General Epistles in 21 Days

¹ On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

² But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

⁴ So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.

⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

⁶ And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

⁷ Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”

⁸ But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

¹⁰ And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

¹² You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

¹³ Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

¹⁴ Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

¹ We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

² For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,

³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

⁴ and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

⁵ For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

⁶ But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

⁷ You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor

⁸ and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

¹¹ For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

¹² He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”

¹³ And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.”

¹⁴ Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

¹⁶ For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

¹⁷ For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

¹⁸ Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

¹ Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

² For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

³ Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.

⁴ For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

⁵ And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”

⁶ Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,

⁷ God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

¹⁰ For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

¹² For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

¹ This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

² and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

³ Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

⁴ Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

⁵ Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

⁶ But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

⁷ And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

⁸ In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

⁹ And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

¹⁰ For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

¹¹ Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

¹⁵ And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

¹⁶ one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

¹⁷ For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸ So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

²⁰ And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

²¹ but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³ Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

²⁴ But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

²⁵ Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶ Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

¹ Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

² A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

⁴ containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

⁵ Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

⁷ But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

⁸ By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

⁹ It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

¹⁰ They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

¹² He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,

¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

¹⁵ Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

¹⁶ In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

¹⁷ because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

¹⁹ For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,

²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

²¹ In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.

²² According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

²⁴ For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

²⁵ Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

²⁶ Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

²⁷ Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

²⁸ so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

¹ For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

² If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.

³ Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

⁴ because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.

⁶ In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.

⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”

⁸ In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).

⁹ Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.

¹⁰ And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

¹² But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

¹³ Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

¹⁴ because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

¹⁷ Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

²⁰ by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

²² let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

²³ Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

²⁴ And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

²⁵ Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

¹ Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

² This is why the ancients were commended.

³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

⁷ By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

⁹ By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

¹² And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

¹³ All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

¹⁴ Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

²³ By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

²⁵ He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

²⁶ He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

²⁷ By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

³² And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

³⁴ quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

³⁶ Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

³⁸ The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

⁴⁰ God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

⁷ Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

⁸ If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

⁹ Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

¹⁰ Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.

¹¹ No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

¹³ Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

¹⁶ See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

⁴ Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

⁶ But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

⁷ That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

⁸ He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

¹⁰ But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

¹⁴ But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

¹⁵ Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

¹⁹ My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

²⁰ for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

²² Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

²³ For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

²⁴ and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

²⁵ But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

²⁶ If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

¹ My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

³ If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

¹⁰ Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

¹¹ For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

¹³ For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

¹⁶ If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

¹⁷ So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

¹⁹ You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?

²¹ Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

²² You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

²⁴ As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

² We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

⁴ Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

¹² My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

¹ Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.

² Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.

³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

⁴ Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

⁶ You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

⁸ You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

⁹ Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

¹¹ See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

¹² Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

¹³ Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

¹⁴ Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

¹⁷ Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

¹⁹ My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

²⁰ consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen

² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴ and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials

⁷ so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

⁸ Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

⁹ now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,

¹¹ trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

¹³ Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.

¹⁵ But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,

¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

²⁰ He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.

²¹ Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.

²² Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

²³ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

²⁴ For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

²⁵ but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

¹ Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁶ For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

⁷ To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

⁸ and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

¹² Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

¹⁴ or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

¹⁶ Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

¹⁷ Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

¹⁸ Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.

¹⁹ For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

²⁰ How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

²³ When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

²⁴ He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

¹ Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives

² when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,

⁴ but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

⁵ For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

⁷ Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

¹⁰ For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

¹¹ He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

¹³ Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

¹⁵ But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

¹⁹ in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

²⁰ who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

²¹ And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

¹ As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:

² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;

³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

⁵ Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

⁷ Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

⁸ Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

⁹ Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

¹¹ To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

¹² Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

¹³ The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark.

¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

⁴ Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

⁸ For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

¹¹ and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.

¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,

¹⁴ because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

¹⁵ And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

¹⁷ For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

¹⁸ And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

²¹ For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

¹ Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

² by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

³ Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

⁴ “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

⁵ But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

⁶ through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

⁷ And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

¹² as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

¹³ But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

¹⁵ Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.

¹⁶ He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.

² And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

⁴ We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

⁵ And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

⁶ If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

² By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

⁴ You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

⁵ They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

⁹ This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

¹⁰ And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

¹³ By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

¹⁵ If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

¹⁶ And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

¹⁷ In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

¹⁹ We love because He first loved us.

²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

²¹ And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

² By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.

³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,

⁴ because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

⁵ Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

⁶ This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

⁷ For there are three that testify:

⁸ the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.

⁹ Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

¹¹ And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

¹³ I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.

¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

¹ The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—

² because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

⁴ I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.

⁵ And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

⁶ And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

⁸ Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.

⁹ Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰ If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.

¹¹ Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

¹² I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

¹³ The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

¹ The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

² Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.

³ For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

⁵ Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.

⁶ They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

⁷ For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

⁸ Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

⁹ I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.

¹⁰ So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³ I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.

¹⁴ Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.

¹ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:

² Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

³ Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints.

⁴ For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

⁵ Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.

⁶ And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.

⁷ In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

⁸ Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.

⁹ But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

¹⁰ These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.

¹¹ Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

¹² These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

¹⁴ Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones

¹⁵ to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”

¹⁶ These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

¹⁸ when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”

¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.

²⁰ But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

²² And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;

²³ save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—

²⁵ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.