said, `The Lord rebuke thee!'
10and these, as many things indeed as they have not known, they speak evil of; and as many things as naturally (as the irrational beasts) they understand, in these they are corrupted;
11woe to them! because in the way of Cain they did go on, and to the deceit of Balaam for reward they did rush, and in the gainsaying of Korah they did perish.
12These are in your love-feasts craggy rocks; feasting together with you, without fear shepherding themselves; clouds without water, by winds carried about; trees autumnal, without fruit, twice dead, rooted up;
13wild waves of a sea, foaming out their own shames; stars going astray, to whom the gloom of the darkness to the age hath been kept.
14And prophesy also to these did the seventh from Adam--Enoch--saying, `Lo, the Lord did come in His saintly myriads,
15to do judgment against all, and to convict all their impious ones, concerning all their works of impiety that they did impiously, and concerning all the stiff things that speak against Him did impious sinners.'
16These are murmurers, repiners; according to their desires walking, and their mouth doth speak great swellings, giving admiration to persons for the sake of profit;
17and ye, beloved, remember ye the sayings spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18that they said to you, that in the last time there shall be scoffers, after their own desires of impieties going on,
19these are those setting themselves apart, natural men, the Spirit not having.
20And ye, beloved, on your most holy faith building yourselves up, in the Holy Spirit praying,
21yourselves in the love of God keep ye, waiting for the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ--to life age-during;
22and to some be kind, judging thoroughly,
23and some in fear save ye, out of the fire snatching, hating even the coat from the flesh spotted.
24And to Him who is able to guard you not stumbling, and to set you in the presence of His glory unblemished, in gladness,
25to the only wise God our Saviour, is glory and greatness, power and authority, both now and to all the ages! Amen.
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