Yudas (Jude)

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

The bold words in the OET New Testament are words that the original writers or copyists marked to indicate that they considered them to refer to God. (Sadly, this information is not displayed in most Bible translations, especially since it seems to confirm that the earliest writers/copyists considered both Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be God.)

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Introduction

Author

This letter was written by Yudas the younger brother of Yacob. (Note that he wasn’t the Yudas who handed Yeshua over to the Jewish religious leaders. Note also that Yudas is mistakenly called Yude in most English Bibles, and Yacob is quite wrongly called James in most English Bibles.)

This letter

We don’t know which group of believers that this letter was sent to. Here in this letter, Yudas warns the believers about teachers of false doctrines who teach that it’s okay for believers to continue sinning since they’ll just be forgiven due to God’s mercy. That’s the reason Yudas wrote this, to warn the believers so that they won’t fall for false beliefs, but instead will continue to follow the true teaching that came from God. He also encourages the readers that it’s necessary to strive to continue in their faith in God along with turning away from evil actions.

Main components of Yudas’ letter

Introduction 1-2

The work and judgement of false teachers 3-16

Warnings and teaching 17-23

The need to honour God 24-25

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Salutation; Greetings from Jude; The danger of false belief

1 [ref]This letter is from Yudas, a slave of Yeshua the messiah, and brother of Yacob. It’s written to all those who have been called and loved by God the father and who have kept believing in Yeshua the messiah.

2 I pray that you all will experience God’s mercy and peace, and a bountiful supply of love.

1  Youdas/(Yəhūdāh), slave of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one /messiah, and brother of_Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ), to_the ones called having_been_loved by god the_father, and having_been_kept in_Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah: 2 mercy to_you_all, and peace, and might_have_multiplied love.

1:3 The judgement of false-teachers and god-rejecters

Occasion of the Letter; The Danger of False Teachers; The sin and doom of Godless men

3 Friends, I was so enthusiastic to write to you concerning our salvation that we have in common, but I needed to write to you all, encouraging you to stand strong for the teaching that was entrusted to the believers at a certain point in time. 4 Because some people have quietly come into our groups who think they can take advantage of God’s grace to bring in immoral lifestyles and disowning the only master, and our boss who’s Yeshua the messiah. But they are destined for judgement.

Judgment on False Teachers

5 [ref]Now I want to remind you that although you all know how Yeshua rescued our people out of Egypt, yet at the same time he destroyed the ones who didn’t believe. 6 Even the messengers who broke their own rules and left their own domain have been held in eternal chains in the darkness until the time of judgement in the great day. 7 [ref]Similarly Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them stay in our minds as an example of the judgement of eternal fire due to similar sexual perversions.

8 in the same way these dreamers defile their own bodies while rejecting authority and dishonouring those who should be honoured. 9 [ref]Even Michael, one of the top messengers, when he was arguing with the devil about Mosheh’s body, he didn’t belittle him, but left it to Yahweh to punish him. 10 But these people mock what they don’t even grasp, but they’ll be destroyed by what their animal instincts do understand. 11 Oh dear! Because they’ve followed the actions of Cain[ref] and have embraced the deception of Balaam[ref] for monetary gain, so too they’ll perish like Korah’s destruction.[ref] 12 These are the people who ruin your love feasts when they eat without shame and only look after themselves. They’re like clouds that are blown away by the wind without bringing the needed rain or trees that don’t produce any fruit then are doubly useless by falling over; 13 like wild waves in the ocean that foam in their own shame or like unreliable wandering stars that are already doomed to the darkest darkness in the next age.

14 [ref]Enoch (the seventh generation from Adam) prophesied way back then about these people, “Look, Yahweh, surrounded by tens of thousands of his holy messengers, came 15 to sentence everybody and to punish everyone who rejected God for everything they did that demonstrated this rejection and everything they said against him.” 16 This includes their grumbling and complaining, the fulfilling of their own lustful desires, the arrogant way that they spoke, and their flattering of others in order to gain from them.

3 Beloved, making all earnestness to_be_writing to_you_all concerning the common salvation of_us, I_had necessity to_write to_you_all, exhorting you to_be_contending for_the faith having_been_given_over once to_the holy ones.

4 For/Because some people sneaked_in which long_ago having_been_previously_written for this the judgement, ungodly ones, replacing the grace of_the god of_us into wantonness, and disowning the only master and master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah.

5 And to_remind you_all I_am_wishing, having_perceived you_all once all things, that Yaʸsous having_saved a_people out_of the_land of_Aiguptos/(Miʦrayim), in_the second place destroyed the ones not having_believed.

6 And the_messengers which not having_kept the rule of_themselves, but having_left_behind their own dwelling, has_kept in_ eternal _bonds under darkness to the_judgement of_the_great day.

7 As Sodoma/(Şədom) and Gomorra/(ˊAmorāh), and the cities around them, having_fornicated the in_a_similar manner to_these, and having_gone_away after different flesh, they_are_lying_before an_example of_ the_justice undergoing eternal _fire.

8 Likewise however also these dreaming ones, are_defiling the_flesh on_one_hand, on_the_other_hand they_are_rejecting mastership, on_the_other_hand they_are_slandering glories.

9 But the Miⱪaaʸl/(Mīkā^ʼēl) the archangel, when disputing with_the devil, was_discussing about the body of_Mōsaʸs/(Mosheh), dared not to_bring_ a_judgement of_slander _against, but said, the_master Might_give_rebuke to_you.

10 But these as_much_as on_one_hand they_have_ not _known they_are_slandering, on_the_other_hand as_much_as naturally as the illogical animals are_understanding, they_are_being_corrupted in these things.

11 Woe to_them.

Because they_were_gone in_the way of_ the _Kain/(Qayin), and they_were_poured_out to_the deception the of_Balaʼam/(Bilˊām) for_reward, and in_the controversy of_ the _Kore/(Qoraḩ) they_perished.

12 These are the ones in the love_feasts of_you_all, stains fearlessly feasting_with, shepherding themselves, waterless clouds being_carried_away by of_winds, unfruitful late_autumn trees having_died_off twice having_been_uprooted, 13 wild waves of_the_sea foaming_out the shame of_themselves, wandering stars, to_whom the darkness of_ the _darkness has_been_kept to the_age.

14 And Enōⱪ/(Ḩₐnōk) the_seventh from Adam/(ʼĀdām) prophesied also to_these, saying: Behold, the_master came among holy tens_of_thousands of_him, 15 to_execute judgement against all, and to_rebuke all the ungodly concerning all their works of_ungodliness of_them, which they_acted_ungodly, and concerning all the hard things, of_which ungodly sinners spoke against him.

16 These are grumblings complaining, following according_to the lusts of_them, and the mouth of_them is_speaking arrogant messages, marvelling people for_reason_of benefit.

1:17 Keep your faith and keep ministering to others

Warnings and Exhortations; Warnings and Instructions; A Call to Remain Faithful; A call to persevere

17 But you, friends, always be thinking about how the missionaries of our master Yeshua the messiah 18 [ref]told you that mockers near the end of time would come out following their own god-rejecting lusts. 19 These people will cause division as they just demonstrate sensuality since they don’t know God’s spirit. 20 But you, friends, work to increase your faith in God, praying as the holy spirit helps you. 21 Keep receiving God’s love as you look forward to living forever thanks to the mercy of our master, Yeshua the messiah.

22 Show grace to those still doubting 23 whereas others need to be ‘snatched out of the fire’ in order to be saved. To some, show mercy but very carefully, hating even their clothes which reflect their crude lifestyles.

17 But you_all, beloved, be_reminded of_the messages which having_been_previously_spoken by the ambassadors of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one /messiah, 18 that they_were_saying to_you_all: In the_last time will_be mockers following according_to the of_ the _ungodliness lusts of_themselves.

19 These are the ones dividing, soulish, not having the_spirit.

20 But you_all beloved, building_ yourselves _up.

in_the holiest faith of_you_all, praying in the_ holy _spirit.

21 Keep yourselves in the_love of_god, waiting_for the mercy of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah, to eternal life.

22 And on_one_hand be_showing_mercy to_some doubting, 23 some be_saving on_the_other_hand snatching out_of the_fire, and be_showing_mercy to_some with fear, hating even the clothes having_been_stained by the flesh.

1:24 Honouring God

Doxology; Benediction; A Prayer of Praise

24-25 Our master, Yeshua the messiah, is the infallible one who is quite capable of looking after all of us so that we can stand blameless in front of him and praise him in his full honour and greatness. Let us honour and praise our only God and saviour, acknowledging his greatness and power and authority through Yeshua from before the creation, right through these current times, and in the age to come. May it be so.

24 And to_the_ infallible _one being_able to_keep you_all, and to_stand blameless in_front_of the glory of_him, with exultation, 25 to_the_only god saviour of_us, through Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah the master of_us, glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all the age, and now, and to all the ages.

Truly.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

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