Epistula Iudae, 1

1. Iudas Iesu Christi servus, frater autem Iacobi, his qui sunt vocati, in Deo Patre dilecti et Christo Iesu conservati:

1.

2. misericordia vobis et pax et caritas adimpleatur.

2. May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

3. Carissimi, omnem sollicitudinem faciens scribendi vobis de communi nostra salute, necesse habui scribere vobis, deprecans certare pro semel tradita sanctis fide.

3. Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

4. Subintroierunt enim quidam homines, qui olim praescripti sunt in hoc iudicium, impii, Dei nostri gratiam transferentes in luxuriam, et solum Dominatorem et Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum negantes.

4. For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5. Commonere autem vos volo, scientes vos omnia, quoniam Dominus semel populum de terra Aegypti salvans, secundo eos, qui non crediderunt, perdidit;

5. Now I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

6. angelos vero, qui non servaverunt suum principatum, sed dereliquerunt suum domicilium, in iudicium magni diei vinculis aeternis sub caligine reservavit.

6. And the angels that did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling have been kept by him in eternal chains in the nether gloom until the judgment of the great day;

7. Sicut Sodoma et Gomorra et finitimae civitates, simili modo exfornicatae et abeuntes post carnem alteram, factae sunt exemplum, ignis aeterni poenam sustinentes.

7. just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8. Similiter vero et hi somniantes carnem quidem maculant, dominationem autem spernunt, glorias autem blasphemant.

8. Yet in like manner these men in their dreamings defile the flesh, reject authority, and revile the glorious ones.

9. Cum Michael archangelus cum Diabolo disputans altercaretur de Moysis corpore, non est ausus iudicium inferre blasphemiae, sed dixit: “Increpet te Dominus!”.

9. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

10. Hi autem, quaecumque quidem ignorant, blasphemant; quaecumque autem naturaliter tamquam muta animalia norunt, in his corrumpuntur.

10. But these men revile whatever they do not understand, and by those things that they know by instinct as irrational animals do, they are destroyed.

11. Vae illis, quia via Cain abierunt et errore Balaam mercede effusi sunt et contradictione Core perierunt!

11. Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error, and perish in Korah's rebellion.

12. Hi sunt in agapis vestris maculae, convivantes sine timore, semetipsos pascentes; nubes sine aqua, quae a ventis circumferuntur; arbores autumnales infructuosae bis mortuae, eradicatae;

12. These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they boldly carouse together, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;

13. fluctus feri maris despumantes suas confusiones; sidera errantia, quibus procella tenebrarum in aeternum servata est.

13. wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved for ever.

14. Prophetavit autem et his septimus ab Adam Henoch dicens: “Ecce venit Dominus in sanctis milibus suis

14. It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads,

15. facere iudicium contra omnes et arguere omnem animam de omnibus operibus impietatis eorum, quibus impie egerunt, et de omnibus duris, quae locuti sunt contra eum peccatores impii”.

15. to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

16. Hi sunt murmuratores, querelosi, secundum concupiscentias suas ambulantes, et os illorum loquitur superba, mirantes personas quaestus causa.

16. These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage.

17. Vos autem, carissimi, memores estote verborum, quae praedicta sunt ab apostolis Domini nostri Iesu Christi,

17. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18. quoniam dicebant vobis: “In novissimo tempore venient illusores, secundum suas concupiscentias ambulantes impietatum”.

18. they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."

19. Hi sunt qui segregant, animales, Spiritum non habentes.

19. It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

20. Vos autem, carissimi, superaedificantes vosmetipsos sanctissimae vestrae fidei, in Spiritu Sancto orantes,

20. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;

21. ipsos vos in dilectione Dei servate, exspectantes misericordiam Domini nostri Iesu Christi in vitam aeternam.

21. keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22. Et his quidem miseremini disputantibus;

22. And convince some, who doubt;

23. illos vero salvate de igne rapientes; aliis autem miseremini in timore, odientes et eam, quae carnalis est, maculatam tunicam.

23. save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24. Ei autem, qui potest vos conservare sine peccato et constituere ante conspectum gloriae suae immaculatos in exsultatione,

24. Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing,

25. soli Deo salvatori nostro per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum gloria, magnificentia, imperium et potestas ante omne saeculum et nunc et in omnia saecula. Amen.

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