Deliverance from False Prophets (Jude 1:3–16)
1 WBS But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will privately bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. BSB BSB: Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 WBS And many will follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of. BSB BSB: Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.
3 WBS And through covetousness they will with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. BSB BSB: In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
4 WBS For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment; BSB BSB: For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
5 WBS And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person , a preacher of righteousness, bringing the flood upon the world of the ungodly; BSB BSB: if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;
7 WBS And delivered just Lot, grieved with the habitual lewdness of the wicked: BSB BSB: and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
8 WBS (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, grieved his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) BSB BSB: (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9 WBS The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished: BSB BSB: if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
10 WBS But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they , self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. BSB BSB: Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
11 WBS Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. BSB BSB: Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord.
12 WBS But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption: BSB BSB: These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
13 WBS And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; BSB BSB: The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.
14 WBS Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: they have a heart exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: BSB BSB: Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
15 WBS Who have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; BSB BSB: They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
16 WBS But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet. BSB BSB: But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 WBS These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. BSB BSB: These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
18 WBS For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that had quite escaped from them who live in error. BSB BSB: With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
19 WBS While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he brought into bondage. BSB BSB: They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
21 WBS For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it , to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. BSB BSB: It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
22 WBS But it hath happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. BSB BSB: Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.