14-16 Enoch, the seventh after Adam, prophesied of them: “Look! The Master comes with thousands of holy angels to bring judgment against them all, convicting each person of every defiling act of shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they have spewed of their pious filth.” These are the complainers, the bellyachers, grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie, talking big, saying anything they think will get them ahead.

17-19 But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: “In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.” These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit!

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20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

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14 Enoch,(A) the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming(B) with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones(C) 15 to judge(D) everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”[a](E) 16 These people are grumblers(F) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;(G) they boast(H) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles(I) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.(J) 18 They said to you, “In the last times(K) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”(L) 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(M)

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up(N) in your most holy faith(O) and praying in the Holy Spirit,(P) 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait(Q) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:15 From the Jewish First Book of Enoch (approximately the first century b.c.)