1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, Risen Messiah} and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father {Theos Pater, Covenant Father} and preserved for Jesus Christ.
2 May mercy {eleos: undeserved compassion}, and peace {eirene: restored harmony}, and love be multiplied to you.
3 Beloved, I was making every effort {spoude: earnest effort} to write you about the salvation we share, but I had an urgent necessity {ananke: urgent necessity} to write and appeal to you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
4 For certain people have slipped in unnoticed, those long ago written about for this judgment, ungodly people turning the grace of our God {Theos, Provider of Mercy} into sensuality, and denying our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Faithful Sovereign}.
5 Now I want to remind you, though you once knew all these things, that Jesus {Iesous, Exodus Deliverer} saved a people from the land of Egypt and afterward destroyed those who did not believe {pisteusantas: loyal trust}.
6 And the angels {angelous: heavenly messengers} who refused to guard their own domain but forsook their proper dwelling, He {Theos, Righteous Judge} has confined in everlasting chains beneath gloom, awaiting the judgment of the great day.
7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, following the same pattern as these, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, they are set forth as an example {deigma: public warning} by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire {puros: fiery judgment}.
8 Likewise indeed, these also, as dreaming ones {enypniazomenoi: deceptive dreamers}, defile the flesh, reject lordship, and blaspheme glories {doxas: exalted beings}.
9 But Michael the archangel, when he was disputing with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a judgment of blasphemy {blasphemia: public insult against the holy}, but said, “May the Lord {Kyrios, Supreme Judge} rebuke you.”
10 But these people {houtoi: false teachers} slander what they do not know, and whatever they understand naturally, like unreasoning animals, in these things they corrupt themselves {phtheirontai: morally ruin}.
11 Woe {ouai: prophetic doom} to them, because they walked in the way of Cain, and poured themselves out into the error of Balaam for the sake of reward, and perished in the rebellion {antilogia: defiant opposition} of Korah.
12 These are hidden reefs in your love-feasts {agapais: communal Christian meals}, sharing the meal with you without fear, shepherding themselves {poimainontes: self-serving leaders}; waterless clouds swept along by winds, late-autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted.
13 Wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shames {aischunas: acts of disgrace}, wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness {zophos: deep obscurity} has been reserved forever.
14 And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these, saying, “Behold, the Lord {Kyrios, Majestic Judge} comes with His holy myriads {myriasin: tens of thousands}.”
15 To execute judgment {krisis: decisive verdict} against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their deeds of ungodliness in which they have acted impiously, and concerning all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him {Kyrios, Coming Judge}.
16 These are grumblers and complainers, walking according to their desires, and their mouth speaks boastful things, showing admiration {thaumazontes: flattering praise} for faces for the sake of advantage {opheleias: personal gain}.
17 But you, beloved {agapetoi: dearly loved ones}, remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Lord of Apostles}.
18 That they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers {empaiktai: those who make sport of sacred things}, walking according to their own desires of ungodliness {asebeia: lack of reverence toward God}.”
19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly {psuchikoi: shaped by mere instincts} people, not having the Spirit {Pneuma, Holy Presence Absent}.
20 But you, beloved, continue building yourselves up on your most holy faith {pistis: devoted trust}, praying in the Holy Spirit {Pneuma Hagion, Prayer Enabler}.
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God {Theos, Covenant-Faithful Lover} as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Bestower of Life} unto eternal life.
22 And have mercy {eleate: show active compassion} on those who are doubting {diakrinomenous: inwardly wavering}.
23 But others save, snatching them out of the fire {puros: severe danger}; and others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment {chiton: close-fitting tunic} that has been stained by the flesh.
24 Now to the One who is able to keep you without stumbling {aptaistous: Safely Steady} and to set you before His {autou: Possessor of Glory} glory blameless in exultant joy.
25 To the only God our Savior {Theos, Supreme Deliverer}, through Jesus Christ our Lord {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Mediating Redeemer}, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and for all the ages. Amen.