1Judas, siervo de Jesucristo y hermano de Santiago,
a los llamados, que son amados por Dios el Padre y guardados por1:1 por. Alt. para. Jesucristo:
2Reciban misericordia, paz y amor en abundancia.
Pecado y condenación de los impíos
3Queridos hermanos, he deseado intensamente escribirles acerca de la salvación que tenemos en común. Ahora siento la necesidad de hacerlo para rogarles que sigan luchando vigorosamente por la fe encomendada a los creyentes una vez y para siempre. 4El problema es que se han infiltrado entre ustedes ciertos individuos que desde hace mucho tiempo han estado señalados1:4 señalados. Lit. inscritos de antemano. para condenación. Son impíos que cambian en libertinaje la gracia de nuestro Dios y niegan a Jesucristo, nuestro único Soberano y Señor.
5Aunque ustedes ya saben muy bien todo esto, quiero recordarles que el Señor,1:5 el Señor. Var. Jesús. después de liberar de la tierra de Egipto a su pueblo, destruyó a los que no creían. 6Y a los ángeles que no mantuvieron su posición de autoridad, sino que abandonaron su propia morada, los tiene perpetuamente encarcelados en oscuridad para el juicio del gran día. 7Así también Sodoma y Gomorra y las ciudades vecinas son puestas como ejemplo al sufrir el castigo de un fuego eterno por haber practicado, como aquellos, inmoralidad sexual y vicios contra la naturaleza.
8De la misma manera, llevadas por sus delirios, estas personas contaminan su cuerpo, desprecian la autoridad y maldicen a los seres celestiales. 9Ni siquiera el arcángel Miguel, cuando argumentaba con el diablo disputándole el cuerpo de Moisés, se atrevió a pronunciar contra él un juicio de maldición, sino que dijo: «¡Que el Señor te reprenda!». 10Estas, en cambio, maldicen todo lo que no entienden; y como animales irracionales, lo que entienden por instinto es precisamente lo que los corrompe.
11¡Ay de los que siguieron el camino de Caín! Por ganar dinero se entregaron al error de Balán y perecieron en la rebelión de Coré.
12Estas personas son un peligro oculto;1:12 un peligro oculto. Lit. escollos o manchas. sin ningún respeto convierten en festejos las comidas de amor fraternal que ustedes celebran. Buscan solo su propio provecho.1:12 Buscan … provecho. Lit. Se pastorean a sí mismos. Son nubes sin agua, llevadas por el viento. Son árboles que no dan fruto cuando debieran darlo; están doblemente muertos, arrancados de raíz. 13Son violentas olas del mar que arrojan la espuma de sus actos vergonzosos. Son estrellas fugaces para quienes está reservada eternamente la más densa oscuridad.
14También Enoc, el séptimo patriarca a partir de Adán, profetizó acerca de ellos: «Miren, el Señor viene con millares y millares de sus santos, 15para someter a juicio a todos y para reprender a cada uno de los pecadores impíos por todas las malas obras que han cometido, así como por las injurias que han proferido contra él». 16Estos individuos son refunfuñadores y criticones, se dejan llevar por sus propios malos deseos, hablan con arrogancia y adulan a los demás para sacar ventaja.
Exhortación a la perseverancia
17Pero ustedes, queridos hermanos, recuerden el mensaje anunciado anteriormente por los apóstoles de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. 18Ellos decían: «En los últimos tiempos habrá burladores que vivirán según sus propias pasiones impías». 19Estos son los que causan divisiones y se dejan llevar por sus propios instintos, pues no tienen el Espíritu.
20Pero ustedes, queridos hermanos, edificándose sobre la base de su santísima fe y orando en el Espíritu Santo, 21manténganse en el amor de Dios, mientras esperan que nuestro Señor Jesucristo, en su misericordia, los lleve a vida eterna.
22Tengan compasión de los que dudan; 23a otros, sálvenlos arrebatándolos del fuego. Compadézcanse de los demás, pero tengan cuidado, aborrezcan hasta la ropa que haya sido contaminada por su cuerpo.
Doxología
24A aquel que es poderoso para guardarlos sin caída y presentarlos sin mancha delante de su gloria con gran alegría, 25al único Dios, nuestro Salvador por medio de Jesucristo nuestro Señor, sea la gloria y la majestad, el dominio y la autoridad, desde ahora y para siempre. Amén.
1I, Jude, am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am a brother of James.
I am sending this letter to you who have been chosen by God. You are loved by God the Father. You are kept safe for Jesus Christ.
2May more and more mercy, peace and love be given to you.
A Warning Against the Sin of Ungodly People
3Dear friends, I really wanted to write to you about the salvation we share. But now I feel I should write and ask you to stand up for the faith. God’s holy people were trusted with it once and for all time. 4Certain people have secretly slipped in among you. Long ago it was written that they would be judged. They are ungodly people. They misuse the grace of our God as an excuse for sexual sins. They say no to Jesus Christ, our only Lord and King.
5I want to remind you about some things you already know. The Lord saved his people. At one time he brought them out of Egypt. But later he destroyed those who did not believe. 6Some of the angels didn’t stay where they belonged. They didn’t keep their positions of authority. The Lord has kept those angels in darkness. They are held by chains that last forever. On judgment day, God will judge them. 7The people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them also did evil things. They freely committed sexual sins. They committed sins of the worst possible kind. There is a fire that never goes out. Those people are an example of those who are punished with it.
8In the very same way, these ungodly people act on their evil dreams. So they make their own bodies impure. They don’t accept authority. And they say evil things against heavenly beings. 9But even Michael, the leader of the angels, didn’t dare to say these things. He didn’t even say these things when he argued with the devil about the body of Moses. Michael didn’t dare to judge the devil. He didn’t say the devil was guilty of saying evil things. Instead, Michael said, “May the Lord judge you!” 10But these people say evil things against whatever they don’t understand. And the very things they do understand will destroy them. That’s because they are like wild animals that can’t think for themselves. Instead, they do what comes naturally to them.
11How terrible it will be for them! They have followed the way of Cain. They have rushed into the same mistake Balaam made. They did it because they loved money. They are like Korah. He turned against his leaders. These people will certainly be destroyed, just as Korah was.
12These ungodly people are like stains at the meals you share. They have no shame. They are shepherds who feed only themselves. They are like clouds without rain. They are blown along by the wind. They are like trees in the fall. Since they have no fruit, they are pulled out of the ground. So they die twice. 13They are like wild waves of the sea. Their shame rises up like foam. They are like falling stars. God has reserved a place of very black darkness for them forever.
14Enoch was the seventh man in the family line of Adam. He gave a prophecy about these people. He said, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones. 15He is coming to judge everyone. He is coming to sentence all of them. He will judge them for all the ungodly acts they have done. They have done them in ungodly ways. He will sentence ungodly sinners for all the things they have said to oppose him.” 16These people complain and find fault with others. They follow their own evil desires. They brag about themselves. They praise others to get what they want.
Remain in God’s Love
17Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said would happen. 18They told you, “In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19They are the people who separate you from one another. They do only what comes naturally. They are not led by the Holy Spirit.
20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray. 21And by doing these things, remain in God’s love as you wait. You are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
22Show mercy to those who doubt. 23Save others by pulling them out of the fire. To others, show mercy mixed with fear of sin. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.
Praise to God
24Give praise to the God who is able to keep you from falling into sin. He will bring you into his heavenly glory without any fault. He will bring you there with great joy. 25Give praise to the only God our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to him. Give praise to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. His praise was before all time, continues now, and will last forever. Amen.
