Jude
—Simply Bible Readings

The Short Letter of Jude

(Jude verses 1-25)

¶“1Jude, slave of Jesus Christ, brother of James, to those who, having been made holy in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, are called: 2Mercy to you; and peace and love be multiplied” (Jude 1:1-2).

¶“3Beloved, using all diligence to write to you about our common salvation, of necessity I had to write to you urging you to contend with zeal for the faith that was once for all delivered to the holy people. 4For certain men came in by stealth, those who long ago were written down for this condemnation: ungodly men who change the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4).

¶“5So I will remind you of something you once knew: the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not keep their first domain, but left their own dwelling place, God has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 7Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, gave themselves over to fornication, and went after strange flesh. They are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:6-7).

¶“8Like [Sodom and Gomorrah] these dreamers defile the flesh, despise authority, and speak evil of glorious ones. 9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, arguing over the body of Moses, dared not bring an evil-speaking judgment against him, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'. 10But these speak evil of things they don't understand, and what they understand naturally like unreasoning animals, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11Woe unto them! for they have travelled in Cain’s way; and rushed for reward to Balaam’s error; and perished in Korah’s contention” (Jude 1:8-11).

¶“12These are hidden reefs in your feasts of love. They feast with you without fear. They are shepherds feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds, swept along by winds. They are fruitless autumn trees, uprooted and twice dead. 13They are waves of the wild sea, casting up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of endless darkness” (Jude 1:12-13).

¶“14It was also about these persons that Enoch, the seventh [patriarch] from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with myriads of his holy ones, 15To execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly acts done in their ungodliness —and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.' 16These are grumblers, complainers, following their own lusts. Their mouth speaks swelling words to flatter people for profit’s sake.” (Jude 1:14-16).

¶“17But you beloved, must remember the words of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18They told you that, in the last time, there would be scoffers, following their own ungodly lusts. 19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, not having the Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-19).

¶“20But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22And have mercy on those who doubt. 23Save others by snatching them out of the fire. To others show mercy in fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1:20-23).

¶“24Now to him who is able* to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25to the only wise God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25).