Chapter 1

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James, to the called who have been loved in God the Father and preserved for Christ Jesus:

mercy and peace and charity be given you in abundance.

Beloved, while I was making every endeavor to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

For certain men have stealthily entered in, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of God into wantonness and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Divine Judgments

But I desire to remind you, though once for all you have come to know all things, that Jesus, who saved the people from the land of Egypt, the next time destroyed those who did not believe.

And the angels also who did not preserve their original state, but forsook their abode, he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighboring cities which like them committed sins of immorality and practised unnatural vice, have been made an example, undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. Evil Life of Heretics

In like manner do these men also defile the flesh, disregard authority, deride majesty.

Yet when Michael the archangel was fiercely disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, he did not venture to bring against him an accusation of blasphemy, but said, "May the Lord rebuke thee."

But these men deride whatever they do not know; and the things they know by instinct like the dumb beasts, become for them a source of destruction.

Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and have rushed on thoughtlessly into the error of Balaam for the sake of gain, and have perished in the rebellion of Core.

These men are stains on their feasts, banqueting together without fear, looking after themselves; clouds without water, carried about by the winds; trees in the fall, unfruitful, twice dead, uprooted;

wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom the storm of darkness has been reserved forever. Judgment of Heretics

Now of these also Henoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord has come with thousands of his holy ones

to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the impious of all their impious works, and of all the hard things that impious sinners have spoken against him."

These are grumbling murmurers walking according to their lusts. And haughty in speech, they cultivate people for the sake of gain.

But as for you, beloved, be mindful of the words that have been spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who kept saying to you that at the end of time there will come scoffers, walking impiously according to their lusts.

These are they who set themselves apart, sensual men, not having the Spirit. Perseverance and Charity

But as for you, beloved, build up yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.

And some, who are judged, reprove;

but others, save, snatching them from the fire. And to others be merciful with fear, hating even the garment which is soiled by the flesh.

Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin and to set you before the presence of his glory, without blemish, in gladness,

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, belong glory and majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, and now, and forever. Amen.