He exhorteth them to stand to their old faith, shewing them by example, that it is damnable not to continue and be constant: 8 inveighing against the lechery, blasphemy, apostasy, banqueting of the heretics, 14 and that their damnation was long foretold. 17 Catholics therefore to be commendable, to reprove the obstinate, to recover all not desperate, to confirm the weak, and to live themselves virtuously and without mortal sin, which by God's grace they may do.He exhorteth them to stand to their old faith, shewing them by example, that it is damnable not to continue and be constant: 8 inueighing against the lecherie, blasphemie, apostasie, banketing of the heretikes, 14 and that their damnation was long foretold. 17 Catholikes therfore to be commendable, to reproue the obstinate, to recouer al not desperate, to confirme the weake, and to liue them selues vertuously and without mortal sinne, which by Gods grace they may doe.✦
Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are in God the Father beloved, and in Jesus Christ preserved, and called.IVDE the seruant of Iesvs Christ, and brother of Iames: to them that are in God the Father beloued, and in Iesvs Christ preserued, and called.✦Judas Jesu Christi servus, frater autem Jacobi, his qui sunt in Deo Patre dilectis, et Christo Jesu conservatis, et vocatis.
2Mercy to you, and peace and charity be accomplished.Mercie to you, and peace and charitie be accomplished.✦Misericordia vobis, et pax, et caritas adimpleatur.
3My dearest, taking all care to write unto you of your common salvation, I thought it necessary to write unto you: beseeching you to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.My deerest, taking al care to write vnto you of your common saluation, I thought it necessarie to write vnto you: beseeching you to contend for the faith once deliuered to the sainctes.✦Carissimi, omnem sollicitudinem faciens scribendi vobis de communi vestra salute, necesse habui scribere vobis : deprecans supercertari semel traditæ sanctis fidei.
4For there are certain men secretly entered in (which were long ago prescribed unto this judgement) impious, transferring the grace of our God into luxuriam: lasciviousness, wanton excess (not noise or civil riots), and denying the only Dominatorem: sole Ruler, sovereign Lord, and our Lord Jesus Christ.For there are certaine men secretely entred in (which were long ago prescribed vnto this iudgement) impious, transferring the grace of our God into riotousnes, and denying the only Dominator, and our Lord Iesvs Christ.✦Subintroierunt enim quidam homines (qui olim præscripti sunt in hoc judicium) impii, Dei nostri gratiam transferentes in luxuriam, et solum Dominatorem, et Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum negantes.
5But I will admonish you, that once know all things, that Jesus, saving the people out of the land of Egypt, secondly destroyed them which believed not.* But I wil admonish you, that once know al things, that c Iesvs, sauing the people out of the land of Ægipt, * secondly destroied them which beleeued not.✦Commonere autem vos volo, scientes semel omnia, quoniam Jesus populum de terra Ægypti salvans, secundo eos, qui non crediderunt, perdidit :
6But the Angels which kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in eternal bonds unto the judgement of the great day.But the Angels which kept not their principalitie, but forsooke their owne habitation, he hath reserued vnder darkenesse in eternal bondes vnto the iudgement of the great day.✦angelos vero, qui non servaverunt suum principatum, sed dereliquerunt suum domicilium, in judicium magni diei, vinculis æternis sub caligine reservavit.
7As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities adjoining in like manner having fornicated, and going after other flesh, were made an example, sustaining the pain of eternal fire.As * Sodom and Gomorrhe, and the cities adioyning in like maner hauing c fornicated, and going after other flesh, were made an example, sustaining the paine of eternal fire.✦Sicut Sodoma, et Gomorrha, et finitimæ civitates simili modo exfornicatæ, et abeuntes post carnem alteram, factæ sunt exemplum, ignis æterni pœnam sustinentes.
8In like manner these also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty.In like maner these also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, & blaspheme maiestie.✦Similiter et hi carnem quidem maculant, dominationem autem spernunt, majestatem autem blasphemant.
9When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, made altercaretur: contended, disputed for the body of Moyses: he durst not inferre: bring in, pronounce (not "deduce") judgement of blasphemy, but said, Our Lord command thee.When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the Diuel, made altercation for the body of Moyses: he durst not inferre iudgment of blasphemie, but said, Our Lord command thee.¶✦Cum Michaël Archangelus cum diabolo disputans altercaretur de Moysi corpore, non est ausus judicium inferre blasphemiæ : sed dixit : Imperet tibi Dominus.
10But these, what things soever quidem: certainly, assuredly they are ignorant of, they blaspheme: and what things soever naturally, as dumb beasts, they know, in those they are corrupted.But these, what things so euer certes they are ignorant of, they blaspheme: and what things so euer naturally, as dumme beastes, they know, in those they are corrupted.¶✦Hi autem quæcumque quidem ignorant, blasphemant : quæcumque autem naturaliter, tamquam muta animalia, norunt, in his corrumpuntur.
11Woe unto them, which have gone in the way of Cain: and with the error of Balaam, have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core.Wo vnto them, which haue gone in the way of Cain: and with the errour of Balaam, haue for reward poured out them selues, and haue perished in the contradiction of *Coré.¶✦Væ illis, quia in via Cain abierunt, et errore Balaam mercede effusi sunt, et in contradictione Core perierunt !
12These are in their banquets maculæ: stains, blemishes (the men themselves), feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water which are carried about of winds, trees of autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,These are in their bankets, spottes, feasting together without feare, feeding them selues, cloudes without water which are caried about of windes, trees of autumne, vnfruitful, twise dead, plucked vp by the rootes,✦Hi sunt in epulis suis maculæ, convivantes sine timore, semetipsos pascentes, nubes sine aqua, quæ a ventis circumferuntur, arbores autumnales, infructuosæ, bis mortuæ, eradicatæ,
13raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusions, wandering stars: to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.raging waues of the sea, foming out their owne confusions, wandering starres: to whom the storme of darkenesse is reserued for euer.✦fluctus feri maris, despumantes suas confusiones, sidera errantia : quibus procella tenebrarum servata est in æternum.
14And of these prophesied Enoch, the seventh from Adam, saying, Behold our Lord is come in his holy thousands,And of these prophecied Enoch, the seuenth from Adam, saying, Behold our Lord is come in his holy thousandes,✦Prophetavit autem et de his septimus ab Adam Enoch, dicens : Ecce venit Dominus in sanctis millibus suis
15to do judgement against all, and to reprove all the impious, of all the works of their impiety whereby they have done impiously, and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him.to doe iudgement against al, and to reproue al the impious, of al the workes of their impietie wherby they haue done impiously, and of al the hard thinges which impious sinners haue spoken against him.✦facere judicium contra omnes, et arguere omnes impios de omnibus operibus impietatis eorum, quibus impie egerunt, et de omnibus duris, quæ locuti sunt contra Deum peccatores impii.
16These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh pride, admiring persons for gain sake.These are murmurers, ful of complaintes, walking according to their owne desires, and their mouth speaketh pride, admiring persons for gaine sake.✦Hi sunt murmuratores querulosi, secundum desideria sua ambulantes, et os eorum loquitur superba, mirantes personas quæstus causa.
17But you my dearest, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,But you my deerest, be mindeful of the wordes which haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Iesvs Christ,✦Vos autem carissimi, memores estote verborum, quæ prædicta sunt ab apostolis Domini nostri Jesu Christi,
18who told you, that in the last time shall come mockers, according to their own desires walking in impieties.who told you, *that in the last time shal come mockers, according to their owne desires walking in impieties.✦qui dicebant vobis, quoniam in novissimo tempore venient illusores, secundum desideria sua ambulantes in impietatibus.
19These are they which segregate themselves, animales: merely natural, animal (governed by the senses, not "lustful"), having not the Spirit.These are they which segregate them selues, sensual, hauing not the Spirit.¶✦Hi sunt, qui segregant semetipsos, animales, Spiritum non habentes.
20But you my dearest, building yourselves upon our most holy faith, in the holy Ghost, praying,But you my deerest, building your selues vpon our most holy faith, in the holy Ghost, praying,✦Vos autem carissimi superædificantes vosmetipsos sanctissimæ vestræ fidei, in Spiritu Sancto orantes,
21keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.keepe your selues in the loue of God, expecting the mercie of our Lord Iesvs Christ vnto life euerlasting.✦vosmetipsos in dilectione Dei servate, exspectantes misericordiam Domini nostri Jesu Christi in vitam æternam.
22And these certes reprove being judged:And these certes reproue being iudged:✦Et hos quidem arguite judicatos :
23but them save, pulling out of the fire. And on other have mercy in fear: hating also that which is carnal, the spotted coat.but them saue, pulling out of the fire. And on other haue mercie in feare: hating also that which is carnal, the spotted cote.✦illos vero salvate, de igne rapientes. Aliis autem miseremini in timore : odientes et eam, quæ carnalis est, maculatam tunicam.
24And to him that is able to preserve you without sin, and to set you immaculate before the sight of his glory in exultation in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,And to him that is able to preserue you without sinne, and to sette you immaculate before the sight of his glorie in exultation in the comming of our Lord Iesvs Christ,✦Ei autem qui potens est vos conservare sine peccato et constituere ante conspectum gloriæ suæ immaculatos in exsultatione in adventu Domini nostri Jesu Christi,
25to the only God our Saviour by Jesus Christ our Lord be glory and magnificence, imperium: sovereign dominion, rule and power before all worlds, and now and for all worlds evermore. Amen.to the onely God our Sauiour by Iesvs Christ our Lord be glorie and magnificence, empire and power before al worldes, and now and for al worldes euermore. Amen.✦soli Deo Salvatori nostro, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum, gloria et magnificentia, imperium et potestas ante omne sæculum, et nunc, et in omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
9For the body of Moyses. When, why, or how this altercation or combat was between S. Michael and the devil about Moyses' body, no man can declare. only this we see that many truths and stories were kept in the mouths and hearts of the faithful, that were not written in Scriptures canonical, as this was among the Jews.For the body of Moyses. When, why, or how this altercation or combat was betwene S. Michael and the Diuel about Moyses body, no man can declare. only this we see that many truthes and stories were kept in the mouthes and hartes of the faithful, that were not written in Scriptures canonical, as this was among the Iewes.
10They blaspheme. He speaketh of Heretics, who being ignorant in God's mysteries and the divine doctrine of his Church, when they cannot reprove the things, then they fall to execrations, irrisions, and blasphemies against the Priests, Church, and Sacraments, and whatsoever is godly.They blaspheme. He speaketh of Heretikes, who being ignorant in Gods mysteries and the diuine doctrine of his Church, when they can not reproue the things, then they fall to execrations, irrisions, and blasphemies against the Priests, Church, and Sacraments, and whatsoeuer is godly.
11Cain, Balaam, Core. The Apostle would have Heretics specially to be known by the resemblance they have, first to Cain, in that for envy that his brother's service and sacrifice was accepted and his rejected, slew his said brother, and was a fugitive from the face and city of God, which is the Church. Secondly, by their resemblance to Balaam, who for money was induced to curse God's people, as covetousness is commonly the cause that first maketh Heretics and false Prophets. whereupon S. Augustine saith, He is an Heretic that for temporal commodities sake either coineth or followeth new opinions. S. August. li. de Util. cred. cap. 1. and lastly by their resemblance they have with the ancient and notorious Schismatic Core, and his companions, who forsook the ordinary Priesthood appointed by God, and would needs do sacrifice themselves without lawful calling. Such indeed be all Heretics, and such be all their sacraments, service, and offices in their Church, as Core's were in his schismatical tabernacles. And as pride was the cause of his revolting from the obedience of Moyses and Aaron his Priests and true Governours: so is intolerable pride the cause of all Heretics forsaking their lawful Pastors and Rulers, and namely of forsaking Christ's own Vicar in earth, our true Aaron, as S. Bernard calleth him. De considera. li. 1. cap. 8. To all such forsakers the Apostle here giveth the curse and woe due to the said three, Cain, Balaam, and Core, and telleth them that the storm of darkness and eternal damnation is provided for them: most lively describing all Heretics (as in some we to our woe have experience by their manners in our days) in all this passage even to the end of the epistle.Cain, Balaam, Core. The Apostle would haue Heretikes specially to be known by the resemblance they haue, first to Cain, in that for enuy that his brothers seruice and sacrifice was accepted and his reiected, slew his said brother, and was a fugitiue from the face and citie of God, which is the Church. Secondly, by their resemblance to Balaam, who for money was induced to curse Gods people, as couetousnes is commonly the cause that first maketh Heretikes and false Prophets. whereupon S. Augustine saith, He is an Heretike that for temporal commodities sake either coineth or foloweth new opinions. S. August. li. de Vtil. cred. cap. 1. and lastly by their resemblance they haue with the auncient and notorious Schismatike Coré, and his companions, who forsooke the ordinare Priesthood appointed by God, and would needes doe sacrifice them selues without lawful calling. Such in deede be al Heretikes, and such be al their sacraments, seruice, and offices in their Church, as Cores were in his schismatical tabernacles. And as pride was the cause of his reuolting from the obedience of Moyses and Aaron his Priests and true Gouernours: so is intolerable pride the cause of al Heretikes forsaking their lawful Pastors and Rulers, and namely of forsaking Christes owne Vicar in earth, our true Aaron, as S. Bernard calleth him. De considera. li. 1. cap. 8. To al such forsakers the Apostle here giueth the curse and woe due to the said three, Cain, Balaam, and Coré, and telleth them that the storme of darkenes and eternal damnation is prouided for them: most liuely describing al Heretikes (as in some we to our woe haue experience by their maners in our daies) in al this passage euen to the end of the epistle.
19These are they which segregate themselves. The conditions of Heretics in the later days, that is, ever since Christ's time, not of these only of our age. For there were many that forsook God's Church and segregated themselves from the fellowship of the faithful even in the primitive Church: that we may the less marvel at these men's segregating themselves, and going out from the rest into several sects, which S. Augustine therefore calleth Segregations.These are they which segregate them selues. The conditions of Heretikes in the later daies, that is, euer since Christs time, not of these onely of our age. For there were many that forsooke Gods Church and segregated them selues from the fellowship of the faithful euen in the primitiue Church: that we may the lesse maruel at these mens segregating them selues, and going out from the rest into seueral sectes, which S. Augustine therfore calleth Segregations.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.