The
Sin And Doom Of Godless Men
Jude,
a Servant of Jesus Christ
And
a brother of James,
To
those who have been called,
Who
are loved by God the Father
AND
KEPT BY JESUS CHRIST:
2
Mercy , Peace and Love be yours in Abundance.
3
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you
ABOUT
THE SALVATION WE SHARE,
I
felt I had to write and Urge you to Contend for the Faith
That
was once for all Entrusted to the Saints.
4
FOR CERTAIN MEN
WHOSE
CONDEMNATION WAS WRITTEN ABOUT LONG AGO
HAVE
SECRETLY SLIPPED IN AMONG YOU.
THEY
ARE GODLESS MEN,
WHO
CHANGE THE GRACE OF OUR GOD
INTO
A LICENSE FOR IMMORALITY
AND
DENY JESUS CHRIST
OUR
ONLY SOVEREIGN AND LORD.
5
Though you already know all this,
I
want to remind you
That
the Lord Delivered His people out of Egypt,
BUT
LATER DESTROYED THOSE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE.
6
And the Angels
Who
did not keep their positions of Authority
But
Abandoned their own home--
THESE
HE HAS KEPT IN DARKNESS,
BOUND
WITH EVERLASTING CHAINS FOR JUDGMENT
ON
THE GREAT DAY.
7
In a similar way,
Sodom
and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns
Gave
themselves up to Sexual Immorality and Perversion.
THEY
SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE
OF
THOSE WHO SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT OF ETERNAL FIRE.
8
IN THE SAME WAY
THESE
DREAMERS POLLUTE THEIR OWN BODIES,
REJECT AUTHORITY AND SLANDER CELESTIAL BEINGS.
9
BUT EVEN THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL,
WHEN
HE WAS DISPUTING WITH THE DEVIL
ABOUT
THE BODY OF MOSES,
DID
NOT DARE TO BRING
A
SLANDEROUS ACCUSATION AGAINST HIM,
BUT
SAID,'THE LORD REBUKE YOU!'
10
Yet these men speak abusively
Against
whatever they do not understand;
And
what things they do understand
By
Instinct, like Unreasoning Animals--
These
are the very thing that Destroy them.
11
WOE TO THEM!
THEY
HAVE TAKEN THE WAY OF CAIN;
THEY
HAVE RUSHED FOR PROFIT INTO BALAAM'S ERROR;
THEY
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN KORAH'S REBELLION.
12
These men are Blemishes at your love Feasts,
Eating
with you without the slightest Qualm--
SHEPHERDS
WHO FEED ONLY THEMSELVES.
THEY
ARE CLOUDS WITHOUT RAIN,
BLOWN
ALONG BY THE WIND;
AUTUMN
TREES, WITHOUT FRUIT AND UPROOTED--
TWICE
DEAD.
13
THEY ARE WILD WAVES OF THE SEA,
FOAMING
UP THEIR SHAME;
WANDERING
STARS,
FOR
WHOM BLACKEST DARKNESS HAS BEEN RESERVED FOREVER.
14
Enoch, the seventh from Adam,
Prophesied
about these men:
'SEE
THE LORD IS COMING
WITH
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF HIS HOLY ONES
15
TO JUDGE EVERYONE,
AND
TO CONVICT ALL THE UNGODLY
OF
ALL THE UNGODLY ACTS THEY HAVE DONE
IN THE
UNGODLY WAY,
AND
OF ALL THE HARSH WORDS UNGODLY SINNERS
HAVE
SPOKEN AGAIN HIM.
16
THESE MEN ARE FAULTFINDERS;
THEY
FOLLOW THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRES;
THEY
BOAST ABOUT THEMSELVES
AND
FLATTER OTHERS FOR THEIR OWN ADVANTAGE.
A
Call to Persevere
17
But, dear friends,
Remember
what the Apostles
of
our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
18
they said to you,
'IN
THE LAST TIMES THERE WILL BE SCOFFERS
WHO
FOLLOW THEIR OWN UNGODLY DESIRES.'
19
THESE ARE THE MEN WHO DIVIDE YOU,
WHO
FOLLOW MERE NATURAL INSTINCTS
AND
DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT.
20
BUT YOU, DEAR FRIENDS,
BUILD
YOURSELVES UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH
AND
PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
21
KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD'S LOVE
AS
YOU WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
TO
BRING YOU TO ETERNAL LIFE.
22
BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO DOUBT;
23
SNATCH OTHERS FROM THE FIRE AND SAVE THEM;
TO
OTHERS SHOW MERCY, MIXED WITH FEAR--
HATING
EVEN THE CLOTHING
STAINED
BY CORRUPTED FLESH.
Doxology
24
To Him Who is able to Keep you from Falling
And
to Present you before His Glorious Presence
Without
Fault and with Great Joy--
25
To the only God our Savior
Be
Glory, Majesty, Power and Authority
Through
Jesus Christ our Lord,
Before
all Ages,
Now
and forevermore! Amen.
(Jude)
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