A letter for general circulation purportedly written by Jude the brother of James and half-brother of Jesus through Mary.
This is one of the last books to be included in the Bible canon and its authenticity is questioned
by some Bible scholars,
since the writer appears to quote from a non-Biblical document
that many view as unauthentic, the Book of Enoch.
Yet, we (as translators) have found
nothing in the text that is contradictory to other Bible writings,
and what we do find
is an amazing similar to the wording and thoughts found in other Bible books.
Chapter 1
1 Jude, a
slave of Jesus the Anointed One and a brother of
James, to those that are in God the Father (and are loved) as they are in Jesus the
Anointed…
Yes, those that have been called and that are being watched over;
2 May you grow in mercy, peace, and love.
3 Loved
ones;
Although I really wanted to write to you about the salvation that we hold
in common, I found it necessary to write instead so as to encourage you to keep
on struggling for the faith that the Holy Ones have passed on to you.
4 Because, some men have slipped in among
you whose judgment was written about long ago.
These are godless men that are
turning the loving care of our God into something that’s
immoral, and they’re denying our only owner and Lord, Jesus the Anointed One.
5 Now, despite
the fact that you already know everything, I want to remind you of this:
Although Jehovah once delivered our people from
the land of Egypt, He later destroyed the ones that didn’t show enough faith.
6 He also locked up those [heavenly] messengers that didn’t
keep the position to which they had [been assigned] long ago, and left
the place where they lived.
So He’s now keeping them in perpetual
darkness where they’re awaiting their judgment on the Great Day.
7 For, just as as [the people] once did in
Sodom, GomorRah, and in the cities round about them; these [angels] also started
chasing after strange flesh and for things that are sexually
immoral.
Yes, this is why such examples have been set before us:
To
show us that [those who do such things] will undergo the penalty of age-long fire.
8 Yet, this is
how some among you that are day-dreamers have also started polluting the flesh…
And you aren't showing proper respect for those that have been put over you, for you’re
even speaking disrespectfully of the Glorious Ones.
9 Indeed,
when MichaEl (the Highest Messenger [of God]) had
an argument with the Slanderer over the body of
Moses, he didn’t dare to bring a blasphemous judgment
against him by speaking disrespectfully.
All he said was,
‘May Jehovah give
you what you deserve!’
10 However,
these men continue to speak disrespectfully about many things that they really
don’t understand.
And like senseless animals that everyone knows [dirty
themselves] naturally, [these men] are really messing on themselves [when
they’re doing] things like this.
11 So, woe to them, because they’re going the way of Cain, they’ve rushed into the wrongs of BalaAm for a reward, and they’re bringing destruction upon themselves with rebellious words like those of KorAh!
12 [Yet,
these men are still] feasting among you at your loving [congregational] meals.
And like rocks that are hidden [below water], they are fearless shepherds over
just themselves, or dry clouds that are blown in every direction by the winds,
or fruitless trees in late autumn that have died twice and been uprooted.
13 [They are also] like wild waves of the
sea that foam shameful things on themselves, or like wandering stars that have
been reserved for the gloom of age-long darkness.
14 Remember
that the seventh man from Adam, Enoch, prophesied
about them when he said:
‘{Look!} The Lord will arrive with tens of
millions of His holy ones 15 to
condemn them and to give all those godless ones what they deserve for the
irreverent things that they’re doing in their worldly ways, as well as for all the
shocking things that these godless sinners have said against Him.’
16 For these men continue to grumble and
complain about how things work out, as they keep on doing whatever they wish.
Their mouths also do a lot of bragging, and they feign admiration of people in
order to serve their own [evil] purposes.
17 But as
for you, loved ones;
Remember what you were once told by the Apostles of our
Lord Jesus the Anointed…
18 Yes, remember that they used to say this to
you:
‘In the last days, there will be those that speak disrespectfully as they
go their own way and do godless things.
19
These are the ones that will create divisions, for they are carnal and they
don’t have the Breath [of God]!’
20 However,
as for you, loved ones;
Keep on building the Holy Faith within yourselves,
continue to pray through the Holy Breath 21
and keep yourselves in God’s love, as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus the
Anointed One and age-long life.
22 Also, be
merciful to those that are unsure…
23
Save [them] by snatching [them] from the fire!
However, as you’re showing them
mercy, do this in fear, because you must hate any dirty underwear that has been
spotted by the flesh.
24 Now, to
the One that is able to protect you against stumbling and that can make you free
from any defects;
May you continue to joyfully shout aloud within the sight of
His glory!
25 Yes, to our only
God (our Savior) and to Jesus the Anointed One (our Lord), may there be glory,
majesty, might, and authority throughout all time, both now and through the
ages…
May it be so!